Sorry to hear of the problem.
Has the fish been through any trauma during the catch and transfer and acclimation? How soon did this show up after acclimation (or before) to the QT?
Obviously the QT must be large enough and with excellent water quality, so if these are not perfect, you may wish to bring that under control.
Before getting into the QT did you perform any prophylactic treatment? What water quality and chemistries did the fish come from? how do those chemistries compare to the QT?
The questions come from a possible perspective that the fish was injured when caught/transfered/acclimated either physically or by the water change. The resulting damage can allow bacteria and opportunistic microbes (e.g., fungus) to gain a foothold. :evil:
The fish is, nonetheless stressed. Provide an optimal diet and nutrition and include immune boosters. Treat with a systemic antibiotic (such as Maracyn Two for Saltwater fish) and monitor the fish closely to see if it getting any worse. It is very important to review the fish's diet, since such an infected fish can do a lot to heal on its own when given the proper nutrition.
Nutirional posts here:
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15720
and
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15719
Immune booster advice:
http://www.reefland.com/forum/marin...ase-treatment/19728-fish-immune-boosters.html
I'm putting parasites on the 'back burner' since you have some knowledge of the source of the fish and, unless there is some known condition in the QT or the tank the fish came from, this isn't parasitic action. Still, I would like to eliminate internal worms from the possible list. Has the fish been de-wormed by the previous owner? by you?
Keep us informed.
)
As I had previously mentioned, I would doubt this is a parasite. If the fish is coming from a known (re disease) tank, healthy at that time, I'd be hard pressed to agree the fish got infested with any parasitic organism by just being transferred into your QT unless it could have gotten contaminated just prior to leaving the tank it came from (e.g., a new addition to that display was not quarantined).
The extra mucous could well be from the damage to the fish's coating during the capture, which would easily show itself within 24 hours of the trauma. BTW, such trauma can kill such a fish. (If this was a scenario at the fish store, I would refuse to purchase the fish after that kind of event.
I'd make the fish comfortable (keep the salinity at 16ppt), treat with antibiotics, and also if you have available to you, some fish coating additive, use it to help the fish regain its mucous coating defenses.
Regarding Melafix and Pimafix my knowledge of their value is posted here:
http://www.reefland.com/forum/marin...-melafix-pimafix-how-they-work-dont-work.html
Good luck!
This is my fish
I had him for about a year or so. The previous owner had him for 2 years he said. as far as being wormed I did not do it due to I never saw nothing in his stool or no signs of worry. He was easy to catch but he raised his dorsel fin in the net and wedged himself in the the net I was carefull not to damage the fish, but added stress to the situation. His tank mates were a purple tang, blonde naso, 2 damsels, snowflake eel. these guys were added months ago. their was one new addition a racoon butterfly that I QT'd for about a month. He had a lump on his tail (lymposis) I took care of that waited a week and a half and with no signs of it growing back. I added him to the tank with the tangs.
I do not think it is velvet! if it was he would already be dead by now. its been a couple weeks already.
I am leaning towards fungus/ viral infection. What ever the case may be Vicki I will make it up to you. very upset about the little guy. he never showed any signs of nothing before. healthy as could be.
How is he eating behavior???? he was a little pig contantly eating whenever food was available. I dont think I could ever make that fish full. His diet was formula 1/2, brine shrimp, prime reef ocean nutrition brand flake foods. frozen mysis, enriched brine, krill, and he would steal silversides from the eel as well. I also fed him green algae sheets. specific gravity was 1.017-018 he was in my fish only and I always have kept my fish only salinity low alittle bit.
Nothing else in the tank is showing anything, but Im here for you.
