Borbonius dead

[ericomotta]

Hi everyone, this is my first interaction on the forum, but I follow it very often! I have had two Anthias Borbonius for 35 days. They were on a QT for 25 days, with cupramine. 10 days ago there is no more copper! I transferred them to another room for observation. Only them in the tank. 4 days ago one of them stopped eating. Today she is gone. I have some photos, shortly after death. For the past few days, she had been breathing heavily. The one that is alive, there is no sign of illness, she is eating and breathing well, but she is not walking much! Could anyone give a guess, based on the report and photos I will send, what could have ended up with my Borbonius?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi everyone, this is my first interaction on the forum, but I follow it very often! I have had two Anthias Borbonius for 35 days. They were on a QT for 25 days, with cupramine. 10 days ago there is no more copper! I transferred them to another room for observation. Only them in the tank. 4 days ago one of them stopped eating. Today she is gone. I have some photos, shortly after death. For the past few days, she had been breathing heavily. The one that is alive, there is no sign of illness, she is eating and breathing well, but she is not walking much! Could anyone give a guess, based on the report and photos I will send, what could have ended up with my Borbonius?

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

I see a bit of fin damage, but not enough to cause death.

What level of Cupramine were the fish at?

I usually follow a copper with praziquantel for flukes. Gill flukes will cause rapid breathing.

In the picture of the fish with its gills - they are really pale. That can be from gill flukes, but they also fade if a fish has been dead for more than a few hours.

Jay

 

[ericomotta]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

I see a bit of fin damage, but not enough to cause death.

What level of Cupramine were the fish at?

I usually follow a copper with praziquantel for flukes. Gill flukes will cause rapid breathing.

In the picture of the fish with its gills - they are really pale. That can be from gill flukes, but they also fade if a fish has been dead for more than a few hours.

Jay

Thanks for the welcome, Jay. I was treated with Cupramine at 0.3 for 21 days. Everyone was fine during this period, perhaps Borbonius who died eating less, but he was apparently fine. I don't have Prazipro hands on. It is very difficult to find it in Brazil. But I have 37% formaldehyde and some antibiotics available. I'm worried about the other anthia. I want to prevent the same thing from happening to her.

By the way, the photos were taken shortly after his death. I was watching, in agony, the little animal's final moments!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Cupramine really needs to be dosed at full dose (all copper meds do). That is 0.50 ppm. Running lower than that can allow some protozoan diseases to continue on.

Is the second anthias showing any symptoms?

Jay

 

[CoralB]

A video clipof the other one that is still alive might be helpful with close ups . Are you using Rodi water , temp, what type of filtration, is this a relatively new tank . Any traces of ammonia ??

 

[CoralB]

Cupramine really needs to be dosed at full dose (all copper meds do). That is 0.50 ppm. Running lower than that can allow some protozoan diseases to continue on.

Is the second anthias showing any symptoms?

Jay

I see you got snow this past week Jay !! stay warm !

 

[ericomotta]

Cupramine really needs to be dosed at full dose (all copper meds do). That is 0.50 ppm. Running lower than that can allow some protozoan diseases to continue on.

Is the second anthias showing any symptoms?

Jay

The second anthia does not show any signs or symptoms. She is apparently fine, except for a bruise near her right eye, it looks like a bruise, after a trauma, but she is swimming, without respiratory effort and eating, active!

A video clipof the other one that is still alive might be helpful with close ups . Are you using Rodi water , temp, what type of filtration, is this a relatively new tank . Any traces of ammonia ??

Yes, I use RoDi water, a 3-month QT tank, with rear sump and some biological filtration media, seachem alert card and undetectable ammonia test. I do partial water changes every two days.

 

[ericomotta]

Here is a video of the anthia that is alive.

Borbonius

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Here is a video of the anthia that is alive.

Borbonius

This fish has moderate exophthalmia (popeye) which is really common in this species when first acquired. This is most often caused by mechanical damage during transport. If it doesn't become too severe, it usually resolves in a few weeks to a month. Watch for silver air bubbles in the eye, and try to avoid additional handling of this fish.

Aquarium Fish: The ‘Eyes’ Have it: A Review of Eye Health in Aquarium Fishes

Aquarists need to inspect their fish closely every day, for signs of impending health problems. It is much easier to resolve a problem when it first starts, than to attempt a drastic emergency treatment when the fish is close to dying.

reefs.com

Jay

 

[ericomotta]

This fish has moderate exophthalmia (popeye) which is really common in this species when first acquired. This is most often caused by mechanical damage during transport. If it doesn't become too severe, it usually resolves in a few weeks to a month. Watch for silver air bubbles in the eye, and try to avoid additional handling of this fish.

Aquarium Fish: The ‘Eyes’ Have it: A Review of Eye Health in Aquarium Fishes

Aquarists need to inspect their fish closely every day, for signs of impending health problems. It is much easier to resolve a problem when it first starts, than to attempt a drastic emergency treatment when the fish is close to dying.

reefs.com

Jay

Is there another way to treat gill worms without access to Prazipro? Thank you very much for your contributions, Jay. Your help is very valuable.

I'm keeping an eye on Borbonius's eye hehehe

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Is there another way to treat gill worms without access to Prazipro? Thank you very much for your contributions, Jay. Your help is very valuable.

I'm keeping an eye on Borbonius's eye hehehe

Yes - hyposalinity is actually a better treatment for most species of flukes than praziquantel is:

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

 

[ericomotta]

Yes - hyposalinity is actually a better treatment for most species of flukes than praziquantel is:

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

Thank you very much, Jay!