Moorish idol

[littlefoxx]

I decided to pull the trigger on an idol after countless hours of research and wanted to add him to my 300 before other fish. I got a little juvenile. Pulled him out of the bag and he wasnt doing so hot, there was hardly any oxygen in the bag (like it got punctured). So I acclimated him with drip method. Just got him into my QT tank. He is a little worse for wear. Not sure if shipping stress or aggression at the store or what but he has some red marks and tattered fins. He is active in the tank. He is a little thin too. Just would like input on him and appropriate meds (if needed) for him in QT since they are so sensitive and I dont want to lose the little guy.

 

[littlefoxx]

@vetteguy53081 @Jay Hemdal @MnFish1

 

[Jekyl]

Did you drop into the water that was in the bag during shipping? Once exposed to air the ph value in turn causes ammonia to skyrocket to toxic levels. For shipped fish they should be temp acclimated and then transferred to clean water with matched salinity.

 

[littlefoxx]

Did you drop into the water that was in the bag during shipping? Once exposed to air the ph value in turn causes ammonia to skyrocket to toxic levels. For shipped fish they should be temp acclimated and then transferred to clean water with matched salinity.

I transferred the bag water out pretty quickly with the drip line (pulling out bag water with the drip line completely open) until most of the bag water was gone then transferred him to clean water because I was nervous about that but didnt want to completely shock him. The red spots on him were there the second I opened the box and saw him in the bag, which also has me worried

 

[Jekyl]

I transferred the bag water out pretty quickly with the drip line (pulling out bag water with the drip line completely open) until most of the bag water was gone then transferred him to clean water because I was nervous about that but didnt want to completely shock him. The red spots on him were there the second I opened the box and saw him in the bag, which also has me worried

Sounds like a shipping issue if you think the bag wasn't secure. Keeping it sealed prevents the issue I mentioned. May want to contact seller.

 

[littlefoxx]

Sounds like a shipping issue if you think the bag wasn't secure. Keeping it sealed prevents the issue I mentioned. May want to contact seller.

Yeah Im thinking so too. Do you think those red marks are from that as well? Just nervous its an injury or something else nasty

 

[vetteguy53081]

I decided to pull the trigger on an idol after countless hours of research and wanted to add him to my 300 before other fish. I got a little juvenile. Pulled him out of the bag and he wasnt doing so hot, there was hardly any oxygen in the bag (like it got punctured). So I acclimated him with drip method. Just got him into my QT tank. He is a little worse for wear. Not sure if shipping stress or aggression at the store or what but he has some red marks and tattered fins. He is active in the tank. He is a little thin too. Just would like input on him and appropriate meds (if needed) for him in QT since they are so sensitive and I dont want to lose the little guy.

This looks like bacterial but im siding with aggression and bruising based on the chewed up fins and what appears as bite marks. I see marks are on both sides.
What other fish were in the tank with it?
Is fish eating ?
Breathing heavy or normal?

I would lower light intensity, add air stone but Moreso- it appears fish was not quarantined and really should be. In this case with blemishes and not typical but I would add in this tank ruby rally pro or quarantine as you should and add Seachem Kanaplex for 5 days and then switch to coppersafe at 2.25 level for 30 days followed with praziPro treatment but assure stress level is also decreased as fish is in trouble at the moment

 

[vetteguy53081]

Do not switch bag water quickly especially if salinity and ph differ

 

[littlefoxx]

This looks like bacterial but im siding with aggression and bruising based on the chewed up fins and what appears as bite marks. I see marks are on both sides.
What other fish were in the tank with it?
Is fish eating ?
Breathing heavy or normal?

I would lower light intensity, add air stone but Moreso- it appears fish was not quarantined and really should be. In this case with blemishes and not typical but I would add in this tank ruby rally pro or quarantine as you should and add Seachem Kanaplex for 5 days and then switch to coppersafe at 2.25 level for 30 days followed with praziPro treatment but assure stress level is also decreased as fish is in trouble at the moment

Breathing is fast. He is laying on the ground now. And yes I turned the lights down, I only did that to get good video. And I have no idea what kind of fish he was in with, I got him from an online vendor. He was Wysiwyg but the picture doesnt look like him at all.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

I decided to pull the trigger on an idol after countless hours of research and wanted to add him to my 300 before other fish. I got a little juvenile. Pulled him out of the bag and he wasnt doing so hot, there was hardly any oxygen in the bag (like it got punctured). So I acclimated him with drip method. Just got him into my QT tank. He is a little worse for wear. Not sure if shipping stress or aggression at the store or what but he has some red marks and tattered fins. He is active in the tank. He is a little thin too. Just would like input on him and appropriate meds (if needed) for him in QT since they are so sensitive and I dont want to lose the little guy.

Aww, very sad to see. They are such amazing fish! I sure hope this little one pulls thru for you.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Breathing is fast. He is laying on the ground now. And yes I turned the lights down, I only did that to get good video. And I have no idea what kind of fish he was in with, I got him from an online vendor. He was Wysiwyg but the picture doesnt look like him at all.

The joys of online ordering. Damage often begins with inexperienced persons doing the netting

 

[littlefoxx]

 

[MnFish1]

I think this is a significant bacterial infection - and possible ammonia irritation. I would treat with broad spectrum antibiotics. It looks severely ill - and I would ask for a replacement - given the condition of the bag. IMHO this is not aggression or injury except possibly from transport in a poorly sealed bag.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I decided to pull the trigger on an idol after countless hours of research and wanted to add him to my 300 before other fish. I got a little juvenile. Pulled him out of the bag and he wasnt doing so hot, there was hardly any oxygen in the bag (like it got punctured). So I acclimated him with drip method. Just got him into my QT tank. He is a little worse for wear. Not sure if shipping stress or aggression at the store or what but he has some red marks and tattered fins. He is active in the tank. He is a little thin too. Just would like input on him and appropriate meds (if needed) for him in QT since they are so sensitive and I dont want to lose the little guy.

Sorry to see.

Idols are tough to ship. Now that Hawaii is closed, they are being collected in SE Asia, and the shipping times are much longer. This increases stress. Then, importers often ship fish right back out and this “double bounce” adds to the stress.

You should contact the seller.

 

[littlefoxx]

I contacted them and they have issued store credit. The idol just passed.

 

[Jekyl]

I contacted them and they have issued store credit. The idol just passed.

Condolences

 

[littlefoxx]

Condolences

Thank you. I was excited for the little guy to come. I think Im just going to not get another, Ive never seen them in a LFS but if they dont ship well then I dont want another dying like that again

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Thank you. I was excited for the little guy to come. I think Im just going to not get another, Ive never seen them in a LFS but if they dont ship well then I dont want another dying like that again

Sorry to hear it died, but glad the dealer stood behind their fish.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

I contacted them and they have issued store credit. The idol just passed.

awww very sorry to hear this. They are truly beautiful and amazing fish. I have always heard they are near impossible to keep though. Good to know the Shipper is standing behind it though.

 

[littlefoxx]

Sorry to hear it died, but glad the dealer stood behind their fish.

Me too. But I got this beautiful eel from them too and he is doing very well. Already sharing a burrow with the other two!