Blue Damsel going downhill quick

[Jipolley]

Hey Guys, one of my blue damsels has been sick the past 24 hours and is only getting worse. The pair has been getting along fine for the past month and both have their own caves which is why I attributed the fins being injured to my gyre flow. I took out the wave maker and replaced it with smaller and safer fans to agitate the water surface yesterday. This morning I woke up and he wasn't swimming anymore and was just breathing heavily on the bottom of the tank and would swim here and there if his partner or I nudged him. He has black blotches around his body that have progressively spread, and the end of his body where his tail is, is discolored. Any ideas on a remedy?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hey Guys, one of my blue damsels has been sick the past 24 hours and is only getting worse. The pair has been getting along fine for the past month and both have their own caves which is why I attributed the fins being injured to my gyre flow. I took out the wave maker and replaced it with smaller and safer fans to agitate the water surface yesterday. This morning I woke up and he wasn't swimming anymore and was just breathing heavily on the bottom of the tank and would swim here and there if his partner or I nudged him. He has black blotches around his body that have progressively spread, and the end of his body where his tail is, is discolored. Any ideas on a remedy?

Can you post pics under white, not blue lights?

Looks like damage from the other damselfish. Compatibility dynamics change over time, and you may never see the actual aggression take place, only the results from it.

There is also a chance that this fish had some issue, which in turn caused the compatibility change abruptly. Healthy fish won't get caught up in a gyre flow.

 

[Lavey29]

2 damsels in a tank often leads to aggression hence the torn fins. They recommend 1 fish or jump to 3 fish depending on tank size. If he is just laying on his side like that then probably on his last rodeo.

 

[Sharkbait19]

The pictures are too blue to make anything out, but it sounds like a classic case of aggression to me. A lot of fish can be fine for months before one snaps and decides it doesn’t like its tankmate anymore.

 

[Jipolley]

2 damsels in a tank often leads to aggression hence the torn fins. They recommend 1 fish or jump to 3 fish depending on tank size. If he is just laying on his side like that then probably on his last rodeo.

I have a 100G tank so I could definitely do 3, lady at the LFS said 2 would be good, but I guess she may have been off.

 

[Jipolley]

The pictures are too blue to make anything out, but it sounds like a classic case of aggression to me. A lot of fish can be fine for months before one snaps and decides it doesn’t like its tankmate anymore.

Bummer.

 

[Jipolley]

Can you post pics under white, not blue lights?

Looks like damage from the other damselfish. Compatibility dynamics change over time, and you may never see the actual aggression take place, only the results from it.
There is also a chance that this fish had some issue, which in turn caused the compatibility change abruptly. Healthy fish won't get caught up in a gyre flow.

Thank you for the insight. I thought the same thing about the gyre, but took it out to be safe. I attached edited pictures above

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thank you for the insight. I thought the same thing about the gyre, but took it out to be safe. I attached edited pictures above

That does look like serious aggression. With that much scale and fin damage, the damsel may not be able to osmoregulate and may die. Secondary bacterial infection is also a risk.

 

[Jipolley]

That does look like serious aggression. With that much scale and fin damage, the damsel may not be able to osmoregulate and may die. Secondary bacterial infection is also a risk.

Got it :/ the tail does look infected. It almost looks like the flesh has died on it

 

[MnFish1]

It should be isolated immediately - and treated with a broad spectrum antibiotic - like kanamycin. Its swimming behavior, etc - suggest it will not survive

Got it :/ the tail does look infected. It almost looks like the flesh has died on it

 

[MnFish1]

It should be isolated immediately - and treated with a broad spectrum antibiotic - like kanamycin. Its swimming behavior, etc - suggest it will not survive

However - hopefully it will.

 

[Jipolley]

It should be isolated immediately - and treated with a broad spectrum antibiotic - like kanamycin. Its swimming behavior, etc - suggest it will not survive

Ok, thank you. I ordered the antibiotic

 

[MnFish1]

Ok, thank you. I ordered the antibiotic

please keep us updated!