Flame Hawkfish Breathing Heavy and Not Eating

[kswan]

A few months ago I had velvet in my tank. My hawkfish was in bad shape and layed on his side in QT for 3 days before starting to look better. It was over a week before he ate. Since then he has really bounced back and was eating aggressively and looking good ever since. The hawkfish, clown pair, royal Gramma and firefish went through 30 days of copper and then spent 3 weeks med free before dosing prazi just in case. That was 1 week ago. Now 2 days ago the hawkfish stopped eating and has been huddled against the side of the aquarium. He looks ok but is not moving around like normal. His breathing is very fast. I would be really bumbed to loose him now after all this. All other fish look good.

Thoughts?

 

[kswan]

I’ll post a video once I figure it out.

 

[kswan]

 

[Pbh-reef]

I'm sorry this is happening to your fish. How long did you let the display tank go fishless? I think velvet needs a 6 week fallow period to be eliminated from the display tank

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/fallow-periods-going-fishless.190324/

 

[Pbh-reef]

oh wait that looks like it is still in qt. Is there a chance the copper level dipped below therapeutic levels in the 4 weeks of treatment?

 

[Big G]

There are prazi resistant flukes. Consider a freshwater dip to eliminate the possibility. Remember to use a dark colored bowl/bucket so you can easily see the flukes as they drop off.

 

[HotRocks]

Ammonia badge is clear?

Are you areating heavily at the surface with a powerhead? Praziquantel pulls a significant amount of oxygen from the water.

 

[4FordFamily]

There are prazi resistant flukes. Consider a freshwater dip to eliminate the possibility. Remember to use a dark colored bowl/bucket so you can easily see the flukes as they drop off.

Ammonia badge is clear?

Are you areating heavily at the surface with a powerhead? Praziquantel pulls a significant amount of oxygen from the water.

These questions would be my own!

 

[kswan]

 

[kswan]

Here is the ammonia badge. I have an oversized HOB that creates a lot of surface agitation and a powerhead.

 

[kswan]

I’ll try a dip to see what I find. Haven’t had any signs of flukes previously but you never know.

 

[kswan]

Is it worth trying a second round of prazi or should I try the dip first?

 

[4FordFamily]

Is it worth trying a second round of prazi or should I try the dip first?

Dip first, IMO

 

[kswan]

I completed the FW dip and didn’t identify anything coming off.

 

[Big G]

How did the fish behave after the dip? A freshwater dip usually provides a temporary relief for flukes and velvet. So how was its breathing after the dip?

 

[Jen_h]

One morning I was about to leave for work and my hawkfish was laying on its side breathing hard. I couldn’t be late for work and feared the worse when I got home. To my surprise he was still alive. I immediately put him in a bucket with an air stone and heater. I also added furan 2. By the next morning he was looking a lot better and active again. He made a 100% recovery. So whenever I have a sick fish with no physical symptoms I always treat with furan 2. Just to rule out a bacterial infection.

 

[kswan]

How did the fish behave after the dip? A freshwater dip usually provides a temporary relief for flukes and velvet. So how was its breathing after the dip?

I didn’t notice any change. Still hugging the side of the tank and breathing heavy like the video I posted.

 

[kswan]

Is the next step what @Jen_h suggested? That seems reasonable with no other visible symptoms.

 

[Big G]

I didn’t notice any change. Still hugging the side of the tank and breathing heavy like the video I posted.

So we've probably eliminated flukes, velvet, etc. as the fish usually shows signs of relief after the dip. Yep, a wide spectrum antibiotic would be my next move: Kanaplex, Furan2, Sulfaplex, NFG (nitrofuracine green).

 

[4FordFamily]

So we've probably eliminated flukes, velvet, etc. as the fish usually shows signs of relief after the dip. Yep, a wide spectrum antibiotic would be my next move: Kanaplex, Furan2, Sulfaplex, NFG (nitrofuracine green).

NFG is best, IMO! That stuff is magic!