Ruinemos

[Lambo82]

It seems like a common thread in the forum, but I just completed a 4 month cycle of a 300g FOWLR, dry rock, dry sand, completely sterile. I wanted to start off with a school of BG Chromis, I know! I purchased these fish from a reputable QT company so they went straight in to the DT. Within 3-4 days I was down to 2 fish and now they are all dead. Need some insight on the best course of action. Drain the whole tank, remove all the rock and zap it, or add a UV, continue to add QT'd fish and observe?

 

[MnFish1]

It looks like Uronema. there is nothing you can do to remove it - except take down the tank - which doesn't seem prudent. Other types of fish are not as susceptible. FWIW - 4 fish is not a 'large group' of chromis In my experience - they tend to pick on one another until there is one left - in your case - it looks like it died of uronema - at least thats my opinion. any more infomation you can provide?

 

[MnFish1]

PS Chromis are not long-lived fish - so if you buy 'big ones' - they may very well be more susceptible to disease - or dying of something else. Any info on their behavior - i.e. eating, breathing fast, etc etc etc

 

[Lambo82]

First day they all together exploring the tank. Next day they broke off into individuals and hid in the RW. They were picking at food but not aggressively eating like my Chromis in another tank. Then they started dying off by day 3. So 10 fish dead in 2 weeks in a brand new tank. Fish were shipped over night from vendor.

 

[vetteguy53081]

It seems like a common thread in the forum, but I just completed a 4 month cycle of a 300g FOWLR, dry rock, dry sand, completely sterile. I wanted to start off with a school of BG Chromis, I know! I purchased these fish from a reputable QT company so they went straight in to the DT. Within 3-4 days I was down to 2 fish and now they are all dead. Need some insight on the best course of action. Drain the whole tank, remove all the rock and zap it, or add a UV, continue to add QT'd fish and observe?

Thsi is clearly uronema and developed quickly suggesting fish were infected upon arrival. You would have wanted to use Quick Cure. If none, then Ruby rally Pro.
Best treatment choice is a 45 min formalin bath using Quick Cure or 90 min bath in Ruby Rally then finished in a quarantine tank. Once in QT tank, treat and assure that the parasites have been eliminated. You can also soak food in metronidazole . . . Seachem Metroplex for 10-14 days at .5gm weight.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

It seems like a common thread in the forum, but I just completed a 4 month cycle of a 300g FOWLR, dry rock, dry sand, completely sterile. I wanted to start off with a school of BG Chromis, I know! I purchased these fish from a reputable QT company so they went straight in to the DT. Within 3-4 days I was down to 2 fish and now they are all dead. Need some insight on the best course of action. Drain the whole tank, remove all the rock and zap it, or add a UV, continue to add QT'd fish and observe?

It does look like Uronema. I won’t buy green chromis any longer because this has become such an issue. It isn’t treatable, but it also isn’t likely to spread as an active infection. The fish seem to harbor it coming in. Uronema can be isolated from many normal aquariums, it normally feeds on bactera and isn’t a fish parasite except in these specific cases.
Jay

 

[Lambo82]

It does look like Uronema. I won’t buy green chromis any longer because this has become such an issue. It isn’t treatable, but it also isn’t likely to spread as an active infection. The fish seem to harbor it coming in. Uronema can be isolated from many normal aquariums, it normally feeds on bactera and isn’t a fish parasite except in these specific cases.
Jay

Jay, the tank is empty now because all the Chromis died. I have a Yellow Tang, Blue Hippo, and a Scribble Rabbit Fish crammed in a QT tank to move into the tank. I've had these fish for years and I'm afraid to move them in. Should I break it down and restart despite the logistics, medicate it with CP despite the cost?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Jay, the tank is empty now because all the Chromis died. I have a Yellow Tang, Blue Hippo, and a Scribble Rabbit Fish crammed in a QT tank to move into the tank. I've had these fish for years and I'm afraid to move them in. Should I break it down and restart despite the logistics, medicate it with CP despite the cost?

Keeping those fish in a small QT can bring along its own issues. Is your DT completely empty of all fish and invertebrates? If so, you could try treating it with chloroquine and then moving the fish over.

Jay