Nipped find treatment

User · Dec 12, 2018

Hi guys

I have a 3” magnificent foxface (Michael J Foxface) and a 1” Randall’s Goby (Toby) sharing a 10 gallon QT tank. They have been in 1.75ppm copper since Monday, after ramping from 1.0 on Friday. They got a ruby reef rally dip, 90 minutes, after they got home before going into copper

Sometime between 8am and 3pm today, Michael the jerkface ripped the entire dorsal fin from Toby’s back.

I’ve added an eggcrate divider after a quick run to Lowe’s. Didn’t think it would have been necessary, otherwise I would have held off getting Toby in the first place

I’m actually really bummed. Randall’s goby has been in my list for a while and I got him maybe a little impulsively while picking up the foxface.

Any suggestions for what to add to the water to combat possible infections? Broad spectrum antibiotic? Keep going with the copper and keep an eye out for infection?

Thanks

Michael jerkface

rkpetersen · Dec 12, 2018

Poor thing! Adding antibiotics to therapeutic levels of copper can be hazardous. Since you've got them separated, I'd wait and see, minimizing stress and keeping the water as clean as possible. Hopefully the goby is eating.

User · Dec 12, 2018

Yeah, he was taking some x-small pellets and tiny bits of mysis, but he didn’t eat at 4pm when I put the divider in. I’ll try again at 7.30-8 pm just before lights out

I add selcon to all of the QT food, so hopefully the vitamin boost will help him ward off any infections

Big G · Dec 12, 2018

You could consider pulling the goby for a 60-90 minute bath in the Ruby Reef Rally. It has both antiseptic and antibiotic qualities that could help the fish's immune system to heal the wounds.

User · Dec 12, 2018

Big G said:
You could consider pulling the goby for a 60-90 minute bath in the Ruby Reef Rally. It has both antiseptic and antibiotic qualities that could help the fish's immune system to heal the wounds.

I think I’ll hold off on that until he shows infection symptoms. He’s pretty stressed out right now.

But I’ll keep it in mind — thanks

Reefahholic · Dec 13, 2018

rkpetersen said:
Poor thing! Adding antibiotics to therapeutic levels of copper can be hazardous. Since you've got them separated, I'd wait and see, minimizing stress and keeping the water as clean as possible. Hopefully the goby is eating.

Have you had any adverse reactions with copper and a particular antibiotic?

Reefahholic · Dec 13, 2018

Neilp, they look good right now. I’d just keep going with the copper and observe them.

rkpetersen · Dec 13, 2018

Reefahholic said:
Have you had any adverse reactions with copper and a particular antibiotic?

By hazardous I mostly meant increased risk of killing off an already-stressed biofilter, and also increased degree of water oxygen depletion. Synergistic adverse reactions by fish to combining antibiotics with most other QT treatments are thankfully fairly rare.