Need help with my flame angel!

Humblefish · Dec 12, 2015

The problem with a bulging stomach is it could mean so many different things: swim bladder issue, internal infection (edema), internal parasite (Hexamita), renal failure, a tumor growth or just simply constipation.

Have you noticed any white stringy poop? Is the fish still eating? If so, you could try feeding a peeled boiled pea.

miyags · Dec 12, 2015

I'd stop with the garlic and ginger. By chance did you dose peroxide for the brown on your sand?

Humblefish · Dec 12, 2015

I missed the part about the garlic & ginger. How long have you been doing this? Are you using them because you know you have ich in the tank?

Thraciandrummer · Dec 12, 2015

oh good, I'm happy I can treat in the display. I read a few sites on it and it sounds like it's safe for snails and shrimp as well as the zoas I have.

I dose garlic and ginger daily because from time to time my foxface and blue tang do breakout in ich for a day or two. I am actually going to discontinue the garlic as it does increase phosphates. As far as the brown sand, this is something that has just started to pop up. I am trying to figure out what is causing it but my levels are all pretty solid.

Humblefish · Dec 12, 2015

Studies have shown that long-term garlic use can cause liver damage in fish. Just something to consider with your Flame.

Thraciandrummer · Dec 12, 2015

Good to know. I have only had the flame for 2 months so I don't think that would be. On ice red long term, but as I said I am discontinuing use of it unless I see ich or have a finicky eater. Humble Fish, do you have any advice on if I should use Prazi Pro and if I can dose it directly into my display?

Humblefish · Dec 12, 2015

Thraciandrummer said:
Humble Fish, do you have any advice on if I should use Prazi Pro and if I can dose it directly into my display?

Prazipro is mostly reef safe, except for tube worms/feather dusters/bristleworms. Every now & then I'll read about something unexpected happening... I think one time a guy claimed it killed his nem, and I think @melypr1985 said it negatively impacted some monti caps (although I think this was only temporary.)

In your particular situation, dosing Prazipro will only help if his condition is being caused by intestinal worms or gill flukes. I personally would move him into a QT and try Prazipro on him in there so none of your other livestock are affected. The way he's swimming, he can't be that difficult to catch.

Thraciandrummer · Dec 12, 2015

Ok I'm sure I can catch him. What negative affects can prazi have on my other fish? Other than fish I only have a few zoa colonies, snails and a coral banded shrimp.

Humblefish · Dec 12, 2015

Thraciandrummer said:
What negative affects can prazi have on my other fish?

Some appetite suppression for 2-3 days, and you want to take care not to overdose prazi with wrasses. They seem to be especially sensitive to all meds.

Thraciandrummer · Dec 12, 2015

I do not have any wrasses. The only reason I want to avoid a qt if possible is bc I lent my 20 gallon qt to my cousin for a bit to qt a new tang he got. Didn't think I'd be needing it right now. Much is my luck, as soon as I lent it out I need it

melypr1985 · Dec 13, 2015

Humblefish said:
Prazipro is mostly reef safe, except for tube worms/feather dusters/bristleworms. Every now & then I'll read about something unexpected happening... I think one time a guy claimed it killed his nem, and I think @melypr1985 said it negatively impacted some monti caps (although I think this was only temporary.)

In your particular situation, dosing Prazipro will only help if his condition is being caused by intestinal worms or gill flukes. I personally would move him into a QT and try Prazipro on him in there so none of your other livestock are affected. The way he's swimming, he can't be that difficult to catch.

Yes my monti's all faded for a few weeks, but they all recovered

Thraciandrummer · Dec 14, 2015

Purchased some PraziPro over the weekend. I am going to start dosing that and see how things pan out. Out of all the research I have done on this stuff it seems highly effective and completely reef safe. I don't have much more than fish and a few Zoa colonies so I am not that worried.

Thraciandrummer · Dec 17, 2015

Though I bought the prazi pro, I am a little weary to use it. I know I have to stop my skimmer and carbon reactor in order to dose prazi. I am just a little nervous to do this for a few days. I am worried of what might happen to my water parameters from doing this. Any one have experience in using prazi or turning off your skimmer for a few days.

melypr1985 · Dec 17, 2015

Unless you have a crazy large bioload then I dont see any problems that will arise from going without your skimmer for a few days. I've turned mine off for 2 weeks (it's kinda loud) and didn't see any real problems. A few days shouldn't make much difference.

Thraciandrummer · Dec 17, 2015

Ok then I shall dose tomorrow. Thanks! I hope this helps him.

Thraciandrummer · Dec 19, 2015

Update : Day 1 of treatment of PraziPro. Zoas, coral banded shrimp and snails completely unaffected. I have noticed a big difference in the fish though. The fish took about 15 minutes to come out of hiding once the lights came on today, and even once out they are not swimming around energetically like they usually do. They seem to be staying behind rocks in their sleeping spots for the most part. I put a piece of Sea Veggies on a clip for them and normally this piece of nori would be devoured in a matter of minutes, but today they picked at it slightly then have completely ignored it. Most of it is still on the clip untouched. In fact, they swim up to the clip and then just turn away. Their appetites seem pretty weak right now which makes me nervous a bit. As for the Flame Angel for which this treatment is taking place, he is still swimming oddly and I see no sign of him getting any better. The treatment is supposed to last 5 days, but the last thing I want is for my other fish to stop eating for 5 days.

Humblefish · Dec 19, 2015

Lethargy and reduced appetite are normal side effects of Prazipro. It will probably only last a couple of days though. You gotta put yourself in your fishes' fins right now.

If they have flukes, the presence of praziquantel is causing the flukes to spasm all over their body (and inside their gills/eyes) before dropping off. Yeah, I wouldn't be hungry or acting right either.

Thraciandrummer · Dec 19, 2015

That sounds pretty terrible, but yes I agree I would eat either haha. As long as it is normal, I'm happier.

Thraciandrummer · Dec 22, 2015

So my 5 day treatment on my Angel ends tomorrow, and so far he is still swimming the same way (video posted at beginning of thread). I guess this means that his issue is not an internal parasite. I know someone suggested above to boil and remove the skin from a pea and feed it to him. I suppose I can try that, but if that doesn't help, I am sort of at a loss at what is wrong with him and why he would be swimming so abnormally.