Noticed lesion today between pelvic and pectoral fins, ID and/or treatment?

[Hausisahouse]

I took the plunge two weeks ago and picked up a cheap tank on Fb marketplace, as it caught my eye looking for something to build a vivarium in. Its been 10+ years since I've kept an aquarium. I got the tank home and when I leak checked it outside the bulkheads leaked something terrible. Took me a few days to get the tank fixed and back up, and I have been cycling it again, turbo start, and my tank has been fluctuating between 0ppm nitrite and .5 ppm with ammonia staying under .25. I added some hermits a week ago as well.
Most morning when i wake up the clownfish is tucked vernicle in a corner of the tank, slowly makes his way to the middle of the tank for most of the day then goes up where the return heads are at night. This morning he was chilling in the space between the rocks and the overflow. I noticed a lesion between his pectoral and pelvic fins.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Can you try for a picture taken under white light? A short video might also help. Is the fish still feeding? Is it breathing fast? Any other fish in with it?

I can sort of see a diffuse red area in the white band, is that what you are seeing? This could be a sign of some inflammation - white clowns show show that more than other colors due to the lack of dark pigment. Is it showing on both sides of the fish?

Jay

 

[Hausisahouse]

I'll try to get a better picture and upload it shortly. The fish is still feeding without a problem, his breathing seems normal and he is alone in the tank except for maybe 4 hermit crabs. I went into the LFS and one employee texted another who said i should lower my salinity and raise my temp (sg is 1.0235) It is only on one side of the fish.

 

[Hausisahouse]

As far as the red area he's kinda slightly transparent, I can see the outline of his skeleton and organs, it shows up more as just red in the photos

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I'll try to get a better picture and upload it shortly. The fish is still feeding without a problem, his breathing seems normal and he is alone in the tank except for maybe 4 hermit crabs. I went into the LFS and one employee texted another who said i should lower my salinity and raise my temp (sg is 1.0235) It is only on one side of the fish.

That SG is fine, but you can lower stress a bit by dropping it to 1.021 or so, the hermits will be fine. I wouldn’t raise the temp above 80. For now, I wouldn’t treat - but watch to see if the lesion grows, if so you may need to dose with antibiotics.
Jay

 

[Hausisahouse]

There seems to be no change to the spot on the fish, but what I believe is a diatom plume (looks like the hermits are eating it, and I didn't think they fancied diatoms) started while I was out of town for 48 hours. Lights out after pictures, but would it be safe to add some clean up crew to that tank, or wait further to watch this sore.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

There seems to be no change to the spot on the fish, but what I believe is a diatom plume (looks like the hermits are eating it, and I didn't think they fancied diatoms) started while I was out of town for 48 hours. Lights out after pictures, but would it be safe to add some clean up crew to that tank, or wait further to watch this sore.

The diatoms aren’t a concern fish health wise. I can still barely see the pinhole, but it’s been there for almost a week and isn’t getting any worse, right?
Jay

 

[Hausisahouse]

I noticed it Saturday, so since at least then without really changing one way or the other.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I noticed it Saturday, so since at least then without really changing one way or the other.

Well, sorry I can't tell you what that is, but it doesn't seem to require immediate treatment....

Jay