Help with ID of... something?

[jessezm]

Hey all -

I've had this yellow pyramid in QT for 2 and a half weeks with one other butterfly, both came in the same batch. I acclimated them days 1-3, then started prazipro just as a prophylactic and metro/focus soaked food. They've been eating well and behaving normal, but about a week ago this bump appeared on the side of one of the butterflies and seems to have been getting slightly bigger. I just changed water last night and started a new round of prazi, and added kanaplex to the food along with metro and focus.

is this Lympho maybe? It doesn't look like ich to me, and there are no signs of anything similar or any ich or flashing with the other fish. no flashing with either fish that I've seen.

Any help would be much appreciated! Sorry for the poor picture quality...

 

[jessezm]

Anyone?

 

[jessezm]

@Humblefish

 

[Fudsey]

Let's get more eyes on it @HotRocks @4FordFamily @ngoodermuth #reefsquad

Hard to tell with those pics, any chance you could get a clearer image?

 

[jessezm]

yeah I will try again tonight. The pics looked much clearer on my phone! It's like a bump under the skin, kind of like a pimple trying to break through maybe?

 

[HairyGary]

It does not look like Lymph or Ich. More bacterial is my bet but better shot would be good to confirm.

 

[OCD_Corals]

How is the fish reacting to it. Does it scratch against the bottom or rocks trying to get it off?

 

[jessezm]

How is the fish reacting to it. Does it scratch against the bottom or rocks trying to get it off?

No flashing or scratching that I have observed at all. Fish is acting completely normal

 

[Fudsey]

Eating OK?

 

[jessezm]

Eating OK?

Yep, taking pellets and frozen mysis, brine, and LRS reef frenzy readily

 

[4FordFamily]

That is an odd place for lymph, too large for ich or most other external parasites. I am guessing it's an injury or an infection (or both). Is it red at all?

A clearer photo would help, as mentioned.

Any tankmates capable of doing that? (Tangs for example)

 

[jessezm]

That is an odd place for lymph, too large for ich or most other external parasites. I am guessing it's an injury or an infection (or both). Is it red at all?

A clearer photo would help, as mentioned.

Any tankmates capable of doing that? (Tangs for example)

He's just in a QT with his brother/sister (?) - no aggression at all between them. Not sure how he would have gotten the injury but it's certainly possible. There are only PVC pipes in there for hiding.

It is more white, but does look a little darker in the middle. I will try and get a much clearer pic later on tonight or tomorrow.

 

[jessezm]

I had a pyramid butterfly in QT last year that developed an infection that started out looking similar to this one, but higher up towards the fin. No other fish in QT had it but it unfortunately worsened, then turned into a hole in the top of the fish. It was almost like a flesh-eating infection or something. It was really hard to watch.

If this is a bacterial or some other kind of infection, what is the best course of action?

 

[LAReefer4Life]

I would treat for bacterial. Since he is eating like normal I would add kanaplex and furan combined with focus to bind it with the frozen food and feed for 2 weeks.

 

[jessezm]

Okay folks here is a better pick. There does appear to be a reddish hue to the bump. But the skin doesn't seem to be broken

 

[4FordFamily]

That actually doesn’t look infected to me. I’d leave it alone if it worsens though I’d suggest having kanaplex, metroplex, and furan 2 on hand to treat for 14 days. It takes a while to act so as soon as you’re sure it’s worsening I’d treat.

When mixing meds, it’s best to have an air stone and a powerhead breaking the surface as it can create low oxygen environments.

 

[jessezm]

Ok sounds good