Treating wrasse in QT

[gunit]

My Exquisite Wrasse that I just got a few days ago has started to show some redness on its, previously white, belly area that I'm thinking might be a bacterial issue. I've been fighting some ammonia issues (.02 via Seachum's Ammonia Alert but .25 on API), but have been doing 50%+ water changes daily so I'm guessing it might be due to that :( He's still eating, but still basically hiding out under rocks at the bottom.

To hopefully knock out the infection I just dosed some Tetra so I am hoping that helps. Tetra is reef safe right (AFAIK it is)?

As for the ammonia issues I'm not sure exactly what is going on. I had a sponge filter that should've been cycled in the tank from the get go, but I'm worried I didn't feed it enough so it might not of had a sufficient culture. I have added some cured live rock from my sump and have dosed some Dr. Tim's but I'm still struggling with the ammonia. Given I'm treating with Tetra, is there anything else I can do to help knock down the ammonia and hopefully save this fish?

 

[Mike&Terry]

What Tetra product are you referring to?

 

[gunit]

API's tc teteracycline but I just noticed it said freshwater only [emoji21] I've done 2 50%+ water changes and hopefully I didn't just make things worse.

 

[Mike&Terry]

API's tc teteracycline but I just noticed it said freshwater only [emoji21] I've done 2 50%+ water changes and hopefully I didn't just make things worse.

Tetracycline doesn't work well in saltwater tanks because the pH is too high.

I would recommend adding some activated carbon and concentrate on clearing the ammonia. Seachem Prime can help along with the live rock you've added. Siphoning out uneaten food after feedings will also help.

Is the fish showing any other signs of disease and is it still eating? Also, what salinity are you keeping in the QT?

 

[gunit]

Don't think it showing other signs besides maybe a little cloud in the eyes. Hard to tell since he's almost exclusively hanging out under the rocks. Breathing seems normal and he's still eating.

I'll dose Prime and add the carbon in hopes of that helping.

Salinity is at 1.023.

 

[Mike&Terry]

Don't think it showing other signs besides maybe a little cloud in the eyes. Hard to tell since he's almost exclusively hanging out under the rocks. Breathing seems normal and he's still eating.

I'll dose Prime and add the carbon in hopes of that helping.

Salinity is at 1.023.

Eating and breathing normal are good signs. :smile:

If the redness on his abdomen doesn't clear, a good broad spectrum antibiotic that we've used on occasion is Furan-2.

Hope he pulls through for you.

 

[gunit]

How long do you think I should give the redness to clear?

I think I have some Furan-2, but I can track some down from a LFS if I need to. I also have Erythromycin too if you have any experience with that.

 

[gunit]

Here are some photos I got with my phone. Hopefully it shows what I'm worried about.

 

[gunit]

Update: After the weekend of using Prime to keep Ammonia down his belly is slightly less red but he doesn't look 100% by any means. Still just stating at the bottom under the rocks or in the chest for cover.

Starting to consider starting either Furan 2 or E.M. Erythromycin since he is still seems to be struggling. He eats during feeding but really only off the bottom and haven't really seen him swim in the column for some time.

 

[gunit]

If anyone is still following along and has advice/thoughts....Just started the first dose of E.M. Erythromycin fingers crossed it will help.

 

[evolved]

I think you're following the right course of action; fingers crossed you see improvement.

 

[gunit]

So just finished the last round of treatment today. He looks a bit better. Still a bit red in the belly and a bit more faded in color than he was when I got him. Good news is he is way more active than he was for awhile. Out much more naturally and not so shy when I feed. Overall just more active.

So my question is should I try treating him with another round (maybe a different antibiotic say Furan 2 or Triple Sulfa) after a couple days of using activated carbon to remove any lingering EM Erythromycin? Or should I just let him be for a few days to see if he recovers more on his own?

 

[Mike&Terry]

So just finished the last round of treatment today. He looks a bit better. Still a bit red in the belly and a bit more faded in color than he was when I got him. Good news is he is way more active than he was for awhile. Out much more naturally and not so shy when I feed. Overall just more active.

So my question is should I try treating him with another round (maybe a different antibiotic say Furan 2 or Triple Sulfa) after a couple days of using activated carbon to remove any lingering EM Erythromycin? Or should I just let him be for a few days to see if he recovers more on his own?

It sounds like he is on the road to recovery. If it were me, I would hold off on additional medications and concentrate on keeping water quality high and offering small amounts of quality food several times a day.

 

[gunit]

Just a slight update on progress...

My Exquisite wrasse seems to be doing better as far as the infection goes, but shortly after I noticed a fair number of white dots which looked clearly like ich. He's continued to eat well throughout so I've slowly taken the salinity down to start hypo a couple weeks ago. He had one more small outbreak a couple days in to hypo, but since then hasn't had any signs. I'll likely keep him in hypo for another few weeks and then slowly bring things up to normal salinity. Overall though he is out much more than early on and is eating really well. Hoping that he keeps it up and makes a full recovery.

Here's a pic from today: