Please help diagnose these sores - Anthias

jkobel · Mar 8, 2021

Hi all,

Picked up three orange Anthias yesterday and popped them into a QT. (first time ever using a QT so I'm new to this whole ID and treatment process.

Two of the three have what looked at the store like scars but now when I can get a good look they look more like sores. All fish are behaving and eating normally.

Any thoughts? I have no idea where to even begin with meds (if needed) or even process for that matter. Water params are all in range.

Thanks in advance!

F i s h y · Mar 8, 2021

Look up urenoma (sp) becoming more common in anthias. Typically a disease associated with chromis damsels

jkobel · Mar 8, 2021

yikes, I hope it's not that. @Humblefish @Jay Hemdal any thoughts?

Jay Hemdal · Mar 8, 2021

Sorry, it does look like Uronema. Chromis, anthias and wrasse get it most often, usually when first acquired. Now that chloroquine isn't available, I do not have a medication to suggest for this.

Identifying disease based only on a picture is never 100%, so this could be a bacterial disease. You might consider dosing with an antibiotic just in the off chance that it isn't Uronema.

Here is an article I posted here about this scourge:

Uronema / Red Band Disease - Hemdal

Red Band Syndrome in Marine Fishes: Caused by the Protozoan; Uronema sp. Jay Hemdal Introduction: This moderately common disease of certain species of marine fish is so often misdiagnosed that most aquarists apply incorrect treatment methods...

www.reef2reef.com

Jay

jkobel · Mar 8, 2021

Jay, Thanks for weighing in.

That article is a great resource, but it doesn't give me much hope for these guys.

I found an old bottle of Metro (expired a few years ago) and started dosing with that based on something I found in another thread. The blotches have progressed since this afternoon so it seems to be getting worse very fast.

I'll update here if there are any changes. Any thoughts on when Chloroquine might be available again?

thx

Jay Hemdal · Mar 8, 2021

Not sure if chloroquine will ever be available again, people were diverting it for COVID treatment in humans.
Uronema progresses very rapidly, sorry!
Jay

jkobel · Mar 9, 2021

Quick update - one of the Anthias is dead. Another seems to be struggling.

Questions - there are 3 of these, two had signs basically right away, one doesn't have any symptoms.

1. is it possible that this last one never gets sick?
2. Even if I treat it in QT and it never shows signs do I even want to put it in my DT in the long run?

jkobel · Mar 9, 2021

Fishy65 said:
Look up urenoma (sp) becoming more common in anthias. Typically a disease associated with chromis damsels

Thanks for putting me onto this disease. At least I have a starting point - appreciate the help!

MrsBugmaster · Mar 9, 2021

Sorry for your loss. And now unfortunately this store has it in their tanks. I would let them know and be careful buying from them in the future.

F i s h y · Mar 9, 2021

jkobel said:
Quick update - one of the Anthias is dead. Another seems to be struggling.

Questions - there are 3 of these, two had signs basically right away, one doesn't have any symptoms.

1. is it possible that this last one never gets sick?
2. Even if I treat it in QT and it never shows signs do I even want to put it in my DT in the long run?

Sorry for your loss. This is a tough disease. One I feel like has been seen more often recently. Hope the others turn the corner.

jkobel · Mar 9, 2021

MrsBugmaster said:
Sorry for your loss. And now unfortunately this store has it in their tanks. I would let them know and be careful buying from them in the future.

100%, heading over there this evening to get meds and let them know

Jay Hemdal · Mar 9, 2021

jkobel said:
Quick update - one of the Anthias is dead. Another seems to be struggling.

Questions - there are 3 of these, two had signs basically right away, one doesn't have any symptoms.

1. is it possible that this last one never gets sick?
2. Even if I treat it in QT and it never shows signs do I even want to put it in my DT in the long run?

Uronema is a common protozoan found in most aquariums. Nobody knows why it affects some fish. It is very common for only some fish n a group to develop symptoms- unlike ich and velvet that usually affect 100% of the fish.
Jay