Emperor color faded

[JeremyKnight]

Any idea what’s up with this fish? Started loosing color a few weeks ago, I thought it was going through its color change. But the last few days it has been just laying down by the cleaner shrimp. I took it out of the display into a one gallon hospital tank for a quick 5 minute paraguard dip. I’m currently setting up a 20 gallon for a more permanent hospital place for it. This fish was great two weeks ago... did a skin scrape to look for parasites and I didn’t see anything.

https://youtube.com/shorts/VIsmagzCLcA?feature=share

 

[Jekyl]

Breathing fast?

 

[JeremyKnight]

Breathing fast?

Not really. I have a video but I cannot figure out how to get it to post.

 

[fishguy242]

@vetteguy53081

 

[vetteguy53081]

The fish is no doubt distressed. I suspect either high ammonia or start of infection such as flukes. I hate to suggest as it can be risky but giving the fish a 4-5 minute freshwater dip may be of help to eliminate chance of flukes although fish may be breathing rapid with flukes which you stated is not the case.
Bath in parasite guard will not help unless there are noted parasites (dots, salt grains or powdery appearance). Ruby Rally Pro will be a better choice for a bath (although it is reef safe) for 90 minutes.
If youre using API test kit, you may be getting a false ammonia reading , hence a suggestion for doing a slight (10-15% water change)

 

[JeremyKnight]

The fish is no doubt distressed. I suspect either high ammonia or start of infection such as flukes. I hate to suggest as it can be risky but giving the fish a 4-5 minute freshwater dip may be of help to eliminate chance of flukes although fish may be breathing rapid with flukes which you stated is not the case.
Bath in parasite guard will not help unless there are noted parasites (dots, salt grains or powdery appearance). Ruby Rally Pro will be a better choice for a bath (although it is reef safe) for 90 minutes.
If youre using API test kit, you may be getting a false ammonia reading , hence a suggestion for doing a slight (10-15% water change)

I was able to post a link to a video of the fish if that helps. I also have not used ruby rally pro, what does it target? I did notice some white spots by the tail, that’s why I did a scrape to look for ick or flukes and I didn’t see anything on the microscope.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I was able to post a link to a video of the fish if that helps. I also have not used ruby rally pro, what does it target? I did notice some white spots by the tail, that’s why I did a scrape to look for ick or flukes and I didn’t see anything on the microscope.

Not seeing video

Rally pro is a very effective broad spectrum treatment designed to be used directly in the display tank to eliminate external parasites, dinoflagellates, marine velvet, clownfish disease, gill flukes, etc. on fish. RALLY also treats gram negative bacterial infections, fin and tail rot, etc., and prevents secondary infections. RALLY is safe for all fish (including scaleless), corals and invertebrates and will not affect biofiltration.
Apply RALLY once per day for at least 3 days. Longer treatment periods may be required for heavy or persistent infections

 

[JeremyKnight]

Not seeing video

Rally pro is a very effective broad spectrum treatment designed to be used directly in the display tank to eliminate external parasites, dinoflagellates, marine velvet, clownfish disease, gill flukes, etc. on fish. RALLY also treats gram negative bacterial infections, fin and tail rot, etc., and prevents secondary infections. RALLY is safe for all fish (including scaleless), corals and invertebrates and will not affect biofiltration.
Apply RALLY once per day for at least 3 days. Longer treatment periods may be required for heavy or persistent infections

Man I’m surprised Iv not heard of that before. I was just reading about it. Is it one of those turn off uv, ozone, pull carbon kinda treatments?

 

[JeremyKnight]

Not seeing video

Rally pro is a very effective broad spectrum treatment designed to be used directly in the display tank to eliminate external parasites, dinoflagellates, marine velvet, clownfish disease, gill flukes, etc. on fish. RALLY also treats gram negative bacterial infections, fin and tail rot, etc., and prevents secondary infections. RALLY is safe for all fish (including scaleless), corals and invertebrates and will not affect biofiltration.
Apply RALLY once per day for at least 3 days. Longer treatment periods may be required for heavy or persistent infections

April 6, 2021

youtube.com

 

[vetteguy53081]

Man I’m surprised Iv not heard of that before. I was just reading about it. Is it one of those turn off uv, ozone, pull carbon kinda treatments?

I pull nothing . It’s non copper

 

[vetteguy53081]

April 6, 2021

youtube.com

Do I see a bump/pimple on center of body?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Not really. I have a video but I cannot figure out how to get it to post.

That does look like Neobenedenia flukes. Your skin scrape may have missed them, a diagnostic 5 minute FW dip is a better way to find them. These flukes will just laugh at a Paraguard dip.
If it isn't Neo, then a disseminated bacterial infection perhaps (but unlikely).

Neo is REALLY common in Pomacanthus angelfish. It is an egg layer, so praziquantel doesn't break the life cycle. 6 weeks at half salinity will work in most cases.

Jay

 

[JeremyKnight]

That does look like Neobenedenia flukes. Your skin scrape may have missed them, a diagnostic 5 minute FW dip is a better way to find them. These flukes will just laugh at a Paraguard dip.
If it isn't Neo, then a disseminated bacterial infection perhaps (but unlikely).

Neo is REALLY common in Pomacanthus angelfish. It is an egg layer, so praziquantel doesn't break the life cycle. 6 weeks at half salinity will work in most cases.

Jay

Will taking the whole system to hypo be ok for the snails shrimp and crabs?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Will taking the whole system to hypo be ok for the snails shrimp and crabs?

Oh no, fish only. You would need to leave your invertebrates at normal salinity, with no fish in with them, for at least 45 days (and I’d go longer, just to play it safe).
Jay

 

[JeremyKnight]

Oh no, fish only. You would need to leave your invertebrates at normal salinity, with no fish in with them, for at least 45 days (and I’d go longer, just to play it safe).
Jay

Ok that’s what I thought but wanted to verify. Thanks for the help. Have you ever used prazi?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I’ve never been able to cure Neo with prazi - even at double dose, four times, a week apart. The eggs aren’t affected and they just keep hatching out and reinfecting the fish. In addition, when you dose prazi, a bacteria soon grows that consumes it as “food”. This means each time you dose a tank, the prazi stays active for less time.
That said, you do need to confirm this is Neo....
Jay

 

[JeremyKnight]

I’ve never been able to cure Neo with prazi - even at double dose, four times, a week apart. The eggs aren’t affected and they just keep hatching out and reinfecting the fish. In addition, when you dose prazi, a bacteria soon grows that consumes it as “food”. This means each time you dose a tank, the prazi stays active for less time.
That said, you do need to confirm this is Neo....
Jay

I spent the better part of the morning on the scope and finally came across this...

April 8, 2021

youtube.com

I have not seen any thing like it.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

That could be Neo - it does look like a multicelled creature. I’ve always seen Neo from FW dips and then they are dead. Could you see a sucker at either end?
Jay

 

[JeremyKnight]

That could be Neo - it does look like a multicelled creature. I’ve always seen Neo from FW dips and then they are dead. Could you see a sucker at either end?
Jay

No I will dive a little deeper tonight I found this and had to get back to work. The only thing I could see is the tiny “feet” or filaments around the body.

 

[JeremyKnight]

That could be Neo - it does look like a multicelled creature. I’ve always seen Neo from FW dips and then they are dead. Could you see a sucker at either end?
Jay

No I will dive a little deeper tonight I found this and had to get back to work. The only thing I could see is the tiny “feet” or filaments around the body.

That could be Neo - it does look like a multicelled creature. I’ve always seen Neo from FW dips and then they are dead. Could you see a sucker at either end?
Jay

When I fresh water dipped the fish o did see a bunch of stuff in the water. The dip was in one of those little one gallon beta tanks so there was a rather large cluster of debris after. I have not been able to look at that stuff yet. Thanks your your input it’s greatly appreciated!