Leopard Wrasse Help!

[aquarist.lindsey]

My leopard wrasses scales are like peeled up and he’s laying on his side on the sand. I found him like that this morning. The spot was white last night so I was going to look into it this morning to see how he’s doing but it’s gotten much worse. I’ve had him for over a month, maybe closer to two, and he’s been swimming and eating just fine but now this! Please help!

Update: the peeled part is no longer attached to the fish.

 

[aquarist.lindsey]

Does it look like an anemone sting? I have two tube anemones and one large bta

 

[aquarist.lindsey]

 

[aquarist.lindsey]

Would also like to add that I’ve not seen any aggression towards him in the tank, I have a fairly peaceful tank

 

[aquarist.lindsey]

It has died, but would still like to make sure the rest of the tank is safe so any help would be appreciated

 

[vetteguy53081]

Looks like it was bacterial and/or post injury

 

[aquarist.lindsey]

Looks like it was bacterial and/or post injury

I thought it looked like he had scraped against something, but I couldn’t be sure

 

[vetteguy53081]

I thought it looked like he had scraped against something, but I couldn’t be sure

Yep- that would be injury and developed into a bacterial infection

 

[aquarist.lindsey]

Yep- that would be injury and developed into a bacterial infection

Thanks for the help, I don’t want to lose anyone else

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

No - that is almost certainly Uronema, or Uronema mixed with bacteria. Now that chloroquine is unavailable, there really is no treatment for this. Even with chloroquine, it can hardly ever be treated. It won’t likely spread to most other fish, it prefers wrasse, chromis and anthias. Look in the library section here for my article on red band disease.
Jay