Need Help Identifying and Treating Fox Face

[wakejumper22]

Hi All,

I need help identifying what is wrong with my Foxface. I’ve had him for 6 months and have had no problems with him until now. It appears there is brown on his pectoral fins and they’re looking thin. I’m thinking fin rot.. but he’s never had any problems and my water quality is perfect. Just wondering what I should do to treat him and if I have to remove him to do so. All other fish are fine and he’s eating like normal.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I see bacterial issue and not sure if fish have dots or if its debris on the tank glass. The fish will have to be quarantined in a separate tank and treated with seachem Kanaplex.
Clearer pics under white lighting will be helpful
Is fish eating and breathing normal?
Increase aeration during quarantining with an air stone addition

 

[Weeb]

looking thin

Yes. I don't know what you've been feeding your fishes. I also don't know if the fish you put into the DT were previously quarantined and if so, treated with anything.

I'm glad your water quality is 'perfect' so the next concern is proper nutrition. Check out the Fish Nutrition post. If the fish is still eating (hopefully) feed it with supplements for an ill fish, found in the linked post.

Definitely need an antibiotic treatment. Do you have any fish antibiotics on hand?

Good luck!

 

[wakejumper22]

I see bacterial issue and not sure if fish have dots or if its debris on the tank glass. The fish will have to be quarantined in a separate tank and treated with seachem Kanaplex.
Clearer pics under white lighting will be helpful
Is fish eating and breathing normal?
Increase aeration during quarantining with an air stone addition

No dots on the fish, that’s just debris or micro bubbles. I do have Kanaplex on hand as I figured that’s what I would treat with. The fish is eating and breathing normally, acting his norm.

 

[wakejumper22]

Yes. I don't know what you've been feeding your fishes. I also don't know if the fish you put into the DT were previously quarantined and if so, treated with anything.

I'm glad your water quality is 'perfect' so the next concern is proper nutrition. Check out the Fish Nutrition post. If the fish is still eating (hopefully) feed it with supplements for an ill fish, found in the linked post.

Definitely need an antibiotic treatment. Do you have any fish antibiotics on hand?

Good luck!

Sorry the fish isn’t looking thin just his fins look a bit frail. All my fish eat a variety of foods.. nori, mysis, brine etc and sometimes soak it in selcon. All fish are fat and happy.. just noticed this bacterial thing in the last day or two.

 

[vetteguy53081]

No dots on the fish, that’s just debris or micro bubbles. I do have Kanaplex on hand as I figured that’s what I would treat with. The fish is eating and breathing normally, acting his norm.

Great- Maintain good water quality and utilize the kanaplex

 

[Weeb]

Sorry the fish isn’t looking thin just his fins look a bit frail. All my fish eat a variety of foods.. nori, mysis, brine etc and sometimes soak it in selcon. All fish are fat and happy.. just noticed this bacterial thing in the last day or two.

Got it.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Sorry the fish isn’t looking thin just his fins look a bit frail. All my fish eat a variety of foods.. nori, mysis, brine etc and sometimes soak it in selcon. All fish are fat and happy.. just noticed this bacterial thing in the last day or two.

Agree fish looks good with regards to body mass.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Can you post clearer pics under white light? A video would help as well...I just cannot see clearly enough to have an opinion on what might be going on.

Jay

 

[wakejumper22]

Well 3 doses of Kanaplex had zero effect, fish actually looks worse now..

 

[wakejumper22]

Can you post clearer pics under white light? A video would help as well...I just cannot see clearly enough to have an opinion on what might be going on.

Jay

Sorry Jay, just saw this.. I posted an update above. After 3 rounds of Kanaplex there was no improvement. It’s a brown (almost looks like algae) on the fins and right under his mouth on his chin. Eating and acting normal otherwise.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Sorry Jay, just saw this.. I posted an update above. After 3 rounds of Kanaplex there was no improvement. It’s a brown (almost looks like algae) on the fins and right under his mouth on his chin. Eating and acting normal otherwise.

I've never seen this before, almost looks like algae. Foxface are unique in that they shed their cuticle (outer skin) like lionfish and scorpionfish do. In the scorpionfish, this is in response to clearing the skin of epiphytes (algae growths). I don't know why foxface do this, but maybe the same reason? If so, the shedding process sometimes gets stalled out, allowing algae to grow on the scorpionfish, maybe on foxface also?

One thing you could try is erythromycin - that is an antibiotic that kills cyanobacteria, which this very well could be. Additionally, if I'm wrong and this is a regular bacterial issue, then changing the antibiotic is still warranted since the Kanaplex isn't working.

Jay

 

[wakejumper22]

I've never seen this before, almost looks like algae. Foxface are unique in that they shed their cuticle (outer skin) like lionfish and scorpionfish do. In the scorpionfish, this is in response to clearing the skin of epiphytes (algae growths). I don't know why foxface do this, but maybe the same reason? If so, the shedding process sometimes gets stalled out, allowing algae to grow on the scorpionfish, maybe on foxface also?

One thing you could try is erythromycin - that is an antibiotic that kills cyanobacteria, which this very well could be. Additionally, if I'm wrong and this is a regular bacterial issue, then changing the antibiotic is still warranted since the Kanaplex isn't working.

Jay

Interesting, so it may be nothing at all, just normal shedding? The fish was fine up until a few weeks ago. Is the erythromycin something that can be dosed in the display tank? Any recommendations in way of medications?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Interesting, so it may be nothing at all, just normal shedding? The fish was fine up until a few weeks ago. Is the erythromycin something that can be dosed in the display tank? Any recommendations in way of medications?

No, I've dose Erythromycin in FOWLR, but I don't think I would try that in a reef.

I don't think this is normal shedding, but rather, something wrong with the shedding mechanism - just a guess though.....

Jay

 

[wakejumper22]

No, I've dose Erythromycin in FOWLR, but I don't think I would try that in a reef.

I don't think this is normal shedding, but rather, something wrong with the shedding mechanism - just a guess though.....

Jay

Hmm interesting.. not sure what I should do. The fish is acting normally I’m wondering if I just ride it out for a while and see how he does. I feel like I’m putting more stress by quarantining etc.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hmm interesting.. not sure what I should do. The fish is acting normally I’m wondering if I just ride it out for a while and see how he does. I feel like I’m putting more stress by quarantining etc.

Sorry that I can't give you better direction on this!

Jay