Help identifying disease(?)

rjb301

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I picked up a Coral Beauty from a LFS today and it’s in a QT tank. I didn’t notice the issues until it was in the tank, but it appears to have a spot on its tail and I can’t tell if it’s white or transparent. Not sure what to do. I have copper power, metroplex, kanaplex and focus to bind if any of those will help. Thanks in advance!
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vetteguy53081

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I picked up a Coral Beauty from a LFS today and it’s in a QT tank. I didn’t notice the issues until it was in the tank, but it appears to have a spot on its tail and I can’t tell if it’s white or transparent. Not sure what to do. I have copper power, metroplex, kanaplex and focus to bind if any of those will help. Thanks in advance!
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Did fish have this at LFS? If so, no matter the price, avoid purchase. This can be bite marks or even damage from netting. Observe for now but if it worsens, treat fish in separate tank using Seachem Neoplex
 

Jay Hemdal

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I picked up a Coral Beauty from a LFS today and it’s in a QT tank. I didn’t notice the issues until it was in the tank, but it appears to have a spot on its tail and I can’t tell if it’s white or transparent. Not sure what to do. I have copper power, metroplex, kanaplex and focus to bind if any of those will help. Thanks in advance!
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I agree that looks like an injury. I'm concerned about how the fish is being housed though - the tank (or container?) looks very clean with a lot of water flow. The fish looks uneasy, it may have gotten the injury in this tank. Does this tank have an operational bio filter?
 
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rjb301

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I agree that looks like an injury. I'm concerned about how the fish is being housed though - the tank (or container?) looks very clean with a lot of water flow. The fish looks uneasy, it may have gotten the injury in this tank. Does this tank have an operational bio filter?
It’s a plastic 3 gallon tank used to adapt the fish to the current level of copper being used in my QT tank. The injuries to the fish were not caused by the current tank, I noticed them in the bucket used for drip acclimation, just simplified it in my initial post to say this tank. It does not have an established biological filter but I monitor and do water changes. Once it is close to the level of copper in the QT tank it will be transferred to that, which has an established biological filter.

But, back to the fish. Is this something that will heal and look as if it didn’t happen or is it a permanent mark?
 

DietDr.Kelp

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From the photos, I'm seeing a hole through the fin? If it is indeed a hole or tear, there's a good chance it will heal just fine. I bought a foxface from another reefer who mentioned he had to "cut the fish out of the net" when he caught him (already bagged when I got there). Got home and realized he'd accidentally cut off half of one of his pectoral fins. I have also had fish injure themselves pretty badly and the fins recover. I add some VitaChem to their food, and it seems to help (or doesn't hurt).
If it's something else (bacterial or an infection) then you may have an entirely different problem on your hands.
 

Jay Hemdal

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It’s a plastic 3 gallon tank used to adapt the fish to the current level of copper being used in my QT tank. The injuries to the fish were not caused by the current tank, I noticed them in the bucket used for drip acclimation, just simplified it in my initial post to say this tank. It does not have an established biological filter but I monitor and do water changes. Once it is close to the level of copper in the QT tank it will be transferred to that, which has an established biological filter.

But, back to the fish. Is this something that will heal and look as if it didn’t happen or is it a permanent mark?

You should not take longer than 24 hours to get the fish into full coppersafe or copper power. You need to take 48 hours for ionic copper.

The fish will likely heal, but you need to try and limit additional damage.
 

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