Coral Beauty discolored spots around eyes

[R33f_Hacker]

Hello,

Can you guys help me figure out what's going on with my coral beaut, please? Saw her scratching her face a few times this weekend and I noticed she had some discoloration by her eye. She has been eating and seems ok other than that. I decided to give prazipro a try to see if that would help. Did one dose yesterday in my DT w/ no carbon or protein skimmer. Today the spots look more noticeable. They are really only around her head and eyes. Now on both sides. Any ideas on what this could be? Should I let the prazipro work for more time or do I need to get her into a QT w/ different meds. Thank you so much for your help! Here are the best pics I could get at the moment. Can try again later if needed.

 

[R33f_Hacker]

Better pics

 

[R33f_Hacker]

Anyone have some thoughts what this might be or next best step? Thinking maybe a rally bath or copper safe in Qt. It’s just removing her for qt will be stressful. Thoughts? Thanks so much

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Two things come to mind, and it could be one, the other, or both together:

Flukes and/or Head and Lateral Line Erosion (HLLE).

I suspect flukes since the fish was seen scratching. Prazipro works the first day, but it leaves holes in the fish's skin where the flukes were living...these take more time to heal. You will need to follow up the first dose with a second one about a week later. Be sure to increase your aeration when dosing prazipro.

The HLLE is a chronic condition that isn't treatable, but also not fatal, so best to treat for flukes....

Jay

 

[R33f_Hacker]

Jay, thank you so much! Greatly appreciated.

 

[R33f_Hacker]

@Jay Hemdal Would it be safe to move coral into another tank before the second prazipro dose? I am getting a new tank this weekend and some of my corals really didn't like the first round. Would a coral RX dip remove any eggs that may be on the corals or plugs? I assume the fish need the second dose before moving to the new tank as the eggs can be in laid in their gills? I want to get the fish and coral into the new tank but don't want to bring the flukes with them. thanks for your help.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Not if it is an egg laying species of fluke, they would get carried with the corals and dips won't touch them. If you leave the corals in a tank with no fish for 45 days, then you would be safe.

I don't like how Prazipro scavenges oxygen, and the solvent it uses puts a huge bioload on a tank....but outright killing of corals seems to be pretty rare.

Jay

 

[R33f_Hacker]

If I leave fish and coral in for the second or third dose you think it would be safe to transfer them to new tank. What would u recommend would be best way to safely get fish and coral to new tank to clean and repurpose the current.

 

[R33f_Hacker]

@Jay Hemdal is reef rally a better solution than doing a second dose of prazipro? Looking for suggestion on best next steps so I can get fish and coral into my new tank. Thanks for your help

 

[Jay Hemdal]

No, reef rally pro isn’t very strong, they make it reef safe by keeping the dose low. I don’t think it actually will even control flukes.
Jay