Golden Butterfly - Something is growing???

[calvinkaren]

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum. Does anyone know what is growing on that fish? Is it fungus? How can I treat it?

Thank you for your help,

Calvin

 

[returnofsid]

Hi Calvin and welcome to Reef Frontiers!!

I'm unable to identify the growth, though you've definitely posted in the correct area. Lee will be able to give you lots of great advice, but be patient, as he may take a day or two, to respond. In the meantime, it'll help if you can give us as much information about your tank and tankmates, as possible. It'll give Lee more information to help with a diagnosis and possible treatment.

 

[NC2WA]

also how long have you had this fish in your system?
Do you QT it before entering in DT?
Is it eating?

 

[Red C Aquarium]

Looks to be a liffted scale with a slight infection.

How are the gills?

Check the breathing , look for equal movement.


Hows your salt level? Red Sea fish tend to like it a little high.

Good luck,

ARSA

 

[NC2WA]

along with high salt, they also need really good water quality...

 

[leebca]

Calvin,

Although it has the appearance of a growth, it is more likely part of the inflammatory response to infection or injury. The likelihood of an injury is low by the looks of the area. That leaves infection.

Is the fish eating? If the fish is receiving the proper nutrition, it should be able to fend off this sort of thing. We find fish in this condition when either the water quality is not tops or the nutrition is not tops, or both.

The usual 'treatment' is a treatment of antibiotic that goes systemically into the fish. This is done in a quarantine tank. My favorite for this is Maracyn Two for Saltwater fish. But if the fish isn't eating, not eating properly, or in less than very high water quality, the cure will be temporary or ineffective.

Without more information, that is about all I can suggest.

 

[calvinkaren]

Thank you for the response. The fish is eating crazy. But it only eats mysis shrimp. The fish is in the 135 gal with some softies and LR. Getting him out of the tank is not easy. Is there any food have Maracyn Two? If I make a massive water change, will it cure itself?

Calvin,

Although it has the appearance of a growth, it is more likely part of the inflammatory response to infection or injury. The likelihood of an injury is low by the looks of the area. That leaves infection.

Is the fish eating? If the fish is receiving the proper nutrition, it should be able to fend off this sort of thing. We find fish in this condition when either the water quality is not tops or the nutrition is not tops, or both.

The usual 'treatment' is a treatment of antibiotic that goes systemically into the fish. This is done in a quarantine tank. My favorite for this is Maracyn Two for Saltwater fish. But if the fish isn't eating, not eating properly, or in less than very high water quality, the cure will be temporary or ineffective.

Without more information, that is about all I can suggest.

 

[calvinkaren]

I QT for 6 weeks. It eats crazy. The salt lever is 1.025.

also how long have you had this fish in your system?
Do you QT it before entering in DT?
Is it eating?

 

[calvinkaren]

It is hard to see the gills. Breathing and movement are normal.

Thanks,

Calvin

Looks to be a liffted scale with a slight infection.

How are the gills?

Check the breathing , look for equal movement.


Hows your salt level? Red Sea fish tend to like it a little high.

Good luck,

ARSA

 

[NC2WA]

A large water change will not cure the infection, you need Marcayn II in a QT tank

 

[calvinkaren]

Is Marcayn II reef safe?

A large water change will not cure the infection, you need Marcayn II in a QT tank

 

[NC2WA]

NO !!!

Only to be used in a QT

Unfortunately, there is no quick fix here, to properly treat the infection the fish needs antibotics which only should be given in a QT, otherwise, the infection will take over the fish.

 

[leebca]

As mentioned by others, the treatment is not reef safe and needs to be done in a QT. Eating antibiotics often changes the drug. The digestive tracks of fish change the drug. Best to treat with a drug that goes through the skin, and by-passes the digestive track.

The water change won't be enough since the fish is not nourished properly. The diet of one food is not good enough. This contributes to the fish's inability to cope with its condition. Treat the fish, change the diet, and perform water changes if you believe there is something wrong with your water, however fix the water quality if this is the case.

I suggest you read and follow these posts:
Fish Health Through Proper Nutrition
and
Food Presentation
and
Getting Fish to Eat the RIGHT Foods

With regards to the (long) first linked post, be sure to include vitamin and fat supplements to foods, as recommended.