Cardinal not eating and fin issue

[William Norman]

Hello R2R

Need a little help on next step.

Recent addition to aquarium. Benggai Cardinal fish. He and another Bengai were purchased Jan 4 and put into QT. They were eating and active. Did coopersafe 30 days followed by Praiapro. Fish looked good and were eating well. Put into DT with a saddle puffer and 2 clownfish. 55 gallon tank.

Parms are all good. Ph 8.33, 0 Ammonia, Nitrates and Nitrites, alk 11. Fairly stable.

This smaller Bengai has been hiding away from everyone. Not eating well.

Last week saw some long poop on larger one and have been using general cure and focus in food. Figured the smaller one may have caught it also. I lost a yellow tang a few months back, and assumed that some sort of parasite is in my DT.

Today I saw the small really struggle. Pulled him out and put in hospital tank.

Now what do you suggest ?

Front fin looks a little beat up. Haven't seen any aggressive behavior, but my clownfish is very possive of her shell.

 

[Humblefish]

Was the long poop white & stringy? If so, he has intestinal worms: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/internal-parasites-intestinal-worms.267419/

 

[William Norman]

Humble - thank for your quick response.

The other Banggai had the white string poop. So based on your other threads.. All mostly likely have it. I have been feeding their food soaked in API General Food + Focus. one scoop of each into a tablespoon of frozen food. plus crushed garlic for 6 days.

This one is not eating that I can see. Today he looked very weak, so I pulled him out of the tank. I see the fin issue which wasn't there a few days ago. Could he also have some sort of fin rot ? or is this aggression.

 

[Humblefish]

This one is not eating that I can see. Today he looked very weak, so I pulled him out of the tank. I see the fin issue which wasn't there a few days ago. Could he also have some sort of fin rot ? or is this aggression.

Fish with parasite/worm issues are very likely to develop secondary bacterial infections: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/bacterial-infections.191511/

An already compromised immune system makes it that much easier for harmful bacteria to successfully attack.

 

[deedubz]

About a year ago, when I FINALLY started to qt, I had a rough run at internal parasites. I did a few weeks prazipro, I did metro bath, and I even fed the fish with metro/focus. No matter what I did, these two clowns had white stringy poo. I ultimately lost the Picasso when he stopped eating a few weeks later. The onyx held out a few months longer but also continued to wither away despite heavy feeding. I'm sorry you're going through this, but I'd highly recommend feeding all your fish the medicated food for a few weeks. I believe the recommendation is 10 days to 3 weeks or until you've gone 7? days without seeing it. Good luck

 

[Maritimer]

Regarding the little one's pelvic fin, Banggai cardinalfish form pairs. If your two are both males - or both females - one of them may be trying to remove the other. From all I've seen, their aggression is pretty hard and fast - you won't always see a continual pestering, you'll just one day find a badly banged up fish.

~Bruce

 

[Big G]

Regarding the little one's pelvic fin, Banggai cardinalfish form pairs. If your two are both males - or both females - one of them may be trying to remove the other. From all I've seen, their aggression is pretty hard and fast - you won't always see a continual pestering, you'll just one day find a badly banged up fish.

~Bruce

Ah, the Stubby effect. . . .