Issues with Black Fine Tooth Blenny

[Jesse H]

I am looking for some info on what this might be on my blenny. His eyes seem to be clouding and some scale discoloration. I have several meds on hand however I want to make sure I get him the right treatment in the QT tank. Whatever is affecting him is not affecting anyone else in the tank and he seems to be eating fine and very active.

 

[jsker]

@Jay Hemdal some help please

 

[fishguy242]

hi , welcome to the reef...

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#fishmedic

 

[Jesse H]

I added my tank parameters

Aquarium Parameters:
Aquarium type: Reef
Aquarium water volume: 75G
Filtration type: Wet Dry Sump and HOB
Lighting: LED
How long has the aquarium been established? 6 Months
Digital image of the aquarium under white light

Water quality (be sure to indicate what measurement units you are using, as well as the test kit brand)
Temperature: 78F
pH: 8.1
Salinity / specific gravity: 1.025
Ammonia >.25
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Phosphate 0
Copper 0-
Other

 

[Sharkbait19]

Could you post a video of how he is acting? How long has he been in the tank?

 

[Jesse H]

He has been in the tank about three weeks. I took a couple videos of him for you. The one where he is chilling in his spot is normal. The really active one was him thinking he was getting fed again. He is a bit of a pig.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I am looking for some info on what this might be on my blenny. His eyes seem to be clouding and some scale discoloration. I have several meds on hand however I want to make sure I get him the right treatment in the QT tank. Whatever is affecting him is not affecting anyone else in the tank and he seems to be eating fine and very active.

Tank looks like a fairly new setup but the issue I see mainly is the fish itself which is very skinny. Often LFS sells these guys as algae eaters when they technically are nor and they face starvation.
Its a misconception that these are algae eaters. The trickiest part about keeping a blenny is making sure it gets enough to eat. Problem is Improper diet. The trickiest part about keeping a blenny is making sure it gets enough to eat. You can tell this visually by looking at the abdomen, which should be a golf ball shape. A blenny with a pinched belly isn’t finding enough food.
Although a blenny needs algae to survive, its a misconception is that it can survive on algae alone. Since blennies frequent shallow water, they find their home in coral reefs. They circle areas of coral branches and sponge scraping their way along the bottom. Their feeding habit is to pound and gnaw the coral, and ingest detritus, or waste material from the coral. This includes coral skeleton, sand, gravel, and fish eggs and tiny crustaceans.
Since a blenny in the wild does not eat only algae, their captive diet must be supplemented. If a blenny is not getting enough calcium carbonate in its diet, it will rapidly deteriorate. Offer an occasional helping of algae-based wafers or pellets.
If the fish is eating, this will be good as nutrition will need to be a key to Buidling this fish back up to health. While I see what may be bacterial may also stem from starvation. Offer mysis shrimp, plankton, spirulina brine shrimp, chopped krill an LRS fish frenzy.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I added my tank parameters

Aquarium Parameters:
Aquarium type: Reef
Aquarium water volume: 75G
Filtration type: Wet Dry Sump and HOB
Lighting: LED
How long has the aquarium been established? 6 Months
Digital image of the aquarium under white light

Water quality (be sure to indicate what measurement units you are using, as well as the test kit brand)
Temperature: 78F
pH: 8.1
Salinity / specific gravity: 1.025
Ammonia >.25
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Phosphate 0
Copper 0-
Other

is this a newer tank? The numbers seem unusual at all zero while not impossible suggest false readings.
Are you using Api kits by chance?

 

[Jesse H]

Tank looks like a fairly new setup but the issue I see mainly is the fish itself which is very skinny. Often LFS sells these guys as algae eaters when they technically are nor and they face starvation.
Its a misconception that these are algae eaters. The trickiest part about keeping a blenny is making sure it gets enough to eat. Problem is Improper diet. The trickiest part about keeping a blenny is making sure it gets enough to eat. You can tell this visually by looking at the abdomen, which should be a golf ball shape. A blenny with a pinched belly isn’t finding enough food.
Although a blenny needs algae to survive, its a misconception is that it can survive on algae alone. Since blennies frequent shallow water, they find their home in coral reefs. They circle areas of coral branches and sponge scraping their way along the bottom. Their feeding habit is to pound and gnaw the coral, and ingest detritus, or waste material from the coral. This includes coral skeleton, sand, gravel, and fish eggs and tiny crustaceans.
Since a blenny in the wild does not eat only algae, their captive diet must be supplemented. If a blenny is not getting enough calcium carbonate in its diet, it will rapidly deteriorate. Offer an occasional helping of algae-based wafers or pellets.
If the fish is eating, this will be good as nutrition will need to be a key to Buidling this fish back up to health. While I see what may be bacterial may also stem from starvation. Offer mysis shrimp, plankton, spirulina brine shrimp, chopped krill an LRS fish frenzy.

This is why I posted here thanks for the advice. I feed all of the above 2 to 3 times a day. I didn't get him for algae specifically but more of the way the act in the tank. When we feed the frozen and pellets he does eat a lot of all of it. I will see about feeding more. I didn't want to knee jerk and just throw him in the QT with a antibiotic dose unless needed.

 

[Jesse H]

is this a newer tank? The numbers seem unusual at all zero while not impossible suggest false readings.
Are you using Api kits by chance?

It is over 6 months old. I did take a sample last week to the local reef shop and the reading were the same. I haven't seen Ammonia or nitrites since month 2. I started it with a Dr Tims and a month later added 2 of the clowns. everyone else is a transplant from a 30 gal I rescued from an acquaintance.

 

[vetteguy53081]

This is why I posted here thanks for the advice. I feed all of the above 2 to 3 times a day. I didn't get him for algae specifically but more of the way the act in the tank. When we feed the frozen and pellets he does eat a lot of all of it. I will see about feeding more. I didn't want to knee jerk and just throw him in the QT with a antibiotic dose unless needed.

Was it this skinny upon purchase?

 

[vetteguy53081]

It is over 6 months old. I did take a sample last week to the local reef shop and the reading were the same. I haven't seen Ammonia or nitrites since month 2. I started it with a Dr Tims and a month later added 2 of the clowns. everyone else is a transplant from a 30 gal I rescued from an acquaintance.

Try to take a water sample to a store that does NOT use Api kits and have them test your ammonia and nitrates and compare readings- then you'll know where your levels truly are at. Chance are the store you had it tested at also used api as it is a time and cost savings for many shops

 

[Jesse H]

Was it this skinny upon purchase?

It always seemed on the thin side.

I am not sure how they test however it was not an api kit.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I am looking for some info on what this might be on my blenny. His eyes seem to be clouding and some scale discoloration. I have several meds on hand however I want to make sure I get him the right treatment in the QT tank. Whatever is affecting him is not affecting anyone else in the tank and he seems to be eating fine and very active.

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

I see to issues - the white mucus and the skinniness of the fish. These two issues may or may not be related. Here is a link to a post I made about skinny blennies:

Skinny Blenny issue

Skinny blennies: Midas blennies are much more difficult to maintain than their common presence in the pet trade would have you believe. They are very prone to starvation. It is unknown if this is due to not feeding them often enough, not feeding enough, feeding the wrong foods, or if internal...

www.reef2reef.com

The mucus can be a sign of stress or of parasites. This could be skin flukes. A treatment with prazipro is a possible thing to try.

Jay

 

[Jesse H]

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

I see to issues - the white mucus and the skinniness of the fish. These two issues may or may not be related. Here is a link to a post I made about skinny blennies:

Skinny Blenny issue

Skinny blennies: Midas blennies are much more difficult to maintain than their common presence in the pet trade would have you believe. They are very prone to starvation. It is unknown if this is due to not feeding them often enough, not feeding enough, feeding the wrong foods, or if internal...

www.reef2reef.com

The mucus can be a sign of stress or of parasites. This could be skin flukes. A treatment with prazipro is a possible thing to try.

Jay

Jay,

I wanted to give a quick update. It looks to have been stress related. We have increased feeding time (if that make sense, longer slower feeding times) it now is getting a belly and has little mucus build up. I think stress was the issue and not enough food. Anyways we will keep target feeding and see if we can keep up the growth.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Jay,

I wanted to give a quick update. It looks to have been stress related. We have increased feeding time (if that make sense, longer slower feeding times) it now is getting a belly and has little mucus build up. I think stress was the issue and not enough food. Anyways we will keep target feeding and see if we can keep up the growth.

Starvation is a big thing with them - Great to hear