Magnificent Foxface sick

[kwall737]

So woke up this am to my Foxface laying sideways on the bottom of a piece of pvc in my qt. I could tell he was breathing, but not looking good. Turned the lights on and tried to get him up, but he wouldn’t move. Picked up the piece of pvc and he slid out, and was very lethargic and swimming sideways near the top of the water, and getting blown around by the powerhead. Noticed he hasn’t been eating much the last 4 or 5 days, and had what looked like a large wound on his side last night (a dark marking, almost like he got caught on the overflow of the tank). Been in qt for almost 2 weeks after i had to get all my fish outta the dt after my purple tang got ich. Yesterday was last day of dosing Metro following the 9 day treatment using GC and Metro to deworm and treat against brook (which unfortunately got one of my clowns in the same qt tank as well). Was going to do a large water change today and slowly ramp up copper for 30 day treatment next. And help saving this guy would be greatly appreciated!

 

[FangsAndGames]

He is extremely skinny. If you can make sure you can get some food into him

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

As mentioned, it is kind of skinny. The symptoms it is showing are generalized things shown by a moribund (dying) fish. I can’t make out the spot you described.

Sorry, ijust can’t think of anything to try, and I don’t like to guess.

Just in case you didn’t know, these fish have venomous spines.
Jay

 

[vetteguy53081]

When in doubt, do a water change .
Before doing it- what is current ammonia-nitrate- temperature-salinity reading?
Are you using tap water from the faucet or RO WATER?
What foods were you feeding it?

 

[kwall737]

He is extremely skinny. If you can make sure you can get some food into him

Been trying, but doesn’t seem interested unfortunately

 

[kwall737]

When in doubt, do a water change .
Before doing it- what is current ammonia-nitrate- temperature-salinity reading?
Are you using tap water from the faucet or RO WATER?
What foods were you feeding it?

Ammonia badge looks good, temp 77, sal 1.025, using ro water from BRS 4 stage unit with tds showing 0, feeding a mix of 2-3 diff Hikari frozen foods mixed with vita-chem and beta glucan. Had been eating fine since he’s been in qt and acting normal until about 4 or 5 days ago when he started to not eat much at all. Haven’t seen any white, stringy poo but the clown he was in qt with that passed did have that.

 

[kwall737]

As mentioned, it is kind of skinny. The symptoms it is showing are generalized things shown by a moribund (dying) fish. I can’t make out the spot you described.

Sorry, ijust can’t think of anything to try, and I don’t like to guess.

Just in case you didn’t know, these fish have venomous spines.
Jay

Thanks Jay. Yeah unfortunately I’m not sure what else to do, but am aware of the spines

 

[FangsAndGames]

try algae sheets like nori or live algae like ogo

 

[FangsAndGames]

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/fish-coral-foods/fish-foods/bulk-reef-supply.html

Try these algaes

 

[FangsAndGames]

Or this

Product Page

marinecollectors.com

 

[ReeferWarrant]

Go to your local Asian Market and get the dried Nori sheets, make sure they dont have any additives or oils/seasonings. That would be your quickest resource or a LFS that's going to charge you double for half of the sheets.

 

[vetteguy53081]

If possible, take a water sample to a trusted LFS and have them test water for you and to compare to your readings for verification and comparison. Im not a believer of ammonia badges and have seen it fail many aquarists with false readings - reason i took it off my shelf at my pet store I had
Non Eating may also suggest something internal which PraziPro works well but focus first on water quality

 

[Steph72]

Awww! Poor guy! I’m so sorry you’re going through this, it’s so frustrating. I would add a large air stone also, especially if his breathing looks labored. The Hygger air stones on Amazon are wonderful at keeping the tank oxygenated but any air stone will help. Try to keep the lights off as much as possible to reduce stress. Maybe even cover the front of the tank so he can’t see movement in the room, especially when food is offered. Is he by himself? My magnificent was extremely fearful when I first got him and it took awhile for him to eat or come out of hiding. I hope he improves soon.

 

[Steph72]

If possible, take a water sample to a trusted LFS and have them test water for you and to compare to your readings for verification and comparison. Im not a believer of ammonia badges and have seen it fail many aquarists with false readings - reason i took it off my shelf at my pet store I had
Non Eating may also suggest something internal which PraziPro works well but focus first on water quality

I agree, especially about the ammonia badges...getting an actual reading is better. It only takes a trace amount to cause problems.

 

[FangsAndGames]

Heres my guy

 

[FangsAndGames]

I feed mysis once a day and 1 sheet of nori on a clip for him and my tangs. Fat sucker

 

[najer]

Live macro algea, not cheato, get it feeding.

 

[FangsAndGames]

Also sometimes they do camo up so don't be surprised if he does

(Not mine)

 

[vetteguy53081]

After verifying water quality and levels, feed the following at different meals:
- mysis shrimp
- small plankton
- Nori seaweed basted with garlic
- Formula 2 flake and frozen
- LRS herbivore diet
- spirulina brine shrimp

Add selcon vitamin 2x per week and garlic extract added to foods also 2x per week