Royal Gramma Sick

[Josh8587]

Please help me identify what this is. She is in a tank with 2 clowns, 1 yellow tang, 1 diamond goby.

She has been lethargic and not eating for 2 days. She has been in the tank 2 weeks.

Thanks.

 

[Shep]

#reefsquad

 

[dbl]

First, welcome to R2R.

I'm not an expert but let's gather some information for those that are and will chime in. Was this fish, or the others for that matter, quarantined? If so, was it simply for observation or was there any QT treatment? How long has the tank been up and running? Was it eating the first 10 days it was in the tank? Do you have a QT/hospital tank if needed for treatment? Lastly, let us know your water test parameters because someone is surely going to ask.

We are here to help so the more information you can supply the better.

 

[Josh8587]

Nothing was quarantined.

Tank has been up and running 6 months.

She was eating fine.

Amonia is 0
Nitrites 0
Ph 8.2 ish
Nitrates between 5 and 10 ppm
Salenity 1.024

 

[KJ]

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/fish-disease-index.247600/

 

[Maritimer]

Welcome aboard, Josh8587!

Sorry that your first posts involve such an unhappy fish . . .

I'm not a pro either, but that white patch near the gramma's tail looks bacterial to me. Even though it's not a great photograph, I wouldn't be surprised if @Humblefish or @melypr1985 could extract the information they'd need to set you on the right course. They're amazing like that. If it is bacterial, you'll want to run a course of antibiotics, I should think . . .

~Bruce

 

[melypr1985]

Hi there @Josh8587 . Welcome to R2R! I'm very sorry about your gramma.

It does indeed look like an infection to me. I would advise antibiotics, in a QT is best. The problem is that these infections are often secondary to another problem like parasites (ich, flukes, ect). Since none of the fish have been QT'd, that is a distinct possibility. Another is that it's an injury that got infected... so, are there any bullies in the tank? Hitchhikers that may go after him? Crabs?

 

[Josh8587]

Hi there @Josh8587 . Welcome to R2R! I'm very sorry about your gramma.

It does indeed look like an infection to me. I would advise antibiotics, in a QT is best. The problem is that these infections are often secondary to another problem like parasites (ich, flukes, ect). Since none of the fish have been QT'd, that is a distinct possibility. Another is that it's an injury that got infected... so, are there any bullies in the tank? Hitchhikers that may go after him? Crabs?

The Yellow Tang seemed to slightly chase her a little, but not alot. We do have a Sally Lightfoot but I haven't noticed any aggression.

Unfortunately, we woke so find she had died last night. Whatever it was, it happened fast. I know it's only a fish, as some friends would say, but I feel as though they trust their life to us and we let them down. Kinda bummed.

Thanks for all the help so quickly. I think a quarantine tank is in our future.

 

[Maritimer]

Very sorry to hear of her passing, Josh . . .

Quarantine doesn't just act to prevent disease from entering your display, it gives new fish time to adjust to captive conditions, settle in and put on some weight before being confronted with competition (and sometimes aggression) from fish already established in your display - in this case, fish from a different ocean on the other side of the planet! It also gives _you_ time to get used to them; their needs and quirks, how they look when they're well, and how to notice if something's not quite right.

I think the possibility of a quarantine tank in your future is a great thing!

~Bruce

 

[melypr1985]

The Yellow Tang seemed to slightly chase her a little, but not alot. We do have a Sally Lightfoot but I haven't noticed any aggression.

Unfortunately, we woke so find she had died last night. Whatever it was, it happened fast. I know it's only a fish, as some friends would say, but I feel as though they trust their life to us and we let them down. Kinda bummed.

Thanks for all the help so quickly. I think a quarantine tank is in our future.

I'm very sorry. Infections are the hardest to diagnose, treat and cure. Some of them can move so quickly they will kill faster than velvet. Others move so slowly you arn't even sure what it is at first. A QT is always a good investment to have on hand.