Sick Radiata Lionfish

[Lionfish Lair]

And this is a mombasae.

 

[Humblefish]

Isn't the "HLLE-ish" thing weird? It's not only radiatas that get it, but they seem to always have it. They come with it and it resolves as they settle in.

That is weird. Maybe there are more causes of HLLE than what is generally known.

 

[ZoaCollector]

Who knows what baths they got before you received them. Or what holding tanks they were in.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Can you expand upon that point a little more?

 

[ZoaCollector]

Can you expand upon that point a little more?

What I meant was if you didn't collect it yourself, we don't really know what holding tanks with what medications, diet if any, ect was predisposed to the fish prior to you receiving it. Which may explain the HLLE. Just a thought...

 

[Humblefish]

I've seen many tangs develop HLLE while in copper, so the same might happen to lionfish. Some wholesalers run low level copper + formalin in their fish system. Not usually strong enough (or long enough) to eradicate any diseases, but enough to suppress symptoms until they can ship the fish out. ;)

 

[Lionfish Lair]

All of these were Diver's Den fish.

 

[Humblefish]

All of these were Diver's Den fish.

Those originally come from QM. And Diver's Den talks about all sorts of dips & baths they administer here (under Disease Prevention): http://www.liveaquaria.com/general/general.cfm?general_pagesid=425

And then there's this:

In addition to the baths, all quarantined fish are treated with copper sulfate and a 37% formaldehyde solution to combat Amyloodinium ocellatum and Cryptocaryon irritans.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

But I've also seen it in a Sphex right from a collector in Hawaii.

Radiatas and the rarer lions don't stay long at the wholesalers.... not when some of them have a $200 price tag on them. I was always inspecting QMs stocklist and some lions you just rarely see.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

One "unique feature" is they shed their top cuticle. I wonder if that has anything to do with it.

He finally moved his fin out of the way so you can see the healed wound a little better. Where the arrow is pointing, that's where the spine should be. The one behind it flops all over the place.

 

[Humblefish]

He's a beautiful fish, Renee. I've always wanted to do an "all Lion" tank. ;)

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Thanks. I'm just glad it had a good outcome. Now to get on with the rest of the boring QT.

 

[ZoaCollector]

He's a beautiful fish, Renee. I've always wanted to do an "all Lion" tank. ;)

I used to have one back in the day and it was my favorite tank. I made the mistake of using live ghosts shrimp from an unclean source and it wiped my tank out. I suspect it was brook or uronema that did it :(

 

[ZoaCollector]

Just a pointer to those out there, live foods can introduce nasties. @Humblefish if you have any advice on cleaning inverts before using for food please chime in.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Maybe you should sell some really pretty WYSIWYG scorps and lions.... :-)

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Just a pointer to those out there, live foods can introduce nasties. @Humblefish if you have any advice on cleaning inverts before using for food please chime in.

I use freshwater ghosties only and I keep them long enough to poop out whatever is in there belly before placing them in their holding tank.

 

[ZoaCollector]

I use freshwater ghosties only and I keep them long enough to poop out whatever is in there belly before placing them in their holding tank.

That's good advice, a step further would be to use freshwater ghosts to train them to eat frozen. I honestly have had bad experiences using saltwater feeders.
Also if I run across a sphex, or any other cool local lions or scorpions ill let you know.
I see plenty of scorpion species that don't ever make it to the market :)

 

[Lionfish Lair]

I have a sphex and am actually looking for a gorgeous fuzzy.

I agree about the risks. I never use live to feed long term, you're just asking for trouble, IMO. It also limits your choices for variety.... why feed them ghosties for life when I can feed them about 20 different species of critters. Frozen rules, IMO. This guy would not have made it, if I didn't convert him early. He's been on some major supplements and probiotics and such, which I wouldn't have been able to give him if he was taking live only.

But seriously if you see an epic fuzzy, give me a shout :)

 

[Humblefish]

Just a pointer to those out there, live foods can introduce nasties. @Humblefish if you have any advice on cleaning inverts before using for food please chime in.

If you use FW glass shrimp (for example), you shouldn't have to worry about any disease problems. I feed my puffers FW glass snails that I get from Petco (so obviously diseased water :D) without ever worrying about it. Feeding live saltwater crustaceans is another matter however. Pouring some RODI (or even tank water) over them should wash away any free swimmers, but if they have tomonts encysted to their exoskeleton that's a serious problem. For this reason, I don't like putting ornamental shrimp into my DT until after I've seen them molt.

I also recommend freezing any raw shrimp, clams, mussels, etc. for 24 hrs before feeding just in case.

 

[helen ann]

Glad he feeling much better ... he so darn cute.