Maybe a sick Kole?

CodyRVA · Jul 26, 2018

I started to notice my kole eating less often a few days ago and just noticed today it's starting to look like it's lost some weight. I feed frozen mysis and blood worms as well as nori. Nothing new has been added to the tank; no inverts, fish, coral etc, nothing! My other fish seem fine. The tang isn't rubbing itself on anything. It usually cruises around the tank, but lately it just kinda hangs out in one place. Breathing seems fine; not fast paced or heavy. I have not found any body marks or blemishes, no cloudy eyes or fin rot. Anyone have any ideas? I've had the fish for a few years now.

Humblefish · Jul 26, 2018

Seen any stringy white poop come out?

CodyRVA · Jul 26, 2018

Humblefish said:
Seen any stringy white poop come out?

Can't say i've seen any, but I haven't seem the fish poop lately. I did get it to eat some shortly after making this post; still nervous, the fish is usually a pretty aggressive eater. I have cut back some on feeding to lower nutrients, but I don't believe i've cut back that much. So far it seems like its more prone to eat in the evening vs the morning, dunno if/why that would make any difference.

CodyRVA · Jul 30, 2018

So the fish eats, but only seems interested in the evening. Doesn't eat at all in the morning hours, but by my PM feedings he's all over it. This seems quite strange as the fish only recently developed this behavior. Good news is, is the fish is eating on some level.

CodyRVA · Oct 1, 2018

Bump. Recent update: fish hardly eats at all, starting to just idle in a spot vs cruising around the tank. Thoughts?

Gareth elliott · Oct 1, 2018

Have any pictures?

Have any tank parameters wildly changed recently?

Anything that could have contaminated the water? Perhaps run some carbon?

Any injuries or recent growths or bulges?

Could be a blockage, try to feed some vegetable like small thawed peas. Has a higher fiber content than the .1g in seaweed.
Or using magnesium sulfate with feeding?

CodyRVA · Oct 1, 2018

Gareth elliott said:
Have any pictures?

Have any tank parameters wildly changed recently?

Anything that could have contaminated the water? Perhaps run some carbon?

Any injuries or recent growths or bulges?

Could be a blockage, try to feed some vegetable like small thawed peas. Has a higher fiber content than the .1g in seaweed.
Or using magnesium sulfate with feeding?

I'll try to snag some.

Nothing has changed, no new fish, coral, etc. I do run carbon.

The only visual ailment I can see is just how skinny the fish has gotten.

I'll give this a shot, my worry is the fish barely eats as it is.

CodyRVA · Oct 1, 2018

Possible it could be flukes? Trying to do some reading, the only "plump" area on the fish is on it's side, it's quite round. I figured it was the internal organs that are simply more pronounced looking because of how skinny the fish is now. Thoughts? I'll snag some pix later. How would a fish get Flukes if nothing has been added to the tank? Can they come in on inverts?

Gareth elliott · Oct 1, 2018

Yes anything wet can transfer disease. This also includes live or fresh foods.

CodyRVA · Oct 1, 2018

Assuming I do a FW dip and confirm flukes, has anyone had luck finding prazipro locally? Petco, Petsmart, etc.?

CodyRVA · Oct 1, 2018

Here's the fish, you can see how skinny it is, but I can't see anything on its skin. It hasn't eaten at all today.

Gareth elliott · Oct 1, 2018

Api General cure has it in it usually available at pet smart

4FordFamily · Oct 1, 2018

Oh wow that’s really bad. It’s washed out in color. Ugh a few months ago I would have started feeding foods soaked in general cure and focus to clean it of what I suspect is internal parasites.

If not, an organ may be failing on the fish.

Does it eat nori?

CodyRVA · Oct 1, 2018

4FordFamily said:
Oh wow that’s really bad. It’s washed out in color. Ugh a few months ago I would have started feeding foods soaked in general cure and focus to clean it of what I suspect is internal parasites.

If not, an organ may be failing on the fish.

Does it eat nori?

The color isn't an issue. It was sold as a Kole, maybe it is, maybe a bristletooth, idk. I've had the fish for several years and the color always has looked this way. I feed a mix of frosen mysis, blood worms and spirulina brine daily. I also feed nori. Today was the first day the fish didn't eat anything at all, but yea up until a day ago it was eating some frozen and at the minimum it was eating nori consistently.

Is API General reef safe? I don't see anything visually wrong with the fish; my concern is also an internal organ/health issue non related to bacteria/parasites.

Gareth elliott · Oct 1, 2018

CodyRVA said:
The color isn't an issue. It was sold as a Kole, maybe it is, maybe a bristletooth, idk. I've had the fish for several years and the color always has looked this way. I feed a mix of frosen mysis, blood worms and spirulina brine daily. I also feed nori. Today was the first day the fish didn't eat anything at all, but yea up until a day ago it was eating some frozen and at the minimum it was eating nori consistently.

Is API General reef safe? I don't see anything visually wrong with the fish; my concern is also an internal organ/health issue non related to bacteria/parasites.

When bound to food minimal amounts leach into the water. Thats what @4FordFamily was referring to with focus. Its a seachem product i have also seen at big box stores.

CodyRVA · Oct 1, 2018

Gareth elliott said:
When bound to food minimal amounts leach into the water. Thats what @4FordFamily was referring to with focus. Its a seachem product i have also seen at big box stores.

I understand, my retort was to the comment regarding the fish's color and eating habbits.