Hey There,
I'm posting here to feel out a possible infection on my Midas Blenny. Please see the attached files under multiple lightning conditions /angles ( I have a lot of them to help as much as I can) - I've included some video as well using Ree2 Reefs File uploader. I'll try to give as much information below as possible. Thanks you!
Background-Purchase and QT: About 5 weeks ago I purchased a Mccoskers Wrasse, a Red Headed Solon Fairy Wrasse, a Splendid Dotty Back, and a Midas Blenny from an online vendor that I have not experienced any loss from. I moved these fish into my new build and watched them closely for two weeks. After watching them for two weeks in which they started to color up (especially in the case of the blenny given they have stress spots), eat enthusiastically, and begin showing some personality (The blenny in particular is now extremely friendly with the feeding forceps), I moved my stocking from my smaller established system (royal gramma, mandarin, two clowns) into their new home to meet their new tankmates. These are the only fish in the tank right now (I ran system for two months prior to ensure a nice cycle and seeded with existing live rock and cultured pods)
Background-Some Aggression: I've noticed that some of the tank mates are a bit on the food-aggressive side (I have since then started to feed 2x a day using frozen - which has subsided much of the aggression). Unfortunately, my Mccoskers wrasse is in bad shape as of the beginning of the week-as his rear fin seems to have been damaged (he is in a breeder box for protection and monitoring). I've noticed that the blenny and red headed wrasse were fighting among themselves and picking on the mccosker's wrasse (headbutting in particular). Prior to this week he was extremely active.
Current State/Symptoms: As of right now, my Mccosker's wrasse is holding on - but is having trouble keeping parallel to the plane of the bottom of the tank and is struggling to keep himself righted. He is having trouble eating and his primary means of locomotion are his two pectoral fins - is rear fin is badly damaged. The Blenny has seemed to develop a raw spot/ possible slough spot on its head in the past few days. All fish sans the mccosker's are very vibrant , are active in the water column, and are eating extremely well (as mentioned, the blenny in particular does the dance whenever I'm in the room / is best friends with my forceps). I have not been able to discern any spots or mucus buildup on any of the fish including the struggling wrasse. I do notice that the blenny does a bit of a head shake during feedings - which I assume is a threat display.
My working Hypotheses are below:
Hypothesis One: Potential fighting has left some of the fish's scales damaged. I have increased feedings and the aggression has begun to subside.
Hypothesis Two: Potential Brooklynella outbreak: While the blenny is not producing the stereotypical mucus symptoms- the raw scales are concerning and I'm wondering if it could be construed as sloughing. The tissue does look a bit on the damaged side.
I'd love to hear some possible criticism and treatment options. I want to make sure that I do everything I can for these guys; but I also want to make sure that I don't accidentally stress them out too much for an unnecessary treatment and potentially harm them and given my lack of experience in disease ID i can see where I could do just that!
Thank you so much!
I'm posting here to feel out a possible infection on my Midas Blenny. Please see the attached files under multiple lightning conditions /angles ( I have a lot of them to help as much as I can) - I've included some video as well using Ree2 Reefs File uploader. I'll try to give as much information below as possible. Thanks you!
Background-Purchase and QT: About 5 weeks ago I purchased a Mccoskers Wrasse, a Red Headed Solon Fairy Wrasse, a Splendid Dotty Back, and a Midas Blenny from an online vendor that I have not experienced any loss from. I moved these fish into my new build and watched them closely for two weeks. After watching them for two weeks in which they started to color up (especially in the case of the blenny given they have stress spots), eat enthusiastically, and begin showing some personality (The blenny in particular is now extremely friendly with the feeding forceps), I moved my stocking from my smaller established system (royal gramma, mandarin, two clowns) into their new home to meet their new tankmates. These are the only fish in the tank right now (I ran system for two months prior to ensure a nice cycle and seeded with existing live rock and cultured pods)
Background-Some Aggression: I've noticed that some of the tank mates are a bit on the food-aggressive side (I have since then started to feed 2x a day using frozen - which has subsided much of the aggression). Unfortunately, my Mccoskers wrasse is in bad shape as of the beginning of the week-as his rear fin seems to have been damaged (he is in a breeder box for protection and monitoring). I've noticed that the blenny and red headed wrasse were fighting among themselves and picking on the mccosker's wrasse (headbutting in particular). Prior to this week he was extremely active.
Current State/Symptoms: As of right now, my Mccosker's wrasse is holding on - but is having trouble keeping parallel to the plane of the bottom of the tank and is struggling to keep himself righted. He is having trouble eating and his primary means of locomotion are his two pectoral fins - is rear fin is badly damaged. The Blenny has seemed to develop a raw spot/ possible slough spot on its head in the past few days. All fish sans the mccosker's are very vibrant , are active in the water column, and are eating extremely well (as mentioned, the blenny in particular does the dance whenever I'm in the room / is best friends with my forceps). I have not been able to discern any spots or mucus buildup on any of the fish including the struggling wrasse. I do notice that the blenny does a bit of a head shake during feedings - which I assume is a threat display.
My working Hypotheses are below:
Hypothesis One: Potential fighting has left some of the fish's scales damaged. I have increased feedings and the aggression has begun to subside.
Hypothesis Two: Potential Brooklynella outbreak: While the blenny is not producing the stereotypical mucus symptoms- the raw scales are concerning and I'm wondering if it could be construed as sloughing. The tissue does look a bit on the damaged side.
I'd love to hear some possible criticism and treatment options. I want to make sure that I do everything I can for these guys; but I also want to make sure that I don't accidentally stress them out too much for an unnecessary treatment and potentially harm them and given my lack of experience in disease ID i can see where I could do just that!
Thank you so much!
