Need your help! Coral Beauty w blotches

Steve1500 · Jul 3, 2018

Hello,
I just placed a coral beauty angel and a lawnmower in my 37G QT two days ago. Purchased from LFS. I have not added any meds yet, just observing. Today, my coral beauty looked like this. Blotchy with pale colors, especially the lack of blue around the top of the fish. Notice the light blotch under the dorsal fin? She seems to be swimming ok, but hangs out near the top. Eyes seem to bulge. The blenny is inside the PVC and looks ok but he has not eaten since I brought him home. I tested for ammonia and it checked good (zero), zero nitrites. Did not test for nitrates.

What should I do?

Fishnut · Jul 3, 2018

Try to get a better close up photo of the angel’s side. Do a water change to start

Maritimer · Jul 3, 2018

Based on what I can see of the fish and the environment, I might start thinking a bacterial infection is at play here. Nitrofuracin Green, if you've got access to it, or the "Trifecta" of Furan-2, Kanaplex and Metroplex, each dosed according to the instructions on the package, may prove helpful. I might be thinking in terms of injury, but I don't see much that he could have injured himself on there.

~Bruce

Steve1500 · Jul 4, 2018

Unfortunately, it died. I did a freshwater dip and found no flukes. I happened so fast. Yesterday morning, it looked fine and last night it died. I assume it was a bacterial (gram negative?) infection. Bruce, can you point me out in what to do next?
I have a lawnmower blenny still in the QT and he looks ok. Should I continue to dose the trifecta you mentioned above? How long? I started it yesterday.

And, I would like to get another coral beauty. What should I do before I put it in the tank with the blenny? Water change? Let the trifecta meds take their course with the blenny, then add the angel after a water change? Where do bacterial infections come from....trying to figure if it came from my tank which had been sitting fallow for a few months or the LFS. Apologize for so many questions!

This is the third angel I have lost. I have lost no other fish but angels and it is driving me nuts as to why.

Thanks!
Steve

Maritimer · Jul 4, 2018

Sorry to hear of your loss, Steve.

You can continue the meds if you'd like, though bacterial infections are rather less contagious than some other problems, such as ich, velvet, flukes or even internal parasites. A water change or three before adding another angelfish certainly wouldn't hurt - keep in mind that the blenny's QT period starts again from day one if you add another fish.

The bacteria that cause these infections are probably lurking in most aquaria - as they are in our kitchens and bathrooms - but don't easily infect healthy fish. When a fish's immune system isn't running at peak efficiency due to stress, injury or illness, those bacteria have a chance to overwhelm the fish.

~Bruce