Green chromis red sore disease...

[Congaken]

Just got a 65 gal. tank and am thinking (among other things) of installing a small school of green chromis...also I just found out about "green chromis red sore disease"...I'm sure that I can find another small schooler, but I do like chromies and wonder how common this is, what to avoid at purchase and how it is cured...Thank for any info. that you may have...

 

[Tahoe61]

Uronema marinum.

Humblefish will probably see this thread and provide a medication regime.

 

[Naiad]

@Humblefish will have more information but I do believe it is caused by uronema. Likely uronema marinum. This is a severe bacterial infection so it is treated with a cocktail of antibiotics. Any fish exhibiting redness around the gills area or in a tank with those that have red streaks should be avoided.

 

[melypr1985]

The problem is that mostly you wont see it until the day before it dies. We get in 50 chromis at a time and they will slowly drop off. I've lessened our losses by keeping them in the copper system, but they still steadily die... all have signs of uronema. I haven't tried treating them with the Kanaplex, Metroplex and Furan 2 combo though. Humble is the man to ask in this situation for sure.

 

[4FordFamily]

The problem is that mostly you wont see it until the day before it dies. We get in 50 chromis at a time and they will slowly drop off. I've lessened our losses by keeping them in the copper system, but they still steadily die... all have signs of uronema. I haven't tried treating them with the Kanaplex, Metroplex and Furan 2 combo though. Humble is the man to ask in this situation for sure.

Yup saw this when I worked at the LFS as well. Sad, strange that it really only seems to affect them to this degree

 

[Humblefish]

Treating with CP will eradicate it and before that I had success using copper. Steve claims metronidazole is actually the most effective treatment for Uronema, and while I've never used metro on that disease his reasoning certainly makes sense.

Uronema marinum:

Symptoms - These are the red sores often seen on chromis damsels. The disease seems mostly confined to damsels and clownfish, but I have seen some exceptions to that.

Treatment options - This is a very difficult disease to treat. Possible treatment options include: Metronidazole (ex. Seachem MetroPlex), acriflavine (ex. Acriflavine-MS), Chloroquine phosphate and copper. The problem is the fish can never be returned to the infected tank from which it came. Uronema is a “free living” parasite which does not require a fish host. So, going fallow will not eradicate it. Most fish seem protected from it via their natural immune system; but for some reason, chromis and some other fish are not always afforded this protection. Once a tank has Uronema, it must be assumed that the disease can survive in there almost indefinitely.

Formalin bath or freshwater dip may provide temporary relief for Uronema.

 

[Congaken]

Treating with CP will eradicate it and before that I had success using copper. Steve claims metronidazole is actually the most effective treatment for Uronema, and while I've never used metro on that disease his reasoning certainly makes sense.

Uronema marinum:

Symptoms - These are the red sores often seen on chromis damsels. The disease seems mostly confined to damsels and clownfish, but I have seen some exceptions to that.

Treatment options - This is a very difficult disease to treat. Possible treatment options include: Metronidazole (ex. Seachem MetroPlex), acriflavine (ex. Acriflavine-MS), Chloroquine phosphate and copper. The problem is the fish can never be returned to the infected tank from which it came. Uronema is a “free living” parasite which does not require a fish host. So, going fallow will not eradicate it. Most fish seem protected from it via their natural immune system; but for some reason, chromis and some other fish are not always afforded this protection. Once a tank has Uronema, it must be assumed that the disease can survive in there almost indefinitely.

Formalin bath or freshwater dip may provide temporary relief for Uronema.

I am only considering chromies because I like them...but it sounds like I should stay away from them altogether...it'll be quite a while till I'm ready for fish...perhaps I should find another small schooler...must be something else out there...research...suggestions?...thanks...

 

[Humblefish]

I am only considering chromies because I like them...but it sounds like I should stay away from them altogether...it'll be quite a while till I'm ready for fish...perhaps I should find another small schooler...must be something else out there...research...suggestions?...thanks...

Cardinalfish, dartfish/firefish are other options. I also really like tilefish if you can find them. Or even a harem of anthias could work in just a 65; something like a Waitei Anthias (which stays smaller) would be best.

 

[Squared]

I had great success treating uronema with furan 2. Started clearing up within a few days.

keep your chromis well fed, juvies have an especially fast metabloism and should be fed like anthias. i believe mine came down with uronema becasause he was too thin and was being picked on by a hawkfish.

 

[Humblefish]

I had great success treating uronema with furan 2. Started clearing up within a few days.

keep your chromis well fed, juvies have an especially fast metabloism and should be fed like anthias. i believe mine came down with uronema becasause he was too thin and was being picked on by a hawkfish.

Nitrofurazone is mentioned here as a possible treatment option: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/10/aafeature1#section-16

But if true, that would suggest uronema is something more than just a ciliate protozoa. Might be a parasite-bacteria hybrid (like I suspect BSJ disease of being.)

 

[Humblefish]

Haven't read this yet, but OMG: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0044848678900327

The role of Uronema marinum (Protozoa) in oyster hatchery production

In Maine's hatchery production of oysters, significant mortalities at the early juvenile stage have been associated with ciliate infestations. The predominant ciliate isolated from live infested oysters was identified as Uronema marinum. Feeding experiments, designed to identify the food source of the ciliate in the oyster tank environment, determined that U. marinum is a bacteriophage and not a histophage, thereby clarifying its role in the oyster mortalities.

A bacteriophage is a virus that infects and replicates within a bacterium.

 

[Squared]

if its a bacteriophage how can it be a protozoa?

 

[Congaken]

Cardinalfish, dartfish/firefish are other options. I also really like tilefish if you can find them. Or even a harem of anthias could work in just a 65; something like a Waitei Anthias (which stays smaller) would be best.

would 6 firefish get along...I thought they had problems unless mated...

 

[Humblefish]

if its a bacteriophage how can it be a protozoa?

Obviously more research is needed to clarify it's exact classification.

would 6 firefish get along...I thought they had problems unless mated...

Hit or miss on this. I've kept schools of them without incident; I've also seem them whittle themselves down to just one.

 

[Congaken]

Obviously more research is needed to clarify it's exact classification.

Hit or miss on this. I've kept schools of them without incident; I've also seem them whittle themselves down to just one.

Really, I have wanted a school of chromis for years...I can hand pick them at a wholesaler,...what would be your protocol for best success...

 

[Humblefish]

Really, I have wanted a school of chromis for years...I can hand pick them at a wholesaler,...what would be your protocol for best success...

Chloroquine phosphate for 30 days. If you don't have access to CP, I'd run them through Coppersafe for 30 days and then API General Cure (which contains metro) for 1 week. Do two doses, spaced 48 hrs apart; wait 1 week and hit them again with two more doses. You don't want to take any chance of getting uronema in your DT.

 

[Humblefish]

FYI; more info on uronema & brook can be found here: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2388437

 

[Congaken]

Chloroquine phosphate for 30 days. If you don't have access to CP, I'd run them through Coppersafe for 30 days and then API General Cure (which contains metro) for 1 week. Do two doses, spaced 48 hrs apart; wait 1 week and hit them again with two more doses. You don't want to take any chance of getting uronema in your DT.

Thanks...Drs. F & S have Dr. G's antiparasitic caviar...which is a food based on Ch ph...is that a good choice?...

 

[Humblefish]

Thanks...Drs. F & S have Dr. G's antiparasitic caviar...which is a food based on Ch ph...is that a good choice?...

No, I do not feel CP laced food is effective for eradicating external parasites. You have to dose it in a QT. My reasoning is because parasites spend more of their life cycle off fish, than actually feeding on the fish.

 

[Congaken]

No, I do not feel CP laced food is effective for eradicating external parasites. You have to dose it in a QT. My reasoning is because parasites spend more of their life cycle off fish, than actually feeding on the fish.

Well I would do it in QT for sure...what what CP product do you recommend and where to get it?