Is this normal firefish behavior?

[Aspiring Tank Guru]

I received a purple firefish from Live Aquaria 2 days ago. It acclimated very well and started eating right away. However it swims sideways a lot and will rest in the water column on its side. Is this normal behavior for a firefish?

On another note, I added a pink spotted watchman goby the day after I got the firefish. I woke up this morning and there was a strange dark spot on the top of the firefish. It appears to be a bite about the same size as the goby's mouth. I am posting a picture. Does this look more like a wound or like a disease? Should I be concerned?

 

[4FordFamily]

I wouldn't say that's normal sounding in nature -- I think I see an injury with a possible infection on the fish's back?

Metroplex, furan 2, and kanaplex concurrently in the qt for at least 10 days should treat that injury.

@Humblefish @melypr1985 @Brew12

 

[Aspiring Tank Guru]

I wouldn't say that's normal sounding in nature -- I think I see an injury with a possible infection on the fish's back?

Metroplex, furan 2, and kanaplex concurrently in the qt for at least 10 days should treat that injury.

@Humblefish @melypr1985 @Brew12

Would an infection have occurred within such a short time period (~<12 hours)? Also, what could he swimming sideways be a result of? He was doing it before the injury.

 

[4FordFamily]

Would an infection have occurred within such a short time period (~<12 hours)? Also, what could he swimming sideways be a result of? He was doing it before the injury.

Perhaps there was an injury prior and the infection has set in-- perhaps the injury wasn't visible before infection?

I'm not entirely sure but that looks like an infected wound to me.

 

[Aspiring Tank Guru]

It is hard for me to get a good picture because I don't have a light on the tank. Is there any info I can provide that would indicate an infection?

 

[Humblefish]

I'm not entirely sure but that looks like an infected wound to me.

+1 I think antibiotics will be required in this case: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/antibiotics.283711/

Or at the very least an acriflavine bath: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/acriflavine.282887/

 

[Humblefish]

@Aspiring Tank Guru You can read more about bacterial infections here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/bacterial-infections.191511/

 

[Aspiring Tank Guru]

@Aspiring Tank Guru You can read more about bacterial infections here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/bacterial-infections.191511/

All I have on hand is seachem metroplex and focus. Do you think this would do this trick? Also, I only have 1 QT (which the firefish is in right now) and I have a carpenters wrasse and a pink spotted watchman goby in there as well. Is it ok to treat the tank with all of them in there?

 

[Humblefish]

All I have on hand is seachem metroplex and focus. Do you think this would do this trick? Also, I only have 1 QT (which the firefish is in right now) and I have a carpenters wrasse and a pink spotted watchman goby in there as well. Is it ok to treat the tank with all of them in there?

It might. It's certainly better than doing nothing.

I would use Focus to food soak Metroplex. This explains how: http://www.seachem.com/focus.php

It is OK to treat all the fish.

 

[4FordFamily]

You might order the other antibiotics just in case. They're good to have on hand.

 

[Aspiring Tank Guru]

Thanks for all the input! I think I will order the kanaplex in hopes that it will arrive Tuesday. Should I get furan-2 as well or should the kanaplex be enough?

 

[Humblefish]

Thanks for all the input! I think I will order the kanaplex in hopes that it will arrive Tuesday. Should I get furan-2 as well or should the kanaplex be enough?

Get them both.

 

[Aspiring Tank Guru]

Get them both.

I just got furan-2 and kanaplex in the mail today. Would you recommend feeding the kanaplex or dosing the tank? Also, should I try 1 and if it doesn't work so the other?

 

[Humblefish]

I just got furan-2 and kanaplex in the mail today. Would you recommend feeding the kanaplex or dosing the tank? Also, should I try 1 and if it doesn't work so the other?

Is he looking better, worse or the same?

 

[Aspiring Tank Guru]

Is he looking better, worse or the same?

I think the same. If not maybe a tiny bit better. I just added the kanaplex tonight. I figured I will wait and see how it works before adding the furan-2.

 

[Humblefish]

I think the same. If not maybe a tiny bit better. I just added the kanaplex tonight. I figured I will wait and see how it works before adding the furan-2.

Good call

 

[Aspiring Tank Guru]

Good call

Should I be adding directly to the water (which I did for the first dose) or should I be feeding it?

 

[Humblefish]

Should I be adding directly to the water (which I did for the first dose) or should I be feeding it?

Dose directly into the water, but only in a QT.