Help - Flagfin Angel in Trouble

[NeuroticAquatics]

I got this Flagfin last weekend. It was eating pellets and looked healthy. As you can see, there is something going on up it's side. This just showed up over night. It was barely visible prior. It is not swimming around and is just lying on its side up against the rock I have in QT. Any suggestions?

 

[ngoodermuth]

That looks like an infection, possibly internal :/ the odds aren't so good, do you have acriflavine or methylene blue on hand? I would suggest a bath, followed by antibiotics in a sterile QT.

https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/Antibiotics.283711/

If it's not eating just dosing the water *might* help, but if you could also get it to eat food laced with kanaplex/metroplex and focus (binder) that would be best to treat anything going on internally.

 

[NeuroticAquatics]

I have methylene blue but not acriflavine.

I put some Melafix in a few minutes ago. I will try to do a bath before heading off to work.

 

[sc50964]

That looks pretty bad and he probably won't last long if he remains untreated. I suggest to use furan2 and kanaplex.

 

[ngoodermuth]

There's also a chance it could be uronema, but considering that is almost exclusively a chromis/damsel affliction, I'm leaning towards internal infection. In either case, adding metroplex may help. I'd suggest the trifecta - kanaplex, metroplex, furan-2.

https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/Uronema-marinum.247940/

 

[NeuroticAquatics]

I do have Kanaplex. Would that be okay with the Melafix already in?

 

[sc50964]

I do have Kanaplex. Would that be okay with the Melafix already in?

I am under the impression that melafix is herbal and all natural. Is that right?

 

[NeuroticAquatics]

I believe it is. All natural extracted from tea trees.

 

[sc50964]

I believe it is. All natural extracted from tea trees.

http://www.myaquariumclub.com/can-i-mix-kanaplex-melafix-9266218.html

 

[sc50964]

I believe it is. All natural extracted from tea trees.

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f17/melafix-and-other-meds-together-at-same-time-18644.html

 

[NeuroticAquatics]

I did a short bath with the meth blue and had to add the Kanaplex to the tank that had the Melafix. I had just done a water change and did not have a new batch of saltwater mixed up yet and had to get to work. We shall see how this goes but I'm not holding my breath. It was not doing much swimming and did not look great when I left.

 

[Humblefish]

Looks like yet another bacterial disease. New angels & butterflies are notorious for getting these "red streak" infections. When that pops up, this is the best medication to use: http://store.nationalfishpharm.com/NFP-products-Nitrofuracin-Green-59584.Item.html

Without that, your best option would be to give the fish a 90 min acriflavine bath, followed by dosing these 3 antibiotics into a QT: Kanaplex + Furan-2 + Metroplex

However, working just with the meds you have on hand... Performing a MB bath, followed by dosing Kanaplex + Melafix into a QT was your best bet.

 

[NeuroticAquatics]

Thanks. We shall see how it goes...

 

[sc50964]

Looks like yet another bacterial disease. New angels & butterflies are notorious for getting these "red streak" infections. When that pops up, this is the best medication to use: http://store.nationalfishpharm.com/NFP-products-Nitrofuracin-Green-59584.Item.html

This med isn't cheap, but if it's way better than the seachem product, I will definitely get it. Can you pls chime in on just how much more effective this med is? And whether if it can be used in DT. Thanks.

 

[ngoodermuth]

Sounds like you did the best you could with the time you had. Fx he pulls through...

 

[Humblefish]

This med isn't cheap, but if it's way better than the seachem product, I will definitely get it. Can you pls chime in on just how much more effective this med is? And whether if it can be used in DT. Thanks.

It is NOT reef safe AT ALL and being the MB component might stain rocks/equipment, I don't think I'd use it in a FOWLR either.

As far as its effectiveness goes, it was recommended to me by one of the leading butterfly/angelfish experts in the US. Many public aquariums also use it. I was having great success with it until I was forced to cut short my experimentation (wife changed jobs so we had to move.) The active ingredients it contains (Nitrofurazone, Sulfathiazole Sodium, Methylene Blue and sodium chloride) are all solid choices when it comes to treating bacterial diseases.

 

[NeuroticAquatics]

Well, as expected, the Flagfin did not make it.

My concern now is with the two big pieces of live rock I put in the QT. Should I just leave them in there and let the med kill whatever is in the water and then throw them back into the DT sump again? Soak them in freshwater for a few days to kill anything off?

 

[sc50964]

Should just leave them in ur QT and get new rocks for ur DT. The cost of rocks is much less than fish and the time/trouble for taking care sick fish.

 

[NeuroticAquatics]

I put them in because they have the beneficial bacteria to keep things a little more stable and ammonia-free. I'm guessing that the Kanaplex would kill that off?

I usually pull rock from my sump, so I'm not worried about replacing it.

 

[sc50964]

I put them in because they have the beneficial bacteria to keep things a little more stable and ammonia-free. I'm guessing that the Kanaplex would kill that off?

I usually pull rock from my sump, so I'm not worried about replacing it.

There is no guarantee that all unwanted bacteria is gone unless you leave the tank fallow for a certain amount of time, which depends on the kind of bacteria. My general rule of thumb is a big WC and 10 days of fallow post treatment since most antibiotic that I have call for 10 days of treatment.