Brown spot on Chromis gill?

[CMO]

Any ideas what this spot might be and does it look like anything to worry about? Definitely wasn't there yesterday. Also, I've noticed the lateral line becoming more prevalent on this fish compared to my other chromis of the same type (black Axil) if that adds to the story (more apparent in person but you can kind of see it in this picture).

 

[Big G]

With Chromis, the first thought is the beginning of Uronema because it is so prevalent with them. Or it could just be a simple very small injury. That being said, here's Humblefish's advisory on Uronema. https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/uronema-marinum.247940/

 

[CMO]

Thank you. I'll keep an eye on and see if it progresses to show more obvious signs of Uronema, but no change today so that's good. From what i understand Uronema moves quick and I'd likely know within a day or two.

 

[ngoodermuth]

How long have you had the chromis? Unless they are relatively new, it’s probably not uronema as that usually strikes fairly quickly.

Could it be a piece of sand or debris that stuck to him?

HLLE usually indicates something dietary. How often do you feed? I think people are sometimes surprised that chromis can eat like anthias and need more frequent daily feedings. Another possibility could be internal parasites. Any labored breathing, frequent hiding, or white stringy poop?

 

[CMO]

About 3 weeks now. I'm feeding twice a day, pellets and flakes (although I'm not sure it's eating the pellets - seems to be spitting them out) in the morning and mysis soaked in selcon in the evening. Yeah, it's got the white stringy poops so I've got some metro and focus on its way to treat.

Thank you!

 

[ngoodermuth]

I would add an additional daily feeding in if you can. Even if it’s feeding when you get home from work, and then again right before bed. I don’t know your schedule, but whatever you can squeeze in.

The frozen mysis with selcon will be more beneficial at this point than dried foods. If you can thaw out a little more at a time and keep it in a container in the fridge, you could probably just skip the pellets and flakes for a bit to get them fatter/healthier.

When you get the metro and focus, make sure to feed the medicated food exclusively, at least twice a day for at least 10 days. You can feed it longer if the stringy poop hasn’t resolved. If they reject the medicated food, you can add entice or garlic to make it more palatable.

Good luck!

 

[CMO]

Okay will do. Thank you

 

[Big G]

I would add an additional daily feeding in if you can. Even if it’s feeding when you get home from work, and then again right before bed. I don’t know your schedule, but whatever you can squeeze in.

The frozen mysis with selcon will be more beneficial at this point than dried foods. If you can thaw out a little more at a time and keep it in a container in the fridge, you could probably just skip the pellets and flakes for a bit to get them fatter/healthier.

When you get the metro and focus, make sure to feed the medicated food exclusively, at least twice a day for at least 10 days. You can feed it longer if the stringy poop hasn’t resolved. If they reject the medicated food, you can add entice or garlic to make it more palatable.

Good luck!

+1 ^^^^ Consider changing to frozen foods and Black or White worms for your fish. I was inspired by Jsker's fish "smoothie" he makes for his fish friends. Get a variety (fish eggs, cyclops, mysis, brine shrimp, seaweed, etc.) of frozen cube foods. In a small Tupperware, place one cube of each with a couple of drops of Selcon. Let the cubes "slump" in your refrigerator. Mix a bit and feed a small bit to your fish. You will be amazed at their response. Here's Jsker's thread. Hope this helps a bit.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/preparing-frozen-foods-for-my-fish-and-corals.300448/#post-3677350
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/give-your-white-worms-a-bath.350754/#post-4365170

 

[CMO]

Ahhh great link. I was feeding frozen only once a day since I read it wasn't good to saved thawed foods and I don't have the time to be thawing food twice a day. But sounds like the slacking process of never fully thawing to room temp until feeding solves this. Just ordered the a variety of foods to give this a go. Thanks!