Help with Sick Strigosus

[naterealbig]

Hi everyone, was hoping for some suggestions with Yellow Eye Kole. Been in QT with other (apparently healthy) fish, being treated with Coppersafe (2.0 per Hanna), GC, and Metro. The tang came in with wounds, and has been lethargic since introduction. It has picked at food, but is currently not eating. Pulled the fish for inspection today and noticed discoloration (looks like bruising) around the mouth area, and some spots on fins etc.

Currently performing a 20 minute Acriflavine bath (15ml/gal) to be followed up with a 5 minute freshwater dip as I suspect the fish has flukes. Can you please take a look at the picks below and let me know your thoughts/treatment recommendations?

Best,

Nathan

 

[reefer2000]

Hi everyone, was hoping for some suggestions with Yellow Eye Kole. Been in QT with other (apparently healthy) fish, being treated with Coppersafe (2.0 per Hanna), GC, and Metro. The tang came in with wounds, and has been lethargic since introduction. It has picked at food, but is currently not eating. Pulled the fish for inspection today and noticed discoloration (looks like bruising) around the mouth area, and some spots on fins etc.

Currently performing a 20 minute Acriflavine bath (15ml/gal) to be followed up with a 5 minute freshwater dip as I suspect the fish has flukes. Can you please take a look at the picks below and let me know your thoughts/treatment recommendations?

Best,

Nathan

Its kind of weird with the discoloration probably hit itself on to a rock or something but for flukes you are doing the best treatment and how much FW dips do you do?

 

[naterealbig]

Its kind of weird with the discoloration probably hit itself on to a rock or something but for flukes you are doing the best treatment and how much FW dips do you do?

Hi there, yes, the discoloration around the mouth is weird for sure. I wouldn't be as worried about it, but I think it may be related to it not eating.

Today was the first freshwater dip, but I was unable to identify anything that came off during the dip (checked under scope). Since I didn't see anything come off, i was not planning on doing any more freshwater dips.

The fish was lying on its side at several points during the Acriflavine bath and freshwater bath. I was certain it was going to die, but it is still hanging out inside a large pvc fitting for now, so we will see.

To be clear, do you think I should provide any specific treatment for the mouth area?

 

[reefer2000]

The discoloration on the mouth and body might be stress just thought about it. I used to have a blue tang and it had some blank spots like your little guy and after a week it started to disapear.
Yes sometimes fish do that in FW dips they get shocked from the freshwater and so do parasites! But if you see nothing coming off of it leave the fish alone for about 2 days dont treat her anything. Might as well be stressed frrom treatment . Keep me updated after 2 days.
No need to treat the mouth area. But there is one thing that concerns me. On pi number 1 there is bog dot with discoloration can you take a better pic so we can look at it.
And are you qt ing it if not then get a qt and put a UV sterilizer in that always helps!

 

[reefer2000]

Hi there, yes, the discoloration around the mouth is weird for sure. I wouldn't be as worried about it, but I think it may be related to it not eating.

Today was the first freshwater dip, but I was unable to identify anything that came off during the dip (checked under scope). Since I didn't see anything come off, i was not planning on doing any more freshwater dips.

The fish was lying on its side at several points during the Acriflavine bath and freshwater bath. I was certain it was going to die, but it is still hanging out inside a large pvc fitting for now, so we will see.

To be clear, do you think I should provide any specific treatment for the mouth area?

The discoloration on the mouth and body might be stress just thought about it. I used to have a blue tang and it had some blank spots like your little guy and after a week it started to disapear.
Yes sometimes fish do that in FW dips they get shocked from the freshwater and so do parasites! But if you see nothing coming off of it leave the fish alone for about 2 days dont treat her anything. Might as well be stressed frrom treatment . Keep me updated after 2 days.
No need to treat the mouth area. But there is one thing that concerns me. On pi number 1 there is bog dot with discoloration can you take a better pic so we can look at it.
And are you qt ing it if not then get a qt and put a UV sterilizer in that always helps!

 

[Mjrenz]

Hi everyone, was hoping for some suggestions with Yellow Eye Kole. Been in QT with other (apparently healthy) fish, being treated with Coppersafe (2.0 per Hanna), GC, and Metro. The tang came in with wounds, and has been lethargic since introduction. It has picked at food, but is currently not eating. Pulled the fish for inspection today and noticed discoloration (looks like bruising) around the mouth area, and some spots on fins etc.

Currently performing a 20 minute Acriflavine bath (15ml/gal) to be followed up with a 5 minute freshwater dip as I suspect the fish has flukes. Can you please take a look at the picks below and let me know your thoughts/treatment recommendations?

Best,

Nathan

Are you medicating his food or just dosing the water column with the antibiotics? I think we should get more eyes on this @ngoodermuth @HotRocks @4FordFamily

 

[naterealbig]

Hi @Mjrenz, thank you for your reply! I am doing the standard 10 day protocol, dosing only to the water (Metro, GC, copper).

I have successfully treated 10 or so fish this way, with no problems up until this point. With each prior QT batch, I have tried to feed with GC soaked foods, and the fish almost always have refused it - any tips here?

Also, some additional info:. we are 6 days into the protocol, and ~ 8 days total in QT. The strigosus is in QT along with A. tristis (no aggression at all, even after lights off), and O. typus and the other two fish are in excellent condition and eating well. There was a casualty with this batch (the first using this protocol) however. An E. namiyei came home with a deep wound (i did not notice at store) and perished after the first treatment of GC.

Thank you for your thoughts and help.

 

[Mjrenz]

Hi @Mjrenz, thank you for your reply! I am doing the standard 10 day protocol, dosing only to the water (Metro, GC, copper).

I have successfully treated 10 or so fish this way, with no problems up until this point. With each prior QT batch, I have tried to feed with GC soaked foods, and the fish almost always have refused it - any tips here?

Also, some additional info:. we are 6 days into the protocol, and ~ 8 days total in QT. The strigosus is in QT along with A. tristis (no aggression at all, even after lights off), and O. typus and the other two fish are in excellent condition and eating well. There was a casualty with this batch (the first using this protocol) however. An E. namiyei came home with a deep wound (i did not notice at store) and perished after the first treatment of GC.

Thank you for your thoughts and help.

You're welcome! For feeding medicated foods a drop of garlic will help to mask the taste of the medication, it worked for my fish. I'm sorry to hear about the loss, hopefully this guy makes it through.
I do know that the abx can be used for up to 14 days instead of 10 if needed but the experts I tagged above will have better advice than I'm able to offer here

 

[4FordFamily]

That does look like likely fluke damage on the fish. Continue with antibiotics. The mouth injury is probably unrelated.

 

[naterealbig]

Thank you @4FordFamily and @Mjrenz !. I have not been treating with abx other than the Metronidazole. Should I begin treatment with a specific antibiotic?. I have Kanaplex, Metro, and Furan-2 on hand.

Should I take any specific action for the mouth?

Thank you

 

[ngoodermuth]

Thank you @4FordFamily and @Mjrenz !. I have not been treating with abx other than the Metronidazole. Should I begin treatment with a specific antibiotic?. I have Kanaplex, Metro, and Furan-2 on hand.

Should I take any specific action for the mouth?

Thank you

I would use all three of those, personally. For 10-14 days.

 

[naterealbig]

Hi @ngoodermuth ! Will start treatment tonight and keep everyone posted. Thank you for your advice.

 

[4FordFamily]

I would use all three of those, personally. For 10-14 days.

This precisely. Good luck, keep us posted! :)

 

[naterealbig]

Thank you for your help everyone. Earlier today, I completed a Methyline Blue bath on the tang - it has been exhibiting rapid breathing, and thought it may help. I didn't notice a difference.

Around 8:30 pm tonight I dosed day one of the 15 day trifecta (used GC in place of Metro as it was due per the 10 day QT protocol). Turned on air stone. The strigosus truly looks like it's on its last leg. I was having a tough time deciding not to euthanize honestly......

We will see. I truly think it's too late, but I'm routing for the fish. I'll keep you posted.

Question - will the abx wipe out my biological filter?

 

[Mjrenz]

Thank you for your help everyone. Earlier today, I completed a Methyline Blue bath on the tang - it has been exhibiting rapid breathing, and thought it may help. I didn't notice a difference.

Around 8:30 pm tonight I dosed day one of the 15 day trifecta (used GC in place of Metro as it was due per the 10 day QT protocol). Turned on air stone. The strigosus truly looks like it's on its last leg. I was having a tough time deciding not to euthanize honestly......

We will see. I truly think it's too late, but I'm routing for the fish. I'll keep you posted.

Question - will the abx wipe out my biological filter?

It's hard on it but using biospira will keep ammonia at bay. This post has helped me save a fish I thought I would lose
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/alprazos-salvage-protocol.213599/
I wish you the best of luck

 

[naterealbig]

It's hard on it but using biospira will keep ammonia at bay. This post has helped me save a fish I thought I would lose
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/alprazos-salvage-protocol.213599/
I wish you the best of luck

Thank you @Mjrenz - will read through the thread you provided the link to, and try to source some bottled bacteria locally.

Of course, will post updates... And will keep my fingers crossed.

Best

 

[Mjrenz]

Thank you @Mjrenz - will read through the thread you provided the link to, and try to source some bottled bacteria locally.

Of course, will post updates... And will keep my fingers crossed.

Best

@Big G was the one who originally shared this with me, I dropped the salinity (which can be done immediately just so long as you don't shock him with a temp swing), unplugged the heater to let the temp slowly drop overnight, and used an oxygen tank from my oxy acetylene torch with an airstone to add pure o2 to the tank

 

[Mjrenz]

Thank you @Mjrenz - will read through the thread you provided the link to, and try to source some bottled bacteria locally.

Of course, will post updates... And will keep my fingers crossed.

Best

Any update? I'm hoping you have good news to share