Twostick Stingfish

[Mickle]

I'm seeking advice once again, I received a twostick stingfish 3 days ago. The dorsal spines arrived damaged at the tips and its been progressing. I decided to remove from DT and quarantine before the "fin rot" reaches his main body. I'm treating him with neoplex right now. Since adding him to quarantine he has developed a white ulcer on his face, possibly was always there and is reacting to the neoplex? He is eating so I'm quite hopeful, breathing and behavior is still normal. Im seeking any advice for further treatment on both issues. Any other medications I should use along side or instead of neoplex? I know scorpionfishes are medication sensitive.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I'm seeking advice once again, I received a twostick stingfish 3 days ago. The dorsal spines arrived damaged at the tips and its been progressing. I decided to remove from DT and quarantine before the "fin rot" reaches his main body. I'm treating him with neoplex right now. Since adding him to quarantine he has developed a white ulcer on his face, possibly was always there and is reacting to the neoplex? He is eating so I'm quite hopeful, breathing and behavior is still normal. Im seeking any advice for further treatment on both issues. Any other medications I should use along side or instead of neoplex? I know scorpionfishes are medication sensitive.

Please post pics and/or video utilizing bright white light intensity, no blue lighting. While Neoplex is a good broad spectrum antibiotic, pictures will reveal what is going on

 

[Mickle]

I was going to post pictures tomorrow, the QT is a 5 gallon bucket so I have to take him out to get photos. It is definitely an infection though

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I was going to post pictures tomorrow, the QT is a 5 gallon bucket so I have to take him out to get photos. It is definitely an infection though

QT in a bucket can be problematic - difficult to get a good lateral view of the fish and water quality can be difficult to maintain.

The pics may give us some idea as to how serious the infection is.

Have you tried feeding it yet?

 

[Mickle]

QT in a bucket can be problematic - difficult to get a good lateral view of the fish and water quality can be difficult to maintain.

The pics may give us some idea as to how serious the infection is.

Have you tried feeding it yet?

I have no room for a QT tank nor a spare tank atm. Im going to move him into a fresh batch of saltwater today and Ill take the photos then. I tried feeding last night and he did not take even though he was buried, possibly cause I was watching overhead. He flares up and goes defensive mode whenever I check on him which is a good sign imo. When Im not checking on him hes fully covered with a towel. Just got home from work and then Ill sort out his new bucket and take photos

 

[KrisReef]

I have no room for a QT tank nor a spare tank atm. Im going to move him into a fresh batch of saltwater today and Ill take the photos then. I tried feeding last night and he did not take even though he was buried, possibly cause I was watching overhead. He flares up and goes defensive mode whenever I check on him which is a good sign imo. When Im not checking on him hes fully covered with a towel. Just got home from work and then Ill sort out his new bucket and take photos

If it's going to live in a bucket for treatment, feeding the fish will increase the need for biofiltration and water changes, unless continuous are not going to provide a healthy environment. This is a difficult situation. Any LFS that might be able to assist with a better hospital situation?

 

[Mickle]

Please post pics and/or video utilizing bright white light intensity, no blue lighting. While Neoplex is a good broad spectrum antibiotic, pictures will reveal what is going on

QT in a bucket can be problematic - difficult to get a good lateral view of the fish and water quality can be difficult to maintain.

The pics may give us some idea as to how serious the infection is.

Have you tried feeding it yet?

If it's going to live in a bucket for treatment, feeding the fish will increase the need for biofiltration and water changes, unless continuous are not going to provide a healthy environment. This is a difficult situation. Any LFS that might be able to assist with a better hospital situation?

Okay I got the photos, looks like his anus is red and swollen aswell :/ I just finished giving him clean water, salinity difference only by 0.2, Re-dosed Neoplex. Looks like the white 'ulcer' may be fungal instead. Looking back on photos from day 1 this white bump was a low profile bump of normal color that I never noticed, after going into QT it is much bigger and now obviously white + fuzzy.

Unfocued picture of the anus, was very difficult to get a picture

Opinions on if I should keep trying to feed inside bucket? Im not sure how often they eat in the wild. All the fish stores nearby are scummy and I would not trust them more than my bucket lol. Opinions on a methylene blue dip for 10 seconds tomorrow?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Okay I got the photos, looks like his anus is red and swollen aswell :/ I just finished giving him clean water, salinity difference only by 0.2, Re-dosed Neoplex. Looks like the white 'ulcer' may be fungal instead. Looking back on photos from day 1 this white bump was a low profile bump of normal color that I never noticed, after going into QT it is much bigger and now obviously white + fuzzy.

Unfocued picture of the anus, was very difficult to get a picture

Opinions on if I should keep trying to feed inside bucket? Im not sure how often they eat in the wild. All the fish stores nearby are scummy and I would not trust them more than my bucket lol. Opinions on a methylene blue dip for 10 seconds tomorrow?

Bucket is not ideal but a rubbermaid tub would best suffice. In addition, this appear bacterial and best treatment would be Seachem Neoplex along with satisfactory water quality

 

[Mickle]

Hm, the thing I like about the bucket is that I have just enough spare sand to make it deep enough for him to bury himself which I believe will help against stress, getting enough sand for a whole tub would be expensive and become pointless after this

 

[Mickle]

Got him to eat again a couple mins ago, I think Ill just keep going forward with feeding, water changes and neoplex unless someone mentions an alternative/better medication. Ill update if he starts getting better

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Got him to eat again a couple mins ago, I think Ill just keep going forward with feeding, water changes and neoplex unless someone mentions an alternative/better medication. Ill update if he starts getting better

I would go with this plan.

It's unlikely that the white lesion is fungal - external fungal infections are very rare in marine fish.

Methylene blue dips work against fungus, but 10 seconds is too short, that is a hobby thing, not supported in the literature. The proper dose is 6 ppm for 30 minutes.

 

[Mickle]

I would go with this plan.

It's unlikely that the white lesion is fungal - external fungal infections are very rare in marine fish.

Methylene blue dips work against fungus, but 10 seconds is too short, that is a hobby thing, not supported in the literature. The proper dose is 6 ppm for 30 minutes.

Any idea what it might be? Doesn't seem to bother him enough to stop eating

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Any idea what it might be? Doesn't seem to bother him enough to stop eating

I think this is mechanical damage along with some bacterial secondary infection.