Rescued Damsel with red cheeks

[D'sreef]

So, I was given a damsel and some inverts from a family who didn't have the means to continue to care for it. It seems to swim very well, though it does prefer to hide, and show some signs of significant aggression. Since I got the fish last week I took some of the sand with some new sand that the owner gave me as well as the rock and threw it in my low boy aquarium and did an emergency set up with a few pieces of extra equipment I had. Water permeters are all stable, but the fish did go without a light on the aquarium until today. Today all the equipment to properly set up the aquarium came in. The fish is a full adult 3 striped damsel around 3.5 inches in length. I did notice that the water tested positive for trace amounts of chlorine (0.2)(then added prime to the tank) though the water I used tests at 0. I suspect the previous owner was using just tap water and it's leaching from the rocks. That being said and the history of said fish is complete, here is the issue, since I picked it up I've noticed that it's gill flap for lack of a better term seems transparent or flushed. Gills themselves do not look inflamed. I unfortunately I am at work and can't currently provide a photo. I suspect chemical burn or bacteria is causing this. So is there any product one would suggest for the whole tank without removing the rock and sand. He is the only thing really in the tank other than a couple collonista snails that magically migrated from my main tank to this (probably attach to some of the filter media). I've hear good things about microblift, just wanted some other perspectives.

 

[vetteguy53081]

So, I was given a damsel and some inverts from a family who didn't have the means to continue to care for it. It seems to swim very well, though it does prefer to hide, and show some signs of significant aggression. Since I got the fish last week I took some of the sand with some new sand that the owner gave me as well as the rock and threw it in my low boy aquarium and did an emergency set up with a few pieces of extra equipment I had. Water permeters are all stable, but the fish did go without a light on the aquarium until today. Today all the equipment to properly set up the aquarium came in. The fish is a full adult 3 striped damsel around 3.5 inches in length. I did notice that the water tested positive for trace amounts of chlorine (0.2)(then added prime to the tank) though the water I used tests at 0. I suspect the previous owner was using just tap water and it's leaching from the rocks. That being said and the history of said fish is complete, here is the issue, since I picked it up I've noticed that it's gill flap for lack of a better term seems transparent or flushed. Gills themselves do not look inflamed. I unfortunately I am at work and can't currently provide a photo. I suspect chemical burn or bacteria is causing this. So is there any product one would suggest for the whole tank without removing the rock and sand. He is the only thing really in the tank other than a couple collonista snails that magically migrated from my main tank to this (probably attach to some of the filter media). I've hear good things about microblift, just wanted some other perspectives.

High nitrate, high specific gravity, flukes and fighting all can be causes and pics under white lighting, no blue will prove valuable

 

[D'sreef]

So, I was given a damsel and some inverts from a family who didn't have the means to continue to care for it. It seems to swim very well, though it does prefer to hide, and show some signs of significant aggression. Since I got the fish last week I took some of the sand with some new sand that the owner gave me as well as the rock and threw it in my low boy aquarium and did an emergency set up with a few pieces of extra equipment I had. Water permeters are all stable, but the fish did go without a light on the aquarium until today. Today all the equipment to properly set up the aquarium came in. The fish is a full adult 3 striped damsel around 3.5 inches in length. I did notice that the water tested positive for trace amounts of chlorine (0.2)(then added prime to the tank) though the water I used tests at 0. I suspect the previous owner was using just tap water and it's leaching from the rocks. That being said and the history of said fish is complete, here is the issue, since I picked it up I've noticed that it's gill flap for lack of a better term seems transparent or flushed. Gills themselves do not look inflamed. I unfortunately I am at work and can't currently provide a photo. I suspect chemical burn or bacteria is causing this. So is there any product one would suggest for the whole tank without removing the rock and sand. He is the only thing really in the tank other than a couple collonista snails that magically migrated from my main tank to this (probably attach to some of the filter media). I've hear good things about microblift, just wanted some other perspectives.

High nitrate, high specific gravity, flukes and fighting all can be causes and pics under white lighting, no blue will prove valuable

Definitely not the nitrates or other nutrients as all were not present as with most new tanks. Salt at a steady 35ppm. Unfortunately I have another 250 miles before I will be at home, so photos will be available around 3 am cst.

 

[D'sreef]

Yay @vetteguy53081 I got done early. I also dropped a basic old test strip in the water I am now registering nitrates (= approx 10ppm) and nitrites (= or less 1ppm) salinty is still at 35ppm.

 

[D'sreef]

Bump before I go to sleep

 

[vetteguy53081]

Yay @vetteguy53081 I got done early. I also dropped a basic old test strip in the water I am now registering nitrates (= approx 10ppm) and nitrites (= or less 1ppm) salinty is still at 35ppm.

This looks to be an injury from aggression and this fish will have a long road to recovery if left with others who are likely beating up on it

 

[D'sreef]

Yay @vetteguy53081 I got done early. I also dropped a basic old test strip in the water I am now registering nitrates (= approx 10ppm) and nitrites (= or less 1ppm) salinty is still at 35ppm.

This looks to be an injury from aggression and this fish will have a long road to recovery if left with others who are likely beating up on it

He is the only fish currently in the aquarium, but he has had those spots since I rescued him from his previous home about a week ago. Along with the rock, sand, and like 4 snails.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

He is the only fish currently in the aquarium, but he has had those spots since I rescued him from his previous home about a week ago. Along with the rock, sand, and like 4 snails.

I see some scale damage - perhaps from when it was caught up to go to you?

I’ve seen that translucent gill cover issue on long term captive fish before - not sure what the cause is though.

 

[D'sreef]

He is the only fish currently in the aquarium, but he has had those spots since I rescued him from his previous home about a week ago. Along with the rock, sand, and like 4 snails.

I see some scale damage - perhaps from when it was caught up to go to you?

I’ve seen that translucent gill cover issue on long term captive fish before - not sure what the cause is though.

The people who I got it from did say it was a super old fish. Just don't remember how old they said.