Aggression/Bully OR Disease

Jtwy88 · Apr 2, 2021

My Ruby Red Fin Fairy Wrasse was found like this in the morning. Yesterday, I noted that it was hiding all day except feeding time. I noticed a small cut/wound on the right side of its body yesterday but thought it injured itself from the rock/hole he usually hides in. This morning, during feeding time it did not come out at all. I then found it behind a piece of rock in this condition.

Parameters are good (Ammonia, Nitrite are 0 and Nitrate is 5). All other fishes are looking fine. I did not notice any aggression between any of them at all but I could be wrong. Other fishes are Valentini Puffer, 2 Clown (Black Ice and Snowflake); 2 Neon Cleaner Goby and a Yellow Watchman Goby.

I did notice 2-4 spots (similar to ich) on the wrasse a week ago but they were gone since 2 days ago (when I started medicating the tank with Polyblab Medic) and adding Garlic Guard and Selcon to their food.a week ago as well. All other fishes seem fine so far.

What could have caused this?

Jay Hemdal · Apr 2, 2021

Tough to see from the images - I do see a slightly frayed dorsal fin. One thing that can happen is a fish becomes lethargic due to some disease issue and then another fish tags it while it is in a weaker state. Puffers are known for this, and you may not see it happen because when you approach the tank, the fish all start to watch you.

Is the fish breathing faster than normal? Isolating it like you have done is the first step....

Jay

Jtwy88 · Apr 2, 2021

Yes it is breathing faster than normal. I am isolating it and adding stress guard to the tank.

It’s covered in white patches (looking a bit like the scale/skin is peeled off).

Is this a better/clearer picture?

Jtwy88 · Apr 2, 2021

Jay Hemdal said:
Tough to see from the images - I do see a slightly frayed dorsal fin. One thing that can happen is a fish becomes lethargic due to some disease issue and then another fish tags it while it is in a weaker state. Puffers are known for this, and you may not see it happen because when you approach the tank, the fish all start to watch you.

Is the fish breathing faster than normal? Isolating it like you have done is the first step....

Jay

Jay Hemdal · Apr 2, 2021

Jtwy88 said:
Yes it is breathing faster than normal. I am isolating it and adding stress guard to the tank.

It’s covered in white patches (looking a bit like the scale/skin is peeled off).

Is this a better/clearer picture?

Not really, we have trouble with too much blue in the images, and a top down shot really isn't good for identifying diseases - a video would help.

Because of the way you describe the issue, I'm thinking less that this is a result of aggression and more that it could be Brooklynella, a protozoan that infects fish. Without a dedicated treatment tank, your options are limited, but you could use Ruby Reef Rally Pro as a daily dip - since you already have the fish isolated, handling it is easier. @vetteguy53081 has more experience with this dip, I've tagged him to see if he can tell you the dose to use as a dip.

Jay

vetteguy53081 · Apr 2, 2021

On the brook. . .. .
To me, Formalin is the most effective treatment for Brook, but using Ruby rally Pro is another good option. Both are best applied using a bath treatment with Formalin (45 min bath) OR Rally pro (90 min bath). A 5 minute FW dip may provide temporary relief if you are unable to obtain any of these medications right away. do realize FW dips can impose further stress on a fish.
Typically a standard formalin solution is mixed with either fresh or saltwater in a separate treatment container. Initially, the fish is given a quick dip in the formalin at a higher concentration, followed by continued treatment in a prolonged bath of formalin at a lower concentration in a quarantine tank (QT). Of course, the longer the fish are exposed to the formalin treatment, the more effective it will be at eliminating this disease.
Quick cure contains formalin but at a 3-4% strength.

Jtwy88 · Apr 2, 2021

vetteguy53081 said:
On the brook. . .. .
To me, Formalin is the most effective treatment for Brook, but using Ruby rally Pro is another good option. Both are best applied using a bath treatment with Formalin (45 min bath) OR Rally pro (90 min bath). A 5 minute FW dip may provide temporary relief if you are unable to obtain any of these medications right away. do realize FW dips can impose further stress on a fish.
Typically a standard formalin solution is mixed with either fresh or saltwater in a separate treatment container. Initially, the fish is given a quick dip in the formalin at a higher concentration, followed by continued treatment in a prolonged bath of formalin at a lower concentration in a quarantine tank (QT). Of course, the longer the fish are exposed to the formalin treatment, the more effective it will be at eliminating this disease.
Quick cure contains formalin but at a 3-4% strength.

Thank you both @vetteguy53081 and @Jay Hemdal! Unfortunately, I am in Canada and they don’t have these medication available.
I went to the LFS to see if they have other remedies and came home to the wrasse already dead. With a closer look, it seems like there was an injury (see picture attached).
Looking at the picture, can we rule out other disease or parasite (eg. velvet, brook etc)?