Scratching Midas Blenny

[MattPLaw]

Hello, All.
I have a midas blenny that came to me as a juvenile and has been in my tank for about 6 months. I have had no new fish added to my tank for about 4 months. I have added corals from other hobiests but have dipped each one before adding them.

A few days ago I noticed the blenny bashing against the sand, then yesterday I noticed his color had gotten little more pale/white. This morning he did not want to eat, was biting at his tal and bumping and scratching his body. He is usually my champion eater and very fat, so I am very worried.
He also didn't want to come out much so I don't have a current picture of him yet. As far as I can tell there are no dots, scratches or anything on him, just that pale color.

Recently I added reef flux to the tank, but I have done this before about 4 months ago and saw no issues.

I adore this little guy and want to see him alright.

Any help and suggestions would be welcome. Thanks!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hello, All.
I have a midas blenny that came to me as a juvenile and has been in my tank for about 6 months. I have had no new fish added to my tank for about 4 months. I have added corals from other hobiests but have dipped each one before adding them.

A few days ago I noticed the blenny bashing against the sand, then yesterday I noticed his color had gotten little more pale/white. This morning he did not want to eat, was biting at his tal and bumping and scratching his body. He is usually my champion eater and very fat, so I am very worried.
He also didn't want to come out much so I don't have a current picture of him yet. As far as I can tell there are no dots, scratches or anything on him, just that pale color.

Recently I added reef flux to the tank, but I have done this before about 4 months ago and saw no issues.

I adore this little guy and want to see him alright.

Any help and suggestions would be welcome. Thanks!

Can you post a video under white lights? Hosting on YouTube works well.

The not eating is a serious symptom. It could be flukes, but those don’t cause a fish to stop eating until very near the end.

 

[MattPLaw]

I will do my best to get a video.
He ate some than spat it back out.

 

[MattPLaw]

Can you post a video under white lights? Hosting on YouTube works well.

The not eating is a serious symptom. It could be flukes, but those don’t cause a fish to stop eating until very near the end.

Okay, here are some pictures and videos. Two short videos, one showing him trying to bite his tail, the other him doing his head bash into the sand move. It's hard to tell but he is very pail around the head.



Here is a video in white light showing how he lonly.



He did eat a decent amount of lunch today, I may have fed him too early this morning, but still he is hiding way more than normal and acting odly.

 

[MattPLaw]

Here is a still shot that shows he is pail around the head.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Here is a still shot that shows he is pail around the head.

It is full bodied, so that’s good.

I think you might consider treating it for flukes. You can use Prazipro in that tank pretty safely - dose it with good aeration, remove any carbon, run your skimmer but don’t collect the skimmate. After 8 days, do a 25% water change and dose it a second time.

 

[MattPLaw]

It is full bodied, so that’s good.

I think you might consider treating it for flukes. You can use Prazipro in that tank pretty safely - dose it with good aeration, remove any carbon, run your skimmer but don’t collect the skimmate. After 8 days, do a 25% water change and dose it a second time.

Thank you, I was thinking along the same lines. I will let you all know how it goes.

 

[Ross]

I have battled this exact same behavior with my Midas blenny. I spent months treating him with every known fluke medication, including prazipro 7 or 8 times, Hyposalinity twice, formalin dips, and fenbendazole dips. It would be all but impossible for flukes to have survived. He very occasionally will still scratch his face on the sand. Maybe once a week that I notice.

 

[MattPLaw]

I have battled this exact same behavior with my Midas blenny. I spent months treating him with every known fluke medication, including prazipro 7 or 8 times, Hyposalinity twice, formalin dips, and fenbendazole dips. It would be all but impossible for flukes to have survived. He very occasionally will still scratch his face on the sand. Maybe once a week that I notice.

But he seems happy and healthy otherwise? That's good to know that the behavior may stick around.

 

[MattPLaw]

I have battled this exact same behavior with my Midas blenny. I spent months treating him with every known fluke medication, including prazipro 7 or 8 times, Hyposalinity twice, formalin dips, and fenbendazole dips. It would be all but impossible for flukes to have survived. He very occasionally will still scratch his face on the sand. Maybe once a week that I notice.

But he seems happy and healthy otherwise? That's good to know that the behavior may stick around.

 

[Ross]

Yes he’s totally fine. Had him almost a year now. The one difference in our situations is that mine didn’t lose his color like you’ve described, and he ate all the way through, never losing appetite.

 

[MattPLaw]

Okay so I am now treating for flukes with prazipro and the Midas blenny is not doing well. He is still hiding and not eating very much today, although he ate over the weekend. I have two white clown fish, both of which are acting fin but both of which have developed this dark grey color on their bodies over the last month. Could this be an indicator of whatever is plaguing the tank? Here is a picture, keep in mine he used to bu pure white on the body.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Okay so I am now treating for flukes with prazipro and the Midas blenny is not doing well. He is still hiding and not eating very much today, although he ate over the weekend. I have two white clown fish, both of which are acting fin but both of which have developed this dark grey color on their bodies over the last month. Could this be an indicator of whatever is plaguing the tank? Here is a picture, keep in mine he used to bu pure white on the body.

White bodied fancy clowns are very difficult to diagnose visually from a still picture. Can you post a video?

 

[MattPLaw]

White bodied fancy clowns are very difficult to diagnose visually from a still picture. Can you post a video?

Please forgive the micro bubbles, I am running the skimmer without the cup because I am in the first 24hours of prazipro treatment.

Here is a video of the two clowns and you can see their body discoloration.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Please forgive the micro bubbles, I am running the skimmer without the cup because I am in the first 24hours of prazipro treatment.

Here is a video of the two clowns and you can see their body discoloration.

Thanks, I can see that now. Take a look at this post, it may be the same issue:

Clownfish bruising/lesion?

All, Over the past two years or so, I've come across dozens of cases on the fish disease forum here of an issue with clownfish that we have not been able to identify. I've never seen it on any clownfish I've had myself, but the issue seems most common on designer clowns, which I don't work...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[DrNickk]

Hey how did this turn out? I have a midas that will scratch against the gravel occasionally as well,
curious if you found anything out

 

[MattPLaw]

Hey how did this turn out? I have a midas that will scratch against the gravel occasionally as well,
curious if you found anything out

So for me it turned out to be marine velvet, I just couldn't tell because he is so light colored. I finally saw the velvet all over my Royal Gramma. I had to pull them all out of the tank and treat with copper, I lost the Gramma but the Midas, the first to show symptoms is fine now.

From what I witnessed, this came on quickly and it wasn't just scratching, he acted very different than usual. Normally he comes out to see me and hams it up, but he was hiding, and lost appetite etc.

I am no expert but if your midas just scratches from time to time ith no other symptoms I doubt it is marine velvet.