HELP!!! Lion Sick.

[J McCauley]

I have a Volitan Lion fish in a 120G tank w/ Bursa trigger, Snowflake Eel, and a Foxface Lo... The lion fish has done well since I got him in March. Eating silvers sides from day one. Over the last five days he has started to show very bad health signs: fading color, eyes clouding over, not eating, slugish.

New developement: the Bursa trigger looks if it is trying to knock things off its body by rubbing against bottom of tank and rock. Currently can't see anything on him though.

Water parameters: temp 82, specific gravity 1.021, ammonia 0, nitrite 0 , nitrate 40

Help!! Not sure what is happening and what should be done!!!

 

[fishermann]

Do you see any little white spots, could have an ich issue? Sounds like the lion already has some bacteria problems. I would get some Maracyn and Maracyn-two, they are a broad spectrum antibiotic, one well treat gram neg. and the other gram positive. They are safe to use with inverts and corals and well not mess up you filter bed. It would be best if you had a hospitol tank but if not you can treat the big tank well just take more money. Make sure you treat for the full five days as directed, and time is important with bacterial infections. These also have B vit. added and well help stimulate the fishes appitite. Make sure you get the saltwater ones and not the fresh. I have used these in the past on new fish in my quarantine tank with great success. The next thing you need to determine is why they are sick, you need to make sure you water is okay, not just parims but temp. not fluxuating alot, clean. Are you running a UV sterilizer, if not get one and go bigger then the reccomended size. You may have just picked up a bacteria infection by accident, a UV well help keep the bad boys out. It also kills a few good guys but the benefits outway the cons alot more.

 

[J McCauley]

Thanks!!!!!!!

 

[fishermann]

aquac remora pro is not near enough skimmer for a 120 tank. I have the same skimmer on one of my 60 gal. You should cut in two the size these mfg. claim. I have a euro reef on my other tank and wouldn't own anything else now. This could be a cause of stress if your water is not being cleaned, what with feeding sliver sides and such. Be really careful about overfeeding with that small skimmer. This could be where a bacteria infestation got in, or ich which if things are good in the tank healthy fish well rid themselfes of, but if conditions aren't good the ich well lead to bacteria infections.

 

[Terry B]

Lionfish commonly have problems with overfeeding and incorrect diet. How often do you feed the fish and how much? I suggest feeding the lion some uncooked prawns (large shrimp). They eat a lot of crustations in the wild along with fish. Overfeeding can lead to impaction and an internal bacterial infection. The fish sounds sick enough to treat in quarantine with a good antibiotic. I doubt maracyn will help because it is effective against gram positive bacteria and most bacterial infections of marine fish are gram negative in nature. Move the fish to quarantine and make a water change. Reducing the salinity will increase the effectivness of Maracyn-Two. Use the DOUBLE dose suggested on the package EACH and EVERY day for a minimum of 7 days. Do not reduce the dose after the first day. If you make a water change each day before adding the next dose it will also increase the effectivness of the Maracyn-Two. Try to use the saltwater version of the medication because it contains B vitamins that assist in digestion.

HTH,
Terry B