Is my Pyramid injured or something else?

code4 · 2026-08-19T15:52:06-0400

Been in quarantine for 29 days. Didn't notice this until I turned on the tank light today.

code4 · 2026-08-19T15:55:06-0400

The area above his gill is actually kind of shiny. Badge on tank reads no ammonia. API kit shows ammonia at .25 or less. Been doing water changes daily. Cleaning out anything leftover immediately along with excrement.

code4 · 2026-08-19T15:55:56-0400

He eats normally and acts fine.

Jay Hemdal · 2026-08-19T16:26:56-0400

code4 said:
Been in quarantine for 29 days. Didn't notice this until I turned on the tank light today.

Do you mean the gray spot on either side in the white area? Not sure what that is.

What have you treated it with so far?

This species really always needs to be treated for Neobenedenia flukes - they come in with that very often, but I don't see an active infection (yet).

code4 · 2026-08-19T16:38:13-0400

I had it in Chloroquine Phosphate for 8 days in the beginning. And one round of praziquantel. He started acting strange so I moved him and the bangaii cardinals to a tank that I was adjusting salinity for some mollies.

I have NeoPlex, MetroPlex on hand. Will go check what else I have

code4 · 2026-08-19T16:54:26-0400

Gray spots are normal for this fish. When the lights go out or on. Or a little stressed when someone takes their photos. I know I also have some cipro .

code4 · 2026-08-19T17:06:31-0400

Jay Hemdal said:
Ich requires a lower salinity to cure; a specific gravity of 1.009 to fight ich and 1.012 for Neobenedenia.

Of course, the ich treatment level also works for Neobenedenia, but it is more stressful and riskier.

Jay

I found this from you earlier. Do you still recommend hypo? If so for how long?

MnFish1 · 2026-08-19T17:09:16-0400

@Jay Hemdal - does the iridovirus affect other fish? I cant completely understand - is the grey area on both sides? If so thats different than one. FWIW - I take it you have multiple experiences with this fish - I have never seen one with this type of lesion. To me that fish looks like it's in below average/poor condition. If you've seen those grey spots before - when - and why?

code4 · 2026-08-19T17:13:41-0400

MnFish1 said:
@Jay Hemdal - does the iridovirus affect other fish? I cant completely understand - is the grey area on both sides? If so thats different than one. FWIW - I take it you have multiple experiences with this fish - I have never seen one with this type of lesion. To me that fish looks like it's in below average/poor condition. If you've seen those grey spots before - when - and why?

Yes I have had one previously for over 7 years. Not lesions. Just color changes. Like how mandarins change when sleeping. Same on both sides.

Jay Hemdal · 2026-08-19T17:16:08-0400

MnFish1 said:
@Jay Hemdal - does the iridovirus affect other fish? I cant completely understand - is the grey area on both sides? If so thats different than one. FWIW - I take it you have multiple experiences with this fish - I have never seen one with this type of lesion. To me that fish looks like it's in below average/poor condition. If you've seen those grey spots before - when - and why?

There are multiple iridoviral infections that can infect fish. The Banggai iridovirus can infect batfish, and most likely many other species. The gray spots are not a symptom of that, that I know of anyway....

Jay Hemdal · 2026-08-19T17:17:08-0400

code4 said:
I found this from you earlier. Do you still recommend hypo? If so for how long?

Yes - hyposalinity at a specific gravity of 1.012 for 30 days works REALLY well for Neobenedenia.....some people say that even 21 to 23 days works.....

Jay Hemdal · 2026-08-19T17:18:29-0400

code4 said:
I had it in Chloroquine Phosphate for 8 days in the beginning. And one round of praziquantel. He started acting strange so I moved him and the bangaii cardinals to a tank that I was adjusting salinity for some mollies.

I have NeoPlex, MetroPlex on hand. Will go check what else I have

What was the chloroquine dose? That should work for Neobenedenia at 15 to 20 ppm, but I haven't used that for Neo....

code4 · 2026-08-19T17:25:33-0400

Jay Hemdal said:
What was the chloroquine dose? That should work for Neobenedenia at 15 to 20 ppm, but I haven't used that for Neo....

It was at 40. I would be okay with doing a lower dose say 15-20. How long though?

vetteguy53081 · 2026-08-19T17:28:35-0400

lower dose yes and looks to be marks from slight impact but keep an eye on area to assure its healing and not getting worse

code4 · 2026-08-19T17:29:08-0400

Jay Hemdal said:
Yes - hyposalinity at a specific gravity of 1.012 for 30 days works REALLY well for Neobenedenia.....some people say that even 21 to 23 days works.....

My hydrometer from ATC does not show numbers this low. I can see 1.015. And then guess...

code4 · 2026-08-19T17:31:19-0400

vetteguy53081 said:
lower dose yes and looks to be marks from slight impact but keep an eye on area to assure its healing and not getting worse

I honestly didn't see it until I turned on the tanks light. How long of a lower dose? I will definitely watch him. Such a personality.

Jay Hemdal · 2026-08-19T17:36:32-0400

code4 said:
My hydrometer from ATC does not show numbers this low. I can see 1.015. And then guess...

I'd hate to have you guess at that though! I keep running into this problem - back "in the day", a good glass laboratory hydrometer would read from 1.000 to 1.040. I can't locate similar products on the market now. There are some plastic "dip and read" hydrometers that can read in that range. They are not very accurate, but if you test one against your ATC and then if they read the same, you could be pretty confident that it would work well a bit lower....

code4 · 2026-08-19T17:48:57-0400

Jay Hemdal said:
I'd hate to have you guess at that though! I keep running into this problem - back "in the day", a good glass laboratory hydrometer would read from 1.000 to 1.040. I can't locate similar products on the market now. There are some plastic "dip and read" hydrometers that can read in that range. They are not very accurate, but if you test one against your ATC and then if they read the same, you could be pretty confident that it would work well a bit lower....

I was thinking the same. I am pretty good at guessing though. But if I went with the chloroquine phosphate at the lower levels, what time frame would you suggest?

code4 · 2026-08-19T18:38:03-0400

@Jay Hemdal or @vetteguy53081 how long would the lower dose of Chloroquine phosphate need to be? I could transfer them all into another observation tank afterwards if needed. Unless all stages are killed