Banggai Cardinalfish is sick - Need help please!

[LittlePieceOfTheReef]

Hi Reefers,
I don’t know what to do about my Cardinalfish. It appears his right side is puffy and it’s clear and he’s hanging out mostly around the top of the tank. He’s barely eating and it’s really concerning me. This is one of my first fish. A year and a half old (since he was a tiny little thing). Has this happened with any of your Cardinalfish? Can anyone tell me what could be happening? Only other fish in the aquarium are: 2 Clowns, a Midas Blenny, Melanarus Wrasse and 7 corals. 45 gallon aquarium. I don't have a QT going. Please help!

 

[Jekyl]

White light photos and a short video will help diagnosis. Along with when last addition was.

 

[LittlePieceOfTheReef]

White light photos and a short video will help diagnosis. Along with when last addition was.

Last addition was a small hammer frag on 8/5.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Hi Reefers,
I don’t know what to do about my Cardinalfish. It appears his right side is puffy and it’s clear and he’s hanging out mostly around the top of the tank. He’s barely eating and it’s really concerning me. This is one of my first fish. A year and a half old (since he was a tiny little thing). Has this happened with any of your Cardinalfish? Can anyone tell me what could be happening? Only other fish in the aquarium are: 2 Clowns, a Midas Blenny, Melanarus Wrasse and 7 corals. 45 gallon aquarium. I don't have a QT going. Please help!

Is the other side of the fish totally clear of symptoms?
Did this show up all at once, or did it grow gradually?
A short video would really help.

Jay

 

[LittlePieceOfTheReef]

Last addition was a small hammer frag on 8/5.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Could the hammer have stung it?

Jay

 

[LittlePieceOfTheReef]

Is the other side of the fish totally clear of symptoms?
Did this show up all at once, or did it grow gradually?
A short video would really help.

Jay

So as of now, the other side is normal. I noticed he was towards the top of the aquarium since yesterday. Before that, acting totally normal. Hopefully you can see the video I’ve uploaded. Thanks for trying to help.

 

[LittlePieceOfTheReef]

I

Could the hammer have stung it?

Jay

I can’t really say if he got stung. He doesn’t usually get so close to the corals but anything is possible.

 

[LittlePieceOfTheReef]

Could the hammer have stung it?

Jay

The video isn’t playing for me when I attempt to view it so I took some screenshots of the video of the affected area.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

The video isn’t playing for me when I attempt to view it so I took some screenshots of the video of the affected area.

One disease that resembles this is Brooklynella. However, that protozoan would be evenly spread across the fish, not just on one side. Coral and anemone stings often have a one sided pattern. It could also be a bacterial infection, but then, something would have had to have happened on just that one side of the fish to allow the bacteria to get started there.

Jay

 

[vetteguy53081]

Is that eye cloudy ?

 

[LittlePieceOfTheReef]

Is that eye cloudy ?

I wouldn’t say cloudy eye because it starts at the front right of the face and ends just passed the 2nd black band.

 

[LittlePieceOfTheReef]

One disease that resembles this is Brooklynella. However, that protozoan would be evenly spread across the fish, not just on one side. Coral and anemone stings often have a one sided pattern. It could also be a bacterial infection, but then, something would have had to have happened on just that one side of the fish to allow the bacteria to get started there.

Jay

Thank you Jay. Do you have any suggestions at this point?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Thank you Jay. Do you have any suggestions at this point?

If it is a coral sting, just needs time to heal. If it is a bacterial infection, you would need to move it to a treatment tank and dose it with a broad spectrum, gram negative antibiotic like Neoplex.

Jay

 

[LittlePieceOfTheReef]

ThNk

If it is a coral sting, just needs time to heal. If it is a bacterial infection, you would need to move it to a treatment tank and dose it with a broad spectrum, gram negative antibiotic like Neoplex.

Jay

Thanks for the reply. I will monitor and take action based on his progression.