Need help diagnosing sick Chromis

[Black Clover]

Hi all, I’m hoping HumbleFish sees this but I’ll take any suggestions.

My chromis has not eaten for about 3-4 days. I moved him to a 10 gallon QT tank today with extra oxygen…

Facts:
- he is not breathing fast
- he isn't hiding (but used to)
- he stays in one location
- he's not eating
- he takes occasional lunging gulps
- the nitrates in my DT are always very high (lack of frequent water changes) - I know!! this is bad... needs to get better
- his fins seem to be tucked in, his pelvic fin is always extended
- he's not really bullied, he was actually the larger alpha among the other 2 chromis, and he often chased them
- I witnessed him getting into it once, back and forth, nipping with a larger clown (months ago)
- he's swimming a little slanted
- I noticed something on its back (bacteria?? - see pic)
- And something close to its eye (see pic)

I highly doubt ick, velvet, or flukes, as nothing has entered that aquarium in nearly 6 months.

Tankmates:
2 clowns
2 other chromis
1 engineer goby
1 sailfin tang
1 mccorsker wrasse
1 fire shrimp
1 boxer shrimp
Many hermits

A.I. is telling me internal infection + swim bladder inflammation caused by long-term nitrate stress and aggression stress.
Suggesting I treat with Kanaplex + Metroplex and even Epsom salt??? what the heck? I never heard of Epsom salts in an aquarium...

Thanks for the help!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi all, I’m hoping HumbleFish sees this but I’ll take any suggestions.

My chromis has not eaten for about 3-4 days. I moved him to a 10 gallon QT tank today with extra oxygen…

Facts:
- he is not breathing fast
- he isn't hiding (but used to)
- he stays in one location
- he's not eating
- he takes occasional lunging gulps
- the nitrates in my DT are always very high (lack of frequent water changes) - I know!! this is bad... needs to get better
- his fins seem to be tucked in, his pelvic fin is always extended
- he's not really bullied, he was actually the larger alpha among the other 2 chromis, and he often chased them
- I witnessed him getting into it once, back and forth, nipping with a larger clown (months ago)
- he's swimming a little slanted
- I noticed something on its back (bacteria?? - see pic)
- And something close to its eye (see pic)

I highly doubt ick, velvet, or flukes, as nothing has entered that aquarium in nearly 6 months.

Tankmates:
2 clowns
2 other chromis
1 engineer goby
1 sailfin tang
1 mccorsker wrasse
1 fire shrimp
1 boxer shrimp
Many hermits

A.I. is telling me internal infection + swim bladder inflammation caused by long-term nitrate stress and aggression stress.
Suggesting I treat with Kanaplex + Metroplex and even Epsom salt??? what the heck? I never heard of Epsom salts in an aquarium...

Thanks for the help!

This is a mechanical injury from impact or fighting and while could heal on its own, I suggest as a safeguard, treatment using seachem neoplex in a separate or ruby rally pro within tank but will take a little longer to work

 

[Black Clover]

Thank you, Vetteguy53081! Now that I think of it, the wrasse does enjoy going after the chromis. He or the clown could be the culprit. I noticed that the smallest chromis hides more than usual ATM.

 

[Fish-like]

Vitamin C Tablets Combined with Marine Fish External Wound & Internal Parasite Treatment Medications

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Hi all, I’m hoping HumbleFish sees this but I’ll take any suggestions.

My chromis has not eaten for about 3-4 days. I moved him to a 10 gallon QT tank today with extra oxygen…

Facts:
- he is not breathing fast
- he isn't hiding (but used to)
- he stays in one location
- he's not eating
- he takes occasional lunging gulps
- the nitrates in my DT are always very high (lack of frequent water changes) - I know!! this is bad... needs to get better
- his fins seem to be tucked in, his pelvic fin is always extended
- he's not really bullied, he was actually the larger alpha among the other 2 chromis, and he often chased them
- I witnessed him getting into it once, back and forth, nipping with a larger clown (months ago)
- he's swimming a little slanted
- I noticed something on its back (bacteria?? - see pic)
- And something close to its eye (see pic)

I highly doubt ick, velvet, or flukes, as nothing has entered that aquarium in nearly 6 months.

Tankmates:
2 clowns
2 other chromis
1 engineer goby
1 sailfin tang
1 mccorsker wrasse
1 fire shrimp
1 boxer shrimp
Many hermits

A.I. is telling me internal infection + swim bladder inflammation caused by long-term nitrate stress and aggression stress.
Suggesting I treat with Kanaplex + Metroplex and even Epsom salt??? what the heck? I never heard of Epsom salts in an aquarium...

Thanks for the help!

I doubt that this is any sort of a contagious disease. It certainly isn't a swim bladder issue. Likewise, this isn't a nitrate issue.

My thought is that there are two possible strike injuries on the fish, and that one of them was severe enough to cause a trauma to the nerves around the brain. The swimming out in the open, not eating, and lowering of the pelvic fins are all things that a blind fish would do (the pelvic fins touch the substrate, telling the fish its location). So - you should test to see if the fish is blind. Do this by moving around or waving your hand near the tank, but not touching it (no vibrations). If you can get the fish to react to your movement, then it isn't blind. If you can't, then it is blind.

 

[Malum Argenteum]

Vitamin C Tablets Combined with Marine Fish External Wound & Internal Parasite Treatment Medications

You're not a very sophisticated bot. Budget Bot?

 

[Black Clover]

This is a mechanical injury from impact or fighting and while could heal on its own, I suggest as a safeguard, treatment using seachem neoplex in a separate or ruby rally pro within tank but will take a little longer to work

I doubt that this is any sort of a contagious disease. It certainly isn't a swim bladder issue. Likewise, this isn't a nitrate issue.

My thought is that there are two possible strike injuries on the fish, and that one of them was severe enough to cause a trauma to the nerves around the brain. The swimming out in the open, not eating, and lowering of the pelvic fins are all things that a blind fish would do (the pelvic fins touch the substrate, telling the fish its location). So - you should test to see if the fish is blind. Do this by moving around or waving your hand near the tank, but not touching it (no vibrations). If you can get the fish to react to your movement, then it isn't blind. If you can't, then it is blind.

Thanks, Jay. Tried what you suggested, and it does not react. Sadly, it may be blind.

Next question: How to feed/care for a blind fish? I tried with a syringe (brine), but it moves back from the pressure of the water coming out. It darts backwards a little.

Last question: Another chromis is hiding extensively... who is likely the culprit in my DT? McCorsker Wrasse?

Thanks again!

 

[Black Clover]

This is a mechanical injury from impact or fighting and while could heal on its own, I suggest as a safeguard, treatment using seachem neoplex in a separate or ruby rally pro within tank but will take a little longer to work

Neoplex and many other fish meds are not available in Canada. Seriously!! I snuck in Cupramine last year, just in case I ever got an outbreak of something else, looks like I got to sneak in more next time I'm there. Sad situation here...

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Thanks, Jay. Tried what you suggested, and it does not react. Sadly, it may be blind.

Next question: How to feed/care for a blind fish? I tried with a syringe (brine), but it moves back from the pressure of the water coming out. It darts backwards a little.

Last question: Another chromis is hiding extensively... who is likely the culprit in my DT? McCorsker Wrasse?

Thanks again!

I’ve fed some blind fish with a syringe with a flexible tube attached, but any water movement from your hand can scare the fish.

Tough to say who the culprit might be. You could try setting up your phone to video the tank then leave the room. Review the video to look for any negative interactions - you may not see actual attacks, watch for one fish shying away or avoiding another.

 

[Black Clover]

I’ve fed some blind fish with a syringe with a flexible tube attached, but any water movement from your hand can scare the fish.

Tough to say who the culprit might be. You could try setting up your phone to video the tank then leave the room. Review the video to look for any negative interactions - you may not see actual attacks, watch for one fish shying away or avoiding another.

Thanks! FYI, I just moved another chromis to the DT. I'm sure that he's also blind! He's bumping into things, and when the two bump into each other, they get really surprised. What are the odds? Parasite or very high nitrates?

 

[Uncle99]

Thanks! FYI, I just moved another chromis to the DT. I'm sure that he's also blind! He's bumping into things, and when the two bump into each other, they get really surprised. What are the odds? Parasite or very high nitrates?

If it’s an unusual behaviour issue can you post a video so we get some context?

Post via YouTube gets more traction.

They need structure like Acros to feel safe.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Thanks! FYI, I just moved another chromis to the DT. I'm sure that he's also blind! He's bumping into things, and when the two bump into each other, they get really surprised. What are the odds? Parasite or very high nitrates?

Not nitrates for sure. I do t know of any parasites that cause blindness. Some people implicate diet issues with this, but I’ve not seen that. For me, it seems to be mechanical damage that affects the optic nerve.