I have had this fish and my others in hypo since they displayed signs of ick, about 4 weeks ago. The fish all died one at a time. I'm down to this trigger. I'm thinking that there is something else going on now, he has swollen cloudy eyes, and the spots shown in the picture. His appitite is great and I have been feeding daily and doing small water changes each day. I'm thinking this is some sort of bacterial infection. What do you think? What should I do to treat him?
Sick Trigger
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I have had this fish and my others in hypo since they displayed signs of ick, about 4 weeks ago. The fish all died one at a time. I'm down to this trigger. I'm thinking that there is something else going on now, he has swollen cloudy eyes, and the spots shown in the picture. His appitite is great and I have been feeding daily and doing small water changes each day. I'm thinking this is some sort of bacterial infection. What do you think? What should I do to treat him?
jag3534
Well-known member
Aw, I'm sorry! I don't know whats going on, but hopefully people who know more will chime in!! We had to qt all the fish from our tank for an ich outbreak awhile back, we lost a dragon goby, a psuedochromis, 2 chromis, and it seems like something else too. All in a week, before I gave in and just moved the fish left back to the display tank, ich be damned! I think it was the ammonia overload thing that killed ours though, with no bio filter.
While I'm here, what've you been feeding him, have you tested params, how big a tank is it, how much water in the water changes, have you been doing any treatment besides hypo?
Good luck! Sorry bout the lost fishies, hopefully this guy pulls through!
While I'm here, what've you been feeding him, have you tested params, how big a tank is it, how much water in the water changes, have you been doing any treatment besides hypo?
Good luck! Sorry bout the lost fishies, hopefully this guy pulls through!
He's in a 20 long with a powerfilter and 2 circulation power heads. I've been doing about 5 gallons or less a day, just to get the left over food off the bottom of the tank. I have been feeding rods, and mysis, with selcon added to it.
Crystalclear125
Well-known member
20 long is not big enough for that fish. he may be freaked out alot. you could also do a dip
try reading on lee's fish forum on dips and meds
try reading on lee's fish forum on dips and meds
He doesn't live in it, he is just QTed in it. He lives in a 100 gallon tank.
Myteemouse
NOTHING
thats good. my white face tang was rubbing because she was freaked out. the QT tank was to small, as soon as i put her in the 125 she was better
I would need to eliminate some of the possibilities here. To do that you will need to perform a freshwater dip. Follow the guidelines here for the dip: Fresh Water Fish Dip EXCEPT limit the dip to 10 minutes. Let the bath water sit absolutely still-undisturbed for at least 20 minutes, in a place you will be able to do the following:
After the fish is returned to it QT after the dip, I want very close examination of what is in the water. Look at the bottom to see if there is anything settling out of the water. I need a good description of what you see.
Look also for anything floating on the surface of the water.
The parasite is at an advanced stage of infection. Right after the dip, I want you to slowly raise the salinity of the water to the 'normal range' over the next week. While you are doing this, obtain Cupramine and a Salifert Copper test kit, if you don't have these on hand already.
Report your findings in the bath water as soon as you have them.
After the fish is returned to it QT after the dip, I want very close examination of what is in the water. Look at the bottom to see if there is anything settling out of the water. I need a good description of what you see.
Look also for anything floating on the surface of the water.
The parasite is at an advanced stage of infection. Right after the dip, I want you to slowly raise the salinity of the water to the 'normal range' over the next week. While you are doing this, obtain Cupramine and a Salifert Copper test kit, if you don't have these on hand already.
Report your findings in the bath water as soon as you have them.
Other than brown spots, are the white spots diminished in number or gone?
I believe you are dealing with a surface parasite and fortunately it seems to be suseptible to a FW bath treatment. Many Tangs have this parasite. Answer the above question for me.
The brown spots are now a sign of systemic problems. Not unusual for the situation. There is a secondary infection trying to now take over the weakened fish. Also, water quality will contribute to the stress on the fish.
You need to control water quality better than you have ever done before. Use water changes daily or twice a day if you need to. When you perform a water change, do large ones (over 75%) and follow guidelines for water changes found here: Safe Water Change procedure.
Immediately start an antibiotic treatment. The choice of antibiotic is very important. It has to be a systemic antibiotic rather than a topical one. You want the antibiotic to go inside the fish, through the fish's skin. The best of the two I know is Maracyn Two for Saltwater fish.
I hope you can get this antibiotic. None works better for this. You will NOT follow the recommended dose. Instead you will double the dose of this particular antibiotic for the entire 5-day treatment. This along with water quality controls should brind the fish out of this condition.
Before you perform a water change you will put the Maracyn Two into the new water. Thus the fish 'sees' no change in medication concentration.
I hope the fish is still eating. Providing the top nutrition and the right quantity of food is essential for the fish's recovery. Make sure to lace its food with fat and vitamin supplements.
I believe you are dealing with a surface parasite and fortunately it seems to be suseptible to a FW bath treatment. Many Tangs have this parasite. Answer the above question for me.
The brown spots are now a sign of systemic problems. Not unusual for the situation. There is a secondary infection trying to now take over the weakened fish. Also, water quality will contribute to the stress on the fish.
You need to control water quality better than you have ever done before. Use water changes daily or twice a day if you need to. When you perform a water change, do large ones (over 75%) and follow guidelines for water changes found here: Safe Water Change procedure.
Immediately start an antibiotic treatment. The choice of antibiotic is very important. It has to be a systemic antibiotic rather than a topical one. You want the antibiotic to go inside the fish, through the fish's skin. The best of the two I know is Maracyn Two for Saltwater fish.
I hope you can get this antibiotic. None works better for this. You will NOT follow the recommended dose. Instead you will double the dose of this particular antibiotic for the entire 5-day treatment. This along with water quality controls should brind the fish out of this condition.
Before you perform a water change you will put the Maracyn Two into the new water. Thus the fish 'sees' no change in medication concentration.
I hope the fish is still eating. Providing the top nutrition and the right quantity of food is essential for the fish's recovery. Make sure to lace its food with fat and vitamin supplements.
The spots have dimenished but there are still alot of them. He isn't eating today either. I have been doing 5 gallon water changes for the past couple of weeks but I will step up to larger changes. I am on the 3rd day of Maracyn 1. Should I get the 2 and double the treatment like you suggest or stick with maracyn 1 at the prescribed dosage?
Switch to Two. One is the common Erythromycin which works best on topical infections. Like I think I may have mentioned, you need a systemic antibiotic, which Two is. If you use Two, double it. Right now, One is doing between nothing to little for the fish. Pls don't ask me again if it's okay to not follow my recommendations. 
Switch to Two. One is the common Erythromycin which works best on topical infections. Like I think I may have mentioned, you need a systemic antibiotic, which Two is. If you use Two, double it. Right now, One is doing between nothing to little for the fish. Pls don't ask me again if it's okay to not follow my recommendations.
Ok. Thanks for the advice, I though that the point of these threads was to ask questions and get advice on things. I guess I was mistaken. Peace out, I'm going back to reef central now. You seem to know alot about fish but you might want to work on your people skills.
You didn't ask, 'Why Two?' you posted you were using one and was it okay to do so. Big difference to me.
The Maracyn Two was the first treatment of 3 I was going to recommend.But by leaving you'll save me a lot of posting. No hard feelings on my part. Goodbye
The Maracyn Two was the first treatment of 3 I was going to recommend.But by leaving you'll save me a lot of posting. No hard feelings on my part. Goodbye
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