Royal Gramma diagnosis help

alyee5 · Mar 24, 2016

Well, I was hoping my first post to R2R would be a sharing my year long journey into my first reef tank build, but instead I'm looking for insight from this forum to help me determine whether the "spot" I've observed on my Royal Gramma is something I should treat/be concerned about.
Hopefully, I can get the image uploaded correctly.

Background. Royal Gramma purchased 5 days ago from LFS. The fish has been in the LFS since 1/10-they keep their tanks hypo-salinity (SG=1.016-1.017). I floated the RG for 20 min in my 10 gallon QT to acclimate temp and released him (and a small Clarkii Clown) in the QT. I had set up the salinity in the QT to match my LFS so I could "float and release" vs drip acclimate. The QT has a Aquaclear 30 gallon HOB with a filter sponge and ceramic media that I had in my DT sump for 1+ month, a heater and an airhose to provide oxygen. Temp ~78.5F. RG and Clarkii Clown both seem to adjust and eat fine. The RG has now made its home in one of my PVC pipes. I have not observed any fighting or bullying. Ammonia 0-0.25 using an API kit. I did a 70% water change (SG= up to ~1.018-1.019) and started Prazipro treatment 24 hours ago.

Thanks for any help in advance

melypr1985 · Mar 24, 2016

Hi and welcome to R2R! When in the last 5 days did this spot appear? Have you noticed anything else symptom wise? Scratching, flashing, heavy breathing, head twitching, white stringy poop? Things like that? Is there a chance he could have gotten injured there from being chased and netted or maybe just freaking out when first introduced to your qt?

alyee5 · Mar 24, 2016

I haven't observed any of the symptoms you've listed. I noticed the spot today (24 hours post water change/prazipro first dose). I observed both fish to make sure they were ok post the water change--the Clarkii was pretty jumpy during the experience while the RG seemed to take it stride. The only "aggression" I've observed has been during feeding where the Clarkii is darting around eating while the RG hovers out of his way. The RG slowly swims to its spot behind the heater (vertically hovering) and slowly swims down to the PVC and back again. Perhaps its an abrasion or a physical cause vs bacterial/parasitic/viral?

Humblefish · Mar 25, 2016

alyee5 said:
Perhaps its an abrasion or a physical cause vs bacterial/parasitic/viral?

^^ This would be my guess; the inside edges of that PVC elbow look rough in some places so he might have nicked himself on that. Keep an eye on that Clarkii though. They can get aggressive with other fish and a basslet is not one to back down if he doesn't have a hidey hole to dart into.

Reefersutherland_ · Mar 25, 2016

I'd guess bacterial infection

alyee5 · Mar 26, 2016

Thanks everyone for their inputs...I'll smooth out the edge of my PVC piping and keep a close eye (webcam has been setup through an old IPhone) on the RG and Clarkii interaction. I guess it would be a good time to consider stocking a medicine cabinet to include treatments for bacterial just in case...perhaps Kanaplex and Furan-2 as recommended by humblefish's thread...

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/medications-to-keep-on-hand.213574/

alyee5 · Mar 30, 2016

Here is my RG after 1 week after. PVC pipe replaced. No behavioral issues. "Abrasion" seems to be darker...maybe getting color and healing. Haven't done any medicines until I see something more alarming. Note: the Clarkii in the back of the QT with the "I didn't do anything" expression (even tho my webcam did catching a couple of minor chases initiated by the Clarkii.