Deadly Disease?

Robd23 · Jan 3, 2024

Hey Guys! I'm not new to the fish hobby but just got into saltwater. My tanks been up and running for 4 months now and my parameters are all within the desired specifications.
However, I've had quite a fallout with multiple fish...
Lost 6 and this is the latest. Mind you, I haven't lost any corals, Inverts and my wrasse and blenny seem indestructible to date.
I've tried paracleanse and now Ruby Reef First Aid kit. But this guy looks like this. (See pic)
He started with what looked like velvet.
Any idea what this flesh eating disease may be?

threebuoys · Jan 3, 2024

WOW

How long has the trigger looked this way? What did he look like when you first got him?

Any fish other than the wrasse or blenny in the tank?

If he had velvet and if you've had him for a while, I believe he would not have survived long enough to look this poorly.

Velvet requires copper treatment to cure.

But, more info about the fish and your tank and your experience with the other fish which died might help diagnose.

Robd23 · Jan 3, 2024

The trigger was in perfect shape when I got him. He was in QT for a while then introduced to the main. He started to show some white spots 3 days into the main. Then last night, I see this! The 2 other fish show no symptoms at all. They've been on the tank for 2 months.
Could this be from corals? Is this a product of velvet or some kind of bacterial disease? Apart from the meds I've introduced to the tank, I did a 50% water change and cleaned the gravel at the same time.

littlefoxx · Jan 3, 2024

Did you use live rock and live sand upon set up for cycling?

threebuoys · Jan 3, 2024

Robd23 said:
The trigger was in perfect shape when I got him. He was in QT for a while then introduced to the main. He started to show some white spots 3 days into the main. Then last night, I see this! The 2 other fish show no symptoms at all. They've been on the tank for 2 months.
Could this be from corals? Is this a product of velvet or some kind of bacterial disease? Apart from the meds I've introduced to the tank, I did a 50% water change and cleaned the gravel at the same time.

So, how long in QT? How long in DT? What tests do you run on your water?

Robd23 · Jan 3, 2024

He was in QT for 3 weeks. Then moved in the main after showing good health. The LFS also had him in QT for me for 2 weeks as well. He's been in the main for a week now i think. Eating and swimming like a champ until a couple days ago.
I used dry rock that was used in a tank previously (dried for a month) they were cleaned and I used them. Sand was new, live sand. I tested; ph, phosphate, alkalinity, ammonia, nitrate, nitrites and calcium to date. (Cause I have corals)
Maybe the rocks weren't cleaned enough and had some kind of underlying bacteria? Why aren't the other fish and the Inverts, corals affected? And what can cause his scales to rot out like that??

vetteguy53081 · Jan 3, 2024

Robd23 said:
Hey Guys! I'm not new to the fish hobby but just got into saltwater. My tanks been up and running for 4 months now and my parameters are all within the desired specifications.
However, I've had quite a fallout with multiple fish...
Lost 6 and this is the latest. Mind you, I haven't lost any corals, Inverts and my wrasse and blenny seem indestructible to date.
I've tried paracleanse and now Ruby Reef First Aid kit. But this guy looks like this. (See pic)
He started with what looked like velvet.
Any idea what this flesh eating disease may be?

This niger has mucus cones likely associated with ich and skin irritation and severe bacterial.
I cant say with treatment how well this fish will recover but treatment will be either general cure or Coppersafe at 2.25 along with Seachem kanaplex a couple of days later

Robd23 · Jan 3, 2024

I'll try anything!
Once I relocate him in QT...should I just restart the entire system from scratch and start fresh?

threebuoys · Jan 3, 2024

Robd23 said:
I'll try anything!
Once I relocate him in QT...should I just restart the entire system from scratch and start fresh?

You can either restart the system or you can allow the DT to remain fallow for 6 to 8 weeks if you become convinced the problem is ich or velvet. If the problem is determined to be environmental, (e.g. some type of contamination) you will need to correct the problem before you restart the DT. That might require a full system restart.