Another Dead Fish

[ChrisW]

I'm at a loss here, I'm new to the hobby, so maybe I'm missing something, a sign of distress or illness i dont recognize. Went home for lunch and checked on the tank to find one of my tangs stuck against the powerhead. I noticed odd behavior from it this AM at feeding time but had to go to work. Just introduced a Foxface to the tank on Monday, bringing the fish total to 7 in a 100gal tank. Just did a water change on Sunday and water tested fine, and all other fish seem to be acting normally. The Foxface came out of QT at the LFS and straight into the bag and straight to my house where I drip acclimated and then introduced it to the DT. I'm saying all this bc what reason could it be that a fish all of a sudden becomes dispondent and gets stuck on the powerhead after being in the tank for 6months with no issues?
It was one of the first four fish purchased and had been eating and responsive this entire time until this AM. What would the Foxface possibly introduce to the tank that as of yet only affected one tang, yet not the other tang, clowns, or cardinals in the tank? I get theres always a risk when a new fish is brought in, but to infect one fish and none of the others? And infect it w/ something that takes only that one fish out w/in a matter of hours?
Sorry just kind of venting here I'm just really bummed about it and I dont know what I'm doing wrong, so just looking for some answers to not repeat whatever mistake i am making. I've had a couple other casualties since starting the tank but I attribute that down to unhealthy fish when I got them. I realise thats part of all this and would be a bit more accepting if it was the new fish, but one of the ones that had been in the tank from the beginning and now all of sudden just goes downhill in a matter of hours

 

[ScooterV]

The Foxface came out of QT at the LFS

This is likely a large part of the problem. A LFS is rarely able to truly QT anything unless charging significantly more. What did they do for QT?

Sorry for your loss and frustrations though The experts check here pretty often though so it would help them to have more specifics. Actual test results, instead of "all is fine", pictures if you have them, etc.

 

[Chicago-quicksilver]

Find out how they QT their fish, like ScooterV said it rarely happens and if a store does they will charge double for it. Always treat every fish like it needs to be in QT, that is the only way to protect your investment. I tried in vain to find a local store that would and if they did they wanted more than double and in the end I ended up setting up my own QT

 

[ChrisW]

I see what you mean. I was under the impression the LFS was QTing as part of the SOP when receiving livestock from their wholesalers. He got in touch with me Bc he knew I was interested in the foxface and didn’t have QT tank set up yet.
As far as test results, do you mean the water parameters? I can get in touch w/ the LFS and find out if there was a particular reason for the QT. I honestly didn’t think to ask as I figured if I cannot do the QT proper, having the LFS do that would be the next best thing? Another mistake I suppose

 

[ChrisW]

Yea I actually have a 20g I got for QT but couldn’t set it up in time to get the foxface, and I thought that having them do the QT and not being in their general display tanks would limit what it would be exposed to.
Would it be common to only infect one fish of mine? Or is this simply the beginning of all my other fish dying soon as well

 

[ScooterV]

Yes, all parameters you have tested. What you see as fine they may see as a possible issue. As far as effecting one fish it's possible it's just the start, or maybe it's all coincidence. If the Foxface has had sub therapeutic levels of copper he may just not be showing signs yet but the most susceptible fish in the DT succumbed after being exposed.

I got a part time job at an LFS back around 1994-1996 while in the Navy (to support my addiction), before the internet was really popular so it took subscribing to magazines or trusting the LFS. Place I worked was smart enough to not sell an obviously sick fish. Any sign of ich and all six tanks in that system were marked as "quarantine". After closing that day the obviously sick ones were moved to the back room, a little copper added, and the signs removed. The sick fish treated with copper, but moved back to the display as soon as visible symptoms resolved. I'm not saying not to trust an LFS, but their terminology may not mean what you expect.

 

[ChrisW]

I see what you mean. I’d like to think I established a good relationship w them and he was doing me a favor, but in the end I’m just another sale in the til.
I use an app called Aquarimate that of course I currently can not access at the moment, I’m awaiting their response as to why and have them reset the password. All my parameters are in there, I cannot really remember them all exactly to list them up here.
Man this day jus keeps going downhill from a fishtank perspective. And now I’m dreading going home to another casualty.
Thanks for the support @ScooterV

 

[Big G]

The only QT you can truly trust is your own. This one works for me. Hope it helps a bit.

Prophylactic Treatment: No observed symptoms of disease or injury

20 gal QT cycled: HOB with foam pad & BioMax treated with Bio Spira/Dr Tims, foam bubble filter with foam soaked for at least 2 weeks in DT sump, heater, powerhead, Seachem Ammonia Alert Badge.
Tank lights off. Ambient room lighting only.
Feed fish with white/black worms, vitamin & fiber packed frozen food with Selcon/Zoecon for at least 3 days
Freshwater dip to check for flukes.
S-l-o-w-l-y (8-10 days) bring up copper to therapeutic levels for prophylactic treatment for 30 days: Tank lights off until therapeutic level is reached. Best to dose several times a day (AM, lunch, PM) rather than one large dose.
Carbon & Cuprisorb to remove copper. Water changes. Observe.
General Cure 2 doses 5-7 days apart. Turn up bubbler and turn on powerhead aimed at surface to increase O2. Like GC over Prazipro. GC has Metro + Praziquantel, so you are getting the Praziquantel which kills flukes and "some" internal parasites and Metro that kills all internal parasites/worms. And the dose of Praziquantel is lower but does the job and is easier on sensitive fish.
Carbon & water changes.
Observe 10-14 days.

 

[ChrisW]

Thank you for that info that will def be my steps for any new, well now in this case, my new fish. Thanks @Big G appreciate it

 

[Big G]

Thank you for that info that will def be my steps for any new, well now in this case, my new fish. Thanks @Big G appreciate it

Sorry sent my old version. Here's the slightly updated version:

Prophylactic Treatment: No observed symptoms of disease or injury

20 gal QT cycled:
- HOB with both the foam pad & BioMax treated with Bio Spira/Dr Tims, and foam bubble filter with foam soaked in the same, or all of them soaked for at least 2 weeks in DT sump.
- heater, powerhead, Seachem Ammonia Alert Badge.
- Tank lights off. Ambient room lighting only.
- Feed fish with white/black worms, and or vitamin & fiber packed frozen food with Selcon/Zoecon for at least 3 days
- Freshwater dip to check for flukes. If no flukes treat first with copper.
- S-l-o-w-l-y (8-10 days) bring up copper to therapeutic levels for prophylactic treatment for 30 days: Tank lights off until therapeutic level is reached. Best to dose several times a day (AM, lunch, PM) rather than one large dose. Highly recommend use of Copper Power and a Hanna HL Copper Checker.
- Carbon & Cuprisorb to remove copper. Water changes. Observe.
- General Cure 2 doses 5-7 days apart. Turn up bubbler and turn on powerhead aimed at surface to increase O2. Like GC over Prazipro. GC has Metro + Praziquantel, so you are getting the Praziquantel which kills flukes and "some" internal parasites and Metro that kills all internal parasites/worms. And the dose of Praziquantel is lower but does the job and is easier on sensitive fish.
- Carbon & water changes.
- Observe 10-14 days.