Pintail fairy wrasse fin damage

[datCharles]

I have a pintail fairy wrasse with a damaged tail, there was no damage yesterday night before I went to bed.

I've lost 3 wrasses to situations just like this and I cant seem to pinpoint the problem. Before the addition of the pintail fairy wrasse, 3 weeks ago I added cirrhilabrus cf. temminckii cebu and a carpenter's flasher wrasse and since then they've been eating like pigs. My parameters are stable, I'm not sure if there's bullying involved, but my wrasse deaths always start with some sort of tail damage and I dont want to lose this pintail . Though Im beginning to suspect the hermit crab. Is there anything I can do increase his chances of survival?
Current LS
Pintail wrasse
cirrhilabrus cf. temminckii cebu
carpenter's flasher wrasse
Leopard wrasse
2 anthias
Randall's anthias
Hawaiian yellow tang
Blue tang
Orange spotted filefish
2 clowns hosting a torch
Mandarin dragonet
Black sailfin blenny
Pistol shrimp and watchman goby
1 hermit crab and 3 cleaner shrimp

 

[Gareth elliott]

There are antibiotics think @Big G would be able to help with which ones.
You mentioned you have lost 3 wrasses. What order were the fish added was there a common denominator fish that was present for all 3? Anything chasing the little guy that you have seen? Did you use an acclimation box?

 

[4FordFamily]

I suspect flukes are a possibility as well, have you dipped any fish in a dark bucket to look for little sesame seed looking things (flukes)?

 

[datCharles]

There are antibiotics think @Big G would be able to help with which ones.
You mentioned you have lost 3 wrasses. What order were the fish added was there a common denominator fish that was present for all 3? Anything chasing the little guy that you have seen? Did you use an acclimation box?

Due to my location, I think it'd be a bit hard to ship the anti biotics in time . I live in the PH. Well, the common denominator was that after a day or maybe a few, their tails would have damage on them and would have lost color. They would hide in the back of the tank and after a day or two, I'll find them dead. Unfortunately, I did not use an acclimation box, I have yet to replace the suction cups on the box. Though I did acclimate them at night with the lights off in the tank. The pintail doesnt seem to be bothered too much by tail damage and is swimming against the current, maybe I should wait and see?

I suspect flukes are a possibility as well, have you dipped any fish in a dark bucket to look for little sesame seed looking things (flukes)?

I have not encountered flukes yet, could it be possible that the only fish that were affected were the wrasses? And no I have not dipped any fish in a bucket, next time I get fish, I'll do that.

Thank you guys for replying, I did not expect replies so quick!

 

[Big G]

There are several fish on your list that could be giving the wrasse some trouble and the crab. I got rid of those hermits. They were killing all of my snails. Little terrorists.
If no flukes are found as @4FordFamily posted and eliminated from the possibilities - wrasses can be fluke magnets. Then we move on to most likely some sort of attack. When fish have tattered fins you could start with a methylene blue bath. Works pretty good on injuries. The next step up is an acriflavine product like Ruby Reef Rally. It has both antibiotic and antiseptic qualities to help the fish recover from the damage. Last resort are antibiotics like kanaplex + Furan2 + metro = the trifecta.

 

[datCharles]

There are several fish on your list that could be giving the wrasse some trouble and the crab. I got rid of those hermits. They were killing all of my snails. Little terrorists.
If no flukes are found as @4FordFamily posted and eliminated from the possibilities - wrasses can be fluke magnets. Then we move on to most likely some sort of attack. When fish have tattered fins you could start with a methylene blue bath. Works pretty good on injuries. The next step up is an acriflavine product like Ruby Reef Rally. It has both antibiotic and antiseptic qualities to help the fish recover from the damage. Last resort are antibiotics like kanaplex + Furan2 + metro = the trifecta.

I'll get rid of the hermit ASAP. I've noticed that the damage only occursduring night time, is it possible the pintail was nipped by the hermit at night? I'll work on getting the methylene blue and the acriflavine tomorrow. Is it a good idea to put him in an isolation box asap? The pintail wrasse' tail is noticeably getting swollen but he isn't hiding.

 

[Big G]

You could dose the tank with plain USP Epsom salts to help reduce the swelling. One tablespoon per 5 gallons of tank water. You can dose again one more time the next day or so as needed.

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

I think it looks more like physical damage than flukes.

I would remove it to a hospital tank with a rally bath on the way followed by antibiotics in the ht. I would use nfg if you have it. kanna/furan2/metro would be a good alternative that is easier to find.

While it's in the ht, hunt down the offender!

 

[Gareth elliott]

The fish will recover faster in a hospital tank than in the box .

Use the acclimation box if the damage is by a fish which my gut tells me would be the leopard wrasse, can sometimes be aggressive to new wrasses .will give fish time to get used to each other without being able to brawl when you reintroduce. These tend to particularly important when ever adding any new wrasses to a tank where wrasses are already present.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Looks like fin damage and Crab would be my suspect. Yes Furan and even Melafix will aid in tail healing. Multiple wrasses do squabble but generally don't inflict this type of damage from another from what I have seen over years