Fish disease ID
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steve-s
Well-known member
What are the fish's symptoms and did you intend on posting a pic?
More commonly with Chromis they will be aflicted by Uronema or Vibrio. Any observations of the fish's symptoms, color/appearance, appetite and general behavior will help as will a pic (if clear and focused). Hexamita cannot usually be diagnosed visually however (being an internal parasite) except by the fish's behavior and overall appearance.
Any additional "tank history" and what tank mates would help as well. Along with if this (any?) of your fish go through a proper QT process before entering the main display and any treaments that may have been used...
Cheers
Steve
More commonly with Chromis they will be aflicted by Uronema or Vibrio. Any observations of the fish's symptoms, color/appearance, appetite and general behavior will help as will a pic (if clear and focused). Hexamita cannot usually be diagnosed visually however (being an internal parasite) except by the fish's behavior and overall appearance.
Any additional "tank history" and what tank mates would help as well. Along with if this (any?) of your fish go through a proper QT process before entering the main display and any treaments that may have been used...
Cheers
Steve
steve-s said:
Of course I did! Can't you see it? Here's one more. I have it about two weeks, two days ago it stopped to eat but still swimming around along with another. Beside of two Chromis there is only one Dascyllus trimaculatus in the tank.
The tank is 250g with sump and refugium. All the measurable water parameters are fine, but there happened something strange six month ago when I lost during two months all my fishes and shrimps except one peppermint shrimp. Interesting, but clams, hermit crabs and snails weren't affected in any way.
Those fishes are the first newcomers, before that there weren't any fish in the tank during four months. Most of my corals suffered also very much, but now, when corals are recovering I decided to try with couple of hardy fishes. Unfortunately I didn't quarateen them
.If you are interested, I'll tell the whole story about my tank crash, but here it may be OT. As a matter of fact, I planned to ask experts opinion about those quite strange for me symptoms, if I could find a forum it does fit in. :lol:
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steve-s
Well-known member
Didn't see a pic in the first post, don't know why 'cause it's there now? Oh well... Good news is no sign of Vibrio or Uronema.
Not Hexamita but does definately look like a worm problem. I would definately get the fish into a QT, if it's not eating, you will need to be specific about the treatment. I would first start off with reducing the salinity in hopes of getting the fish eating again. Follow the directions for that <<here>>. If the fish does not begin to eat after that, you will need a general treatment as the targeted internal remedies must be injested to work best. Praziqualtel (Prazipro) would work there. If the fish does begin eating, start off with garlic soaked foods and then move onto Metronidazole.
I am also concerned by the gill area. Note the attached pic. Is that a figment of the picture or actually there and is it just the one gill or both?
As for your previous issue, I'm quite sure everyone would be willing to help buty I would suggest a new thread for that so you do note lose focus on the needs of the Chromis.
Cheers
Steve
Not Hexamita but does definately look like a worm problem. I would definately get the fish into a QT, if it's not eating, you will need to be specific about the treatment. I would first start off with reducing the salinity in hopes of getting the fish eating again. Follow the directions for that <<here>>. If the fish does not begin to eat after that, you will need a general treatment as the targeted internal remedies must be injested to work best. Praziqualtel (Prazipro) would work there. If the fish does begin eating, start off with garlic soaked foods and then move onto Metronidazole.
I am also concerned by the gill area. Note the attached pic. Is that a figment of the picture or actually there and is it just the one gill or both?
As for your previous issue, I'm quite sure everyone would be willing to help buty I would suggest a new thread for that so you do note lose focus on the needs of the Chromis.
Cheers
Steve
That looks like it could be a tape worm or possibly dead intestines coming out. Pretty dense to be just white poop. Your best bet is to move to quarantine for treatment. I would use praziquantel with some furanase, Maracyn-Two, or nitrofurazone.
Terry B
Terry B
Thanks, Terry!
Are you using Netscape browser? I didn't see them either from my workplace, but with IE and Mozilla anything was fine. I moved the pictures to another server, hope that everybody can see them now.steve-s said:
Not much changes today. Chromis is still not eating, I tried to give him food soaked in garlic juice. A kind of tiny hole or two appeared near the whitish sore on its head. Saw Dascyllus swimming around with a long "poop", it was quite upset, but got soon rid of it. Unfortunately I lost the "poop", otherwise I had the chance to look at it under microscope.
Unfortunately I lost the "poop", otherwise I had the chance to look at it under microscope.steve-s
Well-known member
If the other fish are exibiting the same signs, it's an internal worm for sure. Typically transmitted through injesting the feces of another fish or foods left in the aquarium become infested and the fish eat that. You will need to QT and treat all the fish (2?) that are in the tank to be rid of it. Be sure you get on the antibio that Terry suggested as the area behind the gill looks to be infected. On that note, is it simpley a tuft or is it stringy? I can't tell by the newest pic you've posted.
RE: The first pic(s), I use Firefox. Not sure if it was your previous server storage of not but it seems to work now so it's all good...
Cheers
Steve
RE: The first pic(s), I use Firefox. Not sure if it was your previous server storage of not but it seems to work now so it's all good...
Cheers
Steve
I would guess that the lesion on the gills is viral in nature. Not much you can do to treat viral infections directly. You can improve the diet, reduce stress and use some Beta glucan. The fish may recover after the problem with the unusual feces is delt with.
Since more than one fish is having similar symptoms I have to wonder how you store your fish foods and how old they are? This could have something to do with tainted foods.
Terry B
Since more than one fish is having similar symptoms I have to wonder how you store your fish foods and how old they are? This could have something to do with tainted foods.
Terry B
Thanks again Steve and Terry, very useful information, and I guess not for me only.
To be more specific, there are currently three fishes in my tank: one Dascyllus and two Chromis, the other Chromis is still eating and actively hunting food.
I store my dry fish food (usually) in a refrigerator at +4 C, frozen foods at -18 C. After reading Terry's last message I checked the food Chromis liked best (Dr. Bassleer's Biofish Food marine forte) and holy crap :exclaim: it was expired more than a year ago.
Being not a biologist and having no earlier experience with worms, could you please explain how the tainted food could be related to the internal worms? I'm curious about the life cycle of such worms too. How long they can live in tank without a host organism (fish?) ? I mean, if the worst will happen and all my fishes will die, how long I should wait before starting again with fishes.
I know that I should move them in QT immediately, but it is practically impossible to catch those fishes in 250g tank full of LR. At least not before when they are so weak that there is nothing more to do for saving their life. I have experienced that as I mentioned above.
To be more specific, there are currently three fishes in my tank: one Dascyllus and two Chromis, the other Chromis is still eating and actively hunting food.
I store my dry fish food (usually) in a refrigerator at +4 C, frozen foods at -18 C. After reading Terry's last message I checked the food Chromis liked best (Dr. Bassleer's Biofish Food marine forte) and holy crap :exclaim: it was expired more than a year ago.
Being not a biologist and having no earlier experience with worms, could you please explain how the tainted food could be related to the internal worms? I'm curious about the life cycle of such worms too. How long they can live in tank without a host organism (fish?) ? I mean, if the worst will happen and all my fishes will die, how long I should wait before starting again with fishes.
I know that I should move them in QT immediately, but it is practically impossible to catch those fishes in 250g tank full of LR. At least not before when they are so weak that there is nothing more to do for saving their life. I have experienced that as I mentioned above.
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The tainted food would have little to do with internal worms, but it could have a lot to do with an internal bacterial infection. I recommend storing all foods, including flake, in the freezer. You should only buy foods in portions that you will use up within a couple of months. Get some fresh foods and maybe that will help. The fish may not survive without treatment with an antibiotic at this point.
Terry B
Terry B
steve-s
Well-known member
It's definately a worm but that about as far as I can tell. Without a more detailed shot of the body dimension, head and tail; you can only guess. Looks to be a type of cestode though.
Praziquantel is your best bet.
Cheers
Steve
Praziquantel is your best bet.
Cheers
Steve
I'm going to use one of following Gyromarin or Preis Coly. The latter contains only natural herbs like garlic, malva etc. It may be not that effective as Gyromarin (praziquantel)? I sent a query to both manufactures and asked are they sure their product would be safe for marine invertebrates. I already guess what answer I'll get, if any.
Anyway, I'm not going to dump the drugs into tank but use for soaking fish food.
Anyway, I'm not going to dump the drugs into tank but use for soaking fish food.
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steve-s
Well-known member
While I have never used (or seen ) the Gyromarin product, it does contain Praziquantel but at what concentration I couldn't tell you. The other Preis Coly simpley lists, "100% plant concentrates", which means about nothing to me personally. Of the two, the choice is obvious but in saying that I cannot stress enough the importance of not additing treatments of this nature (or many others) directly to your display tank. While they calim it is safe, you really have no idea what it may inadvertantly destroy and no way of determinining what if any long term side effects may arise. I urge you to use this only in a properly set up (and hopefully cycled ) QT....
Cheers
Steve
Cheers
Steve
There is a good site http://www.rhusmann.de/aqua/medikame.htm in german for many meds produced mainly in Germany. Not sure how widely those are known and used in US.
Sorry to tell, but the sick Chromis died yesterday. The wound or lesion near the gills almost healed, but it still didn't eat anything. The other Chromis and Dascyllus are doing fine. After I started to feed them with food soaked in garlic juice I don't see the stringy feces any more. Let's hope that garlic is enough and I do not need any other medication.
Sorry to tell, but the sick Chromis died yesterday.
The wound or lesion near the gills almost healed, but it still didn't eat anything. The other Chromis and Dascyllus are doing fine. After I started to feed them with food soaked in garlic juice I don't see the stringy feces any more. Let's hope that garlic is enough and I do not need any other medication.
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steve-s
Well-known member
Sorry for your loss
I don't know if the garlic will be enouh to effect a permanent cure, Terry will have to comment on that. At the very least, it will control the problem and help the fish so keep it up for the next while.
RE: Preis Coly. The ingredients you list are primarily garlic, Chrysanthemum, Tanacetum vulgare (yellow flowering weed), Dryopteris filix mas (male fern), citric acid and lab grade water. All basically homeopathic remedies (except the last 2) for internal worms/parasites.
Cheers
Steve
I don't know if the garlic will be enouh to effect a permanent cure, Terry will have to comment on that. At the very least, it will control the problem and help the fish so keep it up for the next while.
RE: Preis Coly. The ingredients you list are primarily garlic, Chrysanthemum, Tanacetum vulgare (yellow flowering weed), Dryopteris filix mas (male fern), citric acid and lab grade water. All basically homeopathic remedies (except the last 2) for internal worms/parasites.
Cheers
Steve
