Need help. What is this?

predawin · Jul 22, 2021

Has anyone seen anything like this before. He was fine yesterday.

fishguy242 · Jul 22, 2021

vetteguy53081 · Jul 22, 2021

Looks like an injury that has developed bacteria. Although the choice is maracyn 2, I would give it 90 min baths In ruby rally pro which is reef safe also

Jay Hemdal · Jul 22, 2021

predawin said:
Has anyone seen anything like this before. He was fine yesterday.

Is that a green conger eel? That seems to be a systemic bacterial infection. It isn’t normal for this species to lay on its side like that. If it remains that way, it is likely moribund (dying) and cannot be saved. If the photo was taken with the fish just happening to be that way, but it then swam normally, you might be able to save it by moving it to a treatment tank and dosing with a good antibiotic such as Neoplex.
Jay

predawin · Jul 22, 2021

Jay Hemdal said:
Is that a green conger eel? That seems to be a systemic bacterial infection. It isn’t normal for this species to lay on its side like that. If it remains that way, it is likely moribund (dying) and cannot be saved. If the photo was taken with the fish just happening to be that way, but it then swam normally, you might be able to save it by moving it to a treatment tank and dosing with a good antibiotic such as Neoplex.
Jay

He was dead at this point. I noticed him sticking out of his usual cave and looked like he had a full stomach. Then an hour later found him like this. Never seen anything like it before.

Jay Hemdal · Jul 23, 2021

predawin said:
He was dead at this point. I noticed him sticking out of his usual cave and looked like he had a full stomach. Then an hour later found him like this. Never seen anything like it before.

Since they hide so well, I wonder if the lesion could have developed unseen? Are you sure the "full stomach" was food and not ascites? Primary bacterial infections are rare, but do happen. I doubt that other fish in the tank are at risk, but keep an eye on them of course.

jay