Need advise quickly! Fishfish probably not going to make it.

[Doob]

I haven't seen my firefish out of his cave in 5 or 6 days. I know it's normal for them to be missing for a couple at a time. Today I caught a glimpse of his face and thought I saw a growth on it. Finally caught him and his eye looks destroyed. Swollen and bloody. Is this a disease or did he get beat up?

Only other inhabitants are a blue chromis and a fire shrimp. A YWG and pistol shrimp but they were added after he went missing. I have a hospital tank but there are 2 clowns in it right now. Idk what to do.

He's breathing heavily. Obviously in distress.

 

[Doob]

 

[jwilliams860]

possibly bullied, but chromis usually arent to agressive. How long have you had the firefish? It looks more like some sort of infection, if he has quit eating, thats not a good sign

 

[Doob]

I got them both on the same day, last year. They were my first 2 fish.

 

[rayn]

Looks infected somehow.

@Humblefish @melypr1985

 

[Doob]

My only option is to move the clowns from the QT into the display tank (they've only been in there a couple days, and put him in the hospital. I don't have any antibiotics on hand though. Are bacterial infections common or contagious?

 

[rayn]

If you have a spare heater and air pump you "could" put him in a bucket.

Trying to think, but prazipro, formalin, or formalin 2.

 

[Doob]

I have a sore heater, not air pump.

 

[Doob]

Spare*

 

[rayn]

Keeping the oxygen up for him would be the issue. Especially if he is already breathing hard.

No small spare tanks and possibly a hob filter?

 

[Doob]

10 gallon I use as an ato Resevoir. No filter. Since I just did a water change, only 5 gallons of salt water left. No Rodi source at this hour

 

[Doob]

The QT has a job filter and a sponge filter/air pump. I could probably get away with only 1 of those, no?

And I have water conditioner for tap water that came with a tank starter kit (I don't use it) maybe for an emergency?

 

[Doob]

I'm thinking this is definitely an infection.

 

[Doob]

If you have a spare heater and air pump you "could" put him in a bucket.

Trying to think, but prazipro, formalin, or formalin 2.

Any of these will work?

 

[Naiad]

Looks like popeye caused by an infected wound. Try bringing the swelling down with Epsom salt and treating with kanaplex and/or furan 2

 

[Doob]

Looks like popeye caused by an infected wound. Try bringing the swelling down with Epsom salt and treating with kanaplex and/or furan 2

He hasn't eaten for a week. Think he has a chance if I run to the fish store and set up a hospital to start treatment now?

 

[4FordFamily]

Looks like popeye caused by an infected wound. Try bringing the swelling down with Epsom salt and treating with kanaplex and/or furan 2

X2

 

[Humblefish]

Looks like popeye caused by an infected wound. Try bringing the swelling down with Epsom salt and treating with kanaplex and/or furan 2

^^This exactly. I've had problems mixing firefish with certain pistol shrimp. Firefish get ambushed at night by them if their hidey hole is too close to the shrimp's burrow. Easy meal, I guess.

 

[Naiad]

He may not be eating because of the swelling. Antibiotics will lower his appetite but I would treat. Maybe pick up some live food to see if you can get any feeding response.

 

[Naiad]

^^This exactly. I've had problems mixing firefish with certain pistol shrimp. Firefish get ambushed at night by them if their hidey hole is too close to the shrimp's burrow.

That could very well be a little pistol punch. If the firefish darted down the wrong hole...