Blenny gasping for air

[jmichaelh7]

I found UV sterilizer not working and it was too late, my fish I’ve had for awhile now have taken a big hit. My blenny is swimming on top of water now, gasping for air. This is day 3 that she stays up on top almost sticking entire head out of water sometimes.

Is there any thing I can do to save her? Or does ich damage to the gills stay permanent .

Thanks

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I don't think a uv sterilizer does anything to oxiginate the water.

In the pic its visible that the water surface is still, I would add an airstone as the simplest solution to gasping for air.

#fishmedic ?

 

[jmichaelh7]

I don't think a uv sterilizer does anything to oxiginate the water.

In the pic its visible that the water surface is still, I would add an airstone as the simplest solution to gasping for air.

#fishmedic ?

We'll i meant UV sterilizer was out and my tank unexpectedly got hit with Ich.

I turned the pumps toward the surface

 

[MnFish1]

We'll i meant UV sterilizer was out and my tank unexpectedly got hit with Ich.

I turned the pumps toward the surface

Did you make any new additions?
How do you know there is Ich in the tank
As @LordofCinder said - your flow seems extremely low. What size tank - what are you using for flow. Were the fish quarantined? Are the rest of the living fish ok? This could also be one of multiple diseases - but you haven't given enough information

 

[jmichaelh7]

Did you make any new additions?
How do you know there is Ich in the tank
As @LordofCinder said - your flow seems extremely low. What size tank - what are you using for flow. Were the fish quarantined? Are the rest of the living fish ok? This could also be one of multiple diseases - but you haven't given enough information

No new additions. Only change was UV sterilizer was clogged up.

2 MP40QD , 2 OW-40

180 gallon display. No fish were quarantined. I just my lost copper band this morning and yesterday lawnmower blenny.

I'm 90% sure its ich because my powder brown tang is covered , then the next day its gone. Typically it's not there but with the recent uv sterilizer issue i've noticed it became so obvious that I want to pull them and copper treat. I'm moving Tuesday , i figure i have time to think about copper treatment then when they all get pulled. I don't know if any will make it considering the death rate 1 per day right now.

The blenny is gasping for air because it is shooting water up through its mouth

 

[Seansea]

Did something else happen in tank? Hands in tank with cleaning solution on it? Something in water is making them want out and/or getting sick. Do you have skimmer? Crank it up and skim wet for a while and see if you can pull out craP

 

[jmichaelh7]

Did something else happen in tank? Hands in tank with cleaning solution on it? Something in water is making them want out and/or getting sick. Do you have skimmer? Crank it up and skim wet for a while and see if you can pull out craP

I'll crank RSK600 up to the max.

Nothing changed , i literally did a 30% water change as routinely. It's been about a week since the blenny has been this way , most recent 3 days just on top of water.

i did start feeding clams but i dont see how that would cause anything.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

If you can see distinct pinhead spots on the fish, then you can presume ich over velvet. Velvet causes extreme rapid breathing and then death in 72 hours or so. With ich, you see white spots that come and go and gradually build in numbers. then, the spots tend to run together, the fish stop eating and begin breathing fast and then die after about a week.

Moving the fish into a quarantine and treating with copper works for both issues.
Hyposalinity or possible tank transfer works for ich, but not velvet.
Ich management fails once fish loss has begun. Even copper may not work fast enough to stop additional losses/

Jay

 

[jmichaelh7]

If you can see distinct pinhead spots on the fish, then you can presume ich over velvet. Velvet causes extreme rapid breathing and then death in 72 hours or so. With ich, you see white spots that come and go and gradually build in numbers. then, the spots tend to run together, the fish stop eating and begin breathing fast and then die after about a week.

Moving the fish into a quarantine and treating with copper works for both issues.
Hyposalinity or possible tank transfer works for ich, but not velvet.
Ich management fails once fish loss has begun. Even copper may not work fast enough to stop additional losses/

Jay

Is gill damage irreversible?

 

[jmichaelh7]

If you can see distinct pinhead spots on the fish, then you can presume ich over velvet. Velvet causes extreme rapid breathing and then death in 72 hours or so. With ich, you see white spots that come and go and gradually build in numbers. then, the spots tend to run together, the fish stop eating and begin breathing fast and then die after about a week.

Moving the fish into a quarantine and treating with copper works for both issues.
Hyposalinity or possible tank transfer works for ich, but not velvet.
Ich management fails once fish loss has begun. Even copper may not work fast enough to stop additional losses/

Jay

This is the pbt that usually shows some spots but right now has heavy.

 

[MnFish1]

IMHO - the recommendation would be remove the fish and treat with copper - OR - try hypo salinity - if you do not have inverts

 

[jmichaelh7]

IMHO - the recommendation would be remove the fish and treat with copper - OR - try hypo salinity - if you do not have inverts

I’m strategizing right now. I’m supposed to move on 6/20 into new house and I have couple days to move in. I want to wait until I break down and transfer tank to remove coral , liverock etc . Then catch all of them to treat. I didn’t think I was ever going to go back to eradication but management is not working right now.

What do you think? Your input is appreciated. I am scratching my head I don’t think the fish will make it that long. I have to order copper Hanna checker so either way I’m still 3 days out.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

This is the pbt that usually shows some spots but right now has heavy.

Oh! - that is a severe case of marine ich. Treatments for this take time to work, and this fish may not have enough time left. You'll need to move ALL of the fish to another tank and treat with copper, or remove ALL of the invertebrates and treat this tank with hyposalinity. You'll need to do this ASAP.

Here is a post that describes the copper treatment:

Current Quarantine Protocol

2024 Quarantine Procedures Jay Hemdal David Scarborough Protozoans (Cryptocaryon/ich, Amyloodinium/velvet) and Metazoan trematodes/flukes are by far the most common parasites found on newly acquired fish. A carefully managed, proactive quarantine process can effectively eliminate these...

www.reef2reef.com

If you know the exact volume of your treatment tank, you can dose it with coppersafe according to the label instructions and get a jump on the treatment until your Hanna checker arrives.

Here is a post that describes how to do hyposalinity:

Hyposalinity

Hyposalinity Jay Hemdal 2024 This term refers to a long-term bath treatment for marine fishes in which the salt content of the water is lowered and held below the point that certain parasites can survive. The salt level reached, and the time of the treatment are the two variables...

www.reef2reef.com

Jay