Help diagnosing

[kmcgillz]

Have had my blue green chromis in QT for about 2 weeks. They all seemed to be doing well, until one morning, about a week into quarantine, I found one dead on the bottom of the tank. (See pictures in net.) A couple of the scales were a little darker, but nothing crazy out of the ordinary that I could tell. Today (end of week 2 in QT) I noticed some sort of lesion on another one of the chromis. I also noticed that it appears to be “panting” with its mouth gaping open much more than the others. Any help? Thanks!

 

[Flippers4pups]

Uronema marinum

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/fish-diseases-101.189284/

Possible aggression as well.

 

[Humblefish]

The dark spots on them are sometimes a precursor to uronema: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/uronema-marinum.247940/

Do you have them in copper? That will suppress, but not completely eliminate, uronema.

 

[kmcgillz]

I do not have them in copper. My bigger concerns have become 1) It sounds like if this is uronema, the coral I have in the tank could potentially spread it to my display, yes? 2) I also have a coral beauty in this QT tank. Could it also spread the disease to my display?

 

[Humblefish]

I do not have them in copper. My bigger concerns have become 1) It sounds like if this is uronema, the coral I have in the tank could potentially spread it to my display, yes? 2) I also have a coral beauty in this QT tank. Could it also spread the disease to my display?

Yes to both. Uronema is a free living parasite with a direct life cycle. So, it could infect the coral beauty or inadvertently be in a drop of water on the coral.

 

[kmcgillz]

Yes to both. Uronema is a free living parasite with a direct life cycle. So, it could infect the coral beauty or inadvertently be in a drop of water on the coral.

Thanks for the help! I see there have been a lot of recommendations on possible treatments for uronema. Any thoughts on what’s currently considered to be effective? I’ve come across so many recommended treatments, I’m not sure which to try!

 

[Humblefish]

Thanks for the help! I see there have been a lot of recommendations on possible treatments for uronema. Any thoughts on what’s currently considered to be effective? I’ve come across so many recommended treatments, I’m not sure which to try!

I've successfully eradicated uronema by using Chloroquine phosphate: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/chloroquine-phosphate.192309/

Metro works too: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/metronidazole.298762/

A public aquarium I advise has had success using formalin against uronema: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/formalin.290925/

 

[kmcgillz]

I've successfully eradicated uronema by using Chloroquine phosphate: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/chloroquine-phosphate.192309/

Metro works too: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/metronidazole.298762/

A public aquarium I advise has had success using formalin against uronema: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/formalin.290925/

Thank you so much for the guidance! I'm starting my first large reef tank, and am taking it very slow, and doing everything very deliberately to try and avoid introducing pests or diseases. My tank has been up for a little over 3 months now, and I'm starting to slowly add livestock. I currently have 2 ocellaris clowns and a Rainford's goby in the tank. These were the original inhabitants from my 13 gallon nano. They've shown no signs of illness in the year that i've had them, so I transferred them to my 110 gallon once it was cycled.


I recently purchased a coral beauty, 7 blue green chromis, a torch euphilia coral, and a bubble coral. They all came from the same supplier/system, so I put them into the same quarantine tank. Now, this is the batch of livestock that i'm suspecting could have uronema. I hate to just "throw away" any of the specimens, but is it worth the risk of putting them in my new tank? It looks like the meds required to treat uronema, would likely kill off the 2 coral in the QT... which I guess would be their ultimate fate if I decide not to place in the display. Would you treat the fish (with CP), and observe for another month, and abandon the coral? Thoughts?

Again, thanks for any words of wisdom you can offer!

 

[Humblefish]

What makes you suspect that these fish have uronema? Are you seeing red sores on the chromis (like below)?

 

[kmcgillz]

What makes you suspect that these fish have uronema? Are you seeing red sores on the chromis (like below)?

I'm not 100% sure it is uronema, I'm just doing my research now so I can act quickly should it become more evident that that's what it is. You commented on a previous pic that the red/brown marks could be a precursor to uronema. The first fish to die had smaller red/brown marks on it (see image.) The second, had a brownish lesion with a couple of small white bumps near one of its fins. The third to die had no lesions that I could see.

 

[Humblefish]

@kmcgillz Can you move the fish to a treatment tank? The corals can probably be rendered safe (from uronema) by washing them with tank water before adding to your DT.