Eibli Angelfish injury

[major_727]

Hi Everyone
I need some help here. My main DT got infested w velvet and killed my Royal Gramma in the matter of days so m treating fishes w copper on QT while keeping the DT empty (with corals and inverts only). It’s been 6 days since QT and while everything is good for the most part. Three mornings ago, I saw a big injury on my Eibli angelfish forehead. It’s like a chunk of flesh was missing. It doesn’t eat anymore and I am not sure if was due to fight and tank aggression or due to some infection or disease. I’ve tired every food possible -pellets, algae wafer, frozen mysis, frozen fish eggs, frozen reef blend, algae/ nori clips, nothing works. Please help.

Current QT tank: 55 gallon (4ft length)
Current tank mates:
Sailfin/ Tomini/ Blue Hippo/ Naso tangs
Emperor angelfish
Copperband/ Saddleback/ Longnose butterflyfish
Flame Hawk, Fire fish, Starry Blenny, Damsel, and Midas Blenny

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi Everyone
I need some help here. My main DT got infested w velvet and killed my Royal Gramma in the matter of days so m treating fishes w copper on QT while keeping the DT empty (with corals and inverts only). It’s been 6 days since QT and while everything is good for the most part. Three mornings ago, I saw a big injury on my Eibli angelfish forehead. It’s like a chunk of flesh was missing. It doesn’t eat anymore and I am not sure if was due to fight and tank aggression or due to some infection or disease. I’ve tired every food possible -pellets, algae wafer, frozen mysis, frozen fish eggs, frozen reef blend, algae/ nori clips, nothing works. Please help.

Current QT tank: 55 gallon (4ft length)
Current tank mates:
Sailfin/ Tomini/ Blue Hippo/ Naso tangs
Emperor angelfish
Copperband/ Saddleback/ Longnose butterflyfish
Flame Hawk, Fire fish, Starry Blenny, Damsel, and Midas Blenny

May have been impact injury from being chased and the injury likely shook it up.
What level copper are you running?
Is fish breathing normal or labored?

 

[major_727]

Breathing is normal. Cu is around 2.2 at therapeutic level (Copper Power). I have been adding Sea Chem Stress Guard but not sure if it’s make any difference

May have been impact injury from being chased and the injury likely shook it up.
What level copper are you running?
Is fish breathing normal or labored?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Breathing is normal. Cu is around 2.2 at therapeutic level (Copper Power). I have been adding Sea Chem Stress Guard but not sure if it’s make any difference

Stress guard just a water conditioner and does not reduce stress

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi Everyone
I need some help here. My main DT got infested w velvet and killed my Royal Gramma in the matter of days so m treating fishes w copper on QT while keeping the DT empty (with corals and inverts only). It’s been 6 days since QT and while everything is good for the most part. Three mornings ago, I saw a big injury on my Eibli angelfish forehead. It’s like a chunk of flesh was missing. It doesn’t eat anymore and I am not sure if was due to fight and tank aggression or due to some infection or disease. I’ve tired every food possible -pellets, algae wafer, frozen mysis, frozen fish eggs, frozen reef blend, algae/ nori clips, nothing works. Please help.

Current QT tank: 55 gallon (4ft length)
Current tank mates:
Sailfin/ Tomini/ Blue Hippo/ Naso tangs
Emperor angelfish
Copperband/ Saddleback/ Longnose butterflyfish
Flame Hawk, Fire fish, Starry Blenny, Damsel, and Midas Blenny

While the location is right for it to be a strike injury (top of the head like that) the not eating is a serious sign. It either means that there is a systemic infection, or something additional is going on.

A broad spectrum, gram negative antibiotic like Neoplex or kanaplex would be an option - but dosing those in a larger tank can be expensive, and may not get he angel feeding again.

 

[winxp_man]

While the location is right for it to be a strike injury (top of the head like that) the not eating is a serious sign. It either means that there is a systemic infection, or something additional is going on.

A broad spectrum, gram negative antibiotic like Neoplex or kanaplex would be an option - but dosing those in a larger tank can be expensive, and may not get he angel feeding again.

Antibiotics can reduce fish eating no in general no? I noticed this in a QT when treated for bacterial infections during my velvet outbreak. I was chatting with you and vette about what antibiotics would go with copper power and not cause a chemical war between copper power and antibiotic use.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Antibiotics can reduce fish eating no in general no? I noticed this in a QT when treated for bacterial infections during my velvet outbreak. I was chatting with you and vette about what antibiotics would go with copper power and not cause a chemical war between copper power and antibiotic use.

I've not noticed any reduction in feeding response to most gram negative, broad spectrum antibiotics when dosed in aquarium water.... but I can't say that my general observations are based on any sort of a clinical results.

A couple of years ago, I did find a surprising reference NOT to use neomycin and copper. It was in Gerald Basslear’s book from a few decades ago, but he didn’t say why. I also found AI to say the same thing. Trouble is, just like my observation above, this is based on general observations, not clinical studies - so who knows? If you're worried about that, perhaps Kanamycin would be a better choice.