Problem with purple firefish in QT

[Johnny M]

I've had a purple firefish & rainford's goby in QT for 3 weeks. Both have been doing well & eating well. About 2 days ago i noticed P. firefish was hiding a lot & wasn't moving around too much which is unusual , but still eating. Today I noticed a small white spot - just one - on the upper left back of dorsal fin ( or your right side upper back looking at photo). I tried taking a photo the best I could but he was continually hiding in one of the pvc pipes. Here is photo & if you look closely u can see white spot where mentioned ( just under the dark dorsal fin at the back). So could it be beginning of ich or a fungus infection?

 

[Humblefish]

I can't really tell anything from the photo. A single white spot is usually either ich or possibly just Lymphocystis.

 

[Johnny M]

I can't really tell anything from the photo. A single white spot is usually either ich or possibly just Lymphocystis.

Thanks. What med(s) should I start treating with?

 

[Johnny M]

Thanks. What med(s) should I start treating with?

Here is the same photo with a circle drawn around the spot.

 

[Humblefish]

Thanks. What med(s) should I start treating with?

Have you dewormed using Prazipro yet? That would probably be my first step.

 

[Johnny M]

Have you dewormed using Prazipro yet? That would probably be my first step.

No. Have just been observing last 3 weeks. Should I start with Prazipro and/or Seachem Cupramine?

 

[Humblefish]

No. Have just been observing last 3 weeks. Should I start with Prazipro and/or Seachem Cupramine?

Prazipro first, and then Cupramine.

 

[4FordFamily]

Prazipro first, and then Cupramine.

X2.

Is the fish still eating? Breathing heavily?

 

[Johnny M]

Prazipro first, and then Cupramine.

Ok. Thanks

 

[Johnny M]

X2.

Is the fish still eating? Breathing heavily?

Still eating & not breathing heavily . Just is hiding more & not swimming as much as he used to.

 

[Rakie]

Prazipro first, and then Cupramine.

x3

As soon as I saw the picture my gut reaction was flukes.. See that spot between the eyes that's kinda 'white' or pale? I've noticed for some reason fish that have bad fluke infestations tend to have that pale area there. It's purely anecdotal, but I've seen it on several of my own fish that needed medication.

I don't think anybody has substantiated this observation, and while all the fish I had gotten that were heavily infested with flukes had that, it could have been coincidence.

 

[Johnny M]

**UPDATE
Yesterday afternoon Purple FF was hovering near lower right corner of tank, but noticed the white spot mentioned & shown in previous posts was gone. Went out to buy Prazipro & Cupramine. When I got back about an hour later the firefish was dead. :( Rainford's Goby looking ok so started treatment with Prazipro. Turned off skimmer and removed poly filterpads, plus b4 adding Prazi did a 40% WC. Now it's just a waiting game. The RG loves the Spectrum Thera+ A 0.5mm pellets soaked in Selco Boost. Figured best way to help the little guy if there is any problems would be internal & external treatment. Thanks to all who offered their advice!

 

[Humblefish]

Wow, that's very surprising. Sorry for your loss :(

 

[Johnny M]

Wow, that's very surprising. Sorry for your loss :(

Thanks. What's really weird is ( as mentioned b4) the white spot was gone; but also the paleness between his eyes on front of head changed back to the way it was b4 he became ill - a nice color blue! Had to be something internal. Oh well, after Prazi. tx for Rainford's goby will keep him in QT for another 2 weeks then transfer to DT. After that that don't know if I should get another P. firefish or go with a Royal gramma & tailspot blenny.