shark - wound - parasite?

[dkegflorida]

Hi
I recently received a brown smoothhound shark and it had a concerning mark on its underside when I received it. In 24 hrs the skin was gone and flesh was showing. I have it in a QT tank and added prazipro last night. It is eating and swimming normally right now.

The pic with no flesh showing is when I received it. The vendor believes its a type of nematodes.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi
I recently received a brown smoothhound shark and it had a concerning mark on its underside when I received it. In 24 hrs the skin was gone and flesh was showing. I have it in a QT tank and added prazipro last night. It is eating and swimming normally right now.

The pic with no flesh showing is when I received it. The vendor believes its a type of nematodes.

Prazipro won't treat nematodes.

What temperature do you have it at?
How long have you had it?
Any idea what caused the damage on the left pectoral fin?
Are you sure its a brown smoothhound? What is the fish's history?

Just visually, I think this is a Vibrio bacterial infection, very difficult to treat. A lesion of that size makes it difficult for the shark to osmoregulate properly, and the bacteria is very aggressive.

Jay

@Aspect

 

[Aspect]

Are you running a large UV sterilizer? Active swimming sharks collected from the wild very commonly have parasites/bacteria. I would run a large (120 watt or more) UV and keep water quality pristine and feed heavily to increase immune system efficiency. Thanks for the tag, Jay although it looks like a darker Gray Smooth Hound to me.

 

[dkegflorida]

Prazipro won't treat nematodes.

What temperature do you have it at?
How long have you had it?
Any idea what caused the damage on the left pectoral fin?
Are you sure its a brown smoothhound? What is the fish's history?

Just visually, I think this is a Vibrio bacterial infection, very difficult to treat. A lesion of that size makes it difficult for the shark to osmoregulate properly, and the bacteria is very aggressive.

Jay

@Aspect

I just received it monday. The tank is 74 degrees. The pectoral fin was lighter and has progressed quickly to what you see now. It’s even worse this morning. I was thinking bacteria since I dont see any worms.

 

[dkegflorida]

Are you running a large UV sterilizer? Active swimming sharks collected from the wild very commonly have parasites/bacteria. I would run a large (120 watt or more) UV and keep water quality pristine and feed heavily to increase immune system efficiency. Thanks for the tag, Jay although it looks like a darker Gray Smooth Hound to me.

The dorsal fin is concave which as I understand means its a brown smooth hound. I don't have a UV for the QT yet. I have one coming tomorrow. The QT is 500 gallons.

 

[Aspect]

The dorsal fin is concave which as I understand means its a brown smooth hound. I don't have a UV for the QT yet. I have one coming tomorrow. The QT is 500 gallons.

Both Grays and Browns have slightly concave dorsal fins, Browns dorsal fin are ever so slightly more concave than a gray's. They are pretty difficult to differentiate until they are mature as Grays will reach 4' + in size and Browns stay at 2'. Where did you get the Shark from? I have been looking for a true Brown Smooth Hound for a long time, they are very rare to be collected because they are a deep water species.

 

[Aspect]

Here is an illustration of a Brown.

Here is an illustration of a Gray.

 

[dkegflorida]

Both Grays and Browns have slightly concave dorsal fins, Browns dorsal fin are ever so slightly more concave than a gray's. They are pretty difficult to differentiate until they are mature as Grays will reach 4' + in size and Browns stay at 2'. Where did you get the Shark from? I have been looking for a true Brown Smooth Hound for a long time, they are very rare to be collected because they are a deep water species.

I bought them from https://www.sharkandreef.com The owner is Jeremy. The only positive news is he will be replacing them at no charge if they die. His site currently has grays, but had atlantic/browns listed last month when I purchased.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi
I recently received a brown smoothhound shark and it had a concerning mark on its underside when I received it. In 24 hrs the skin was gone and flesh was showing. I have it in a QT tank and added prazipro last night. It is eating and swimming normally right now.

The pic with no flesh showing is when I received it. The vendor believes its a type of nematodes.

I have not been around an array of sharks but have seen this as I believe called red spot disease. Some causes if I recall were high nitrate, high PH and sand too coarse as coarse sand can scratch them and lead to dangerous bacterial infections. Opposed to bacterial was fungus looking like these red lesions and even ulcers leading to secondary infections bacterial in nature.

Ruby Rally pro would be the medication I see as safe but cannot confirm it is.
One person who has sharks that may know. . . . . . @lion king

 

[Aspect]

I bought them from https://www.sharkandreef.com The owner is Jeremy. The only positive news is he will be replacing them at no charge if they die. His site currently has grays, but had atlantic/browns listed last month when I purchased.

Yeah, I talked to him before, he told me has never gotten Browns. That is very likely a gray smooth hound. It's kind of an issue as Browns need cooler water like 60-68 degrees. Grays can be kept in warmer waters like low 70s. Were they listed as an Atlantic Brown Smooth Hound?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I just received it monday. The tank is 74 degrees. The pectoral fin was lighter and has progressed quickly to what you see now. It’s even worse this morning. I was thinking bacteria since I dont see any worms.

I’m at work so I can’t view the video until I get home tonight.

I’ve kept different smoothhounds in the past - but always opted for 65 to 68 degrees F. I found them to be too hyper at higher temps. It will also cause the bacteria infection to spread faster.

I wonder if you have a dusky, Mustelus canis?

Jay

 

[dkegflorida]

I’m at work so I can’t view the video until I get home tonight.

I’ve kept different smoothhounds in the past - but always opted for 65 to 68 degrees F. I found them to be too hyper at higher temps. It will also cause the bacteria infection to spread faster.

I wonder if you have a dusky, Mustelus canis?

Jay

Based on the site reference below I think it is a brown. It states grays do not have frayed dorsal fins and states the lower caudal lobe is indistinct in browns and distinct in dusky.

Dusky Smoothhound Shark - Mustelus canis

Dusky Smoothhound Shark (Mustelus canis) identification guide, biology, and image gallery.

www.sharksandrays.com

Brown Smoothhound Shark - Mustelus henlei

Brown Smoothhound Shark (Mustelus henlei) identification guide, biology, and image gallery.

www.sharksandrays.com

Gray Smoothhound Shark - Mustelus californicus

Gray Smoothhound Shark (Mustelus californicus) identification guide, biology, and image gallery.

www.sharksandrays.com

Brown Smoothhound Shark. Identification Body slender. Snout fairly long and pointed. Upper labial furrows noticeably longer than lower. Small, visible spiracle behind eye. First dorsal fin origin over pectoral fin free rear tip. Second dorsal fin much larger than anal fin. First and second dorsal fin posterior margins, and terminal margin of upper caudal lobe frayed. Lower caudal lobe indistinct. Dorsal coloration brown with bronzy hues. Fins sometimes dusky.

Dusky Smoothhound Shark Identification​ Body slender. Snout fairly long and pointed. Upper labial furrows noticeably longer than lower. Small, visible spiracle behind eye. First dorsal fin origin over pectoral fin free rear tip. Second dorsal fin much larger than anal fin. Lower caudal lobe distinct, with a rounded tip. Dorsal coloration olive-grey or grey-brown. Fins usually dusky with white tips and posterior margins.

Here are pics of the female for identification . https://photos.app.goo.gl/5EtQpuh3HkSXEuLfA

The female was dead this morning . The male is still swimming around but isnt eating.

 

[Aspect]

Based on the site reference below I think it is a brown. It states grays do not have frayed dorsal fins and states the lower caudal lobe is indistinct in browns and distinct in dusky.

Dusky Smoothhound Shark - Mustelus canis

Dusky Smoothhound Shark (Mustelus canis) identification guide, biology, and image gallery.

www.sharksandrays.com

Brown Smoothhound Shark - Mustelus henlei

Brown Smoothhound Shark (Mustelus henlei) identification guide, biology, and image gallery.

www.sharksandrays.com

Gray Smoothhound Shark - Mustelus californicus

Gray Smoothhound Shark (Mustelus californicus) identification guide, biology, and image gallery.

www.sharksandrays.com

Brown Smoothhound Shark. Identification Body slender. Snout fairly long and pointed. Upper labial furrows noticeably longer than lower. Small, visible spiracle behind eye. First dorsal fin origin over pectoral fin free rear tip. Second dorsal fin much larger than anal fin. First and second dorsal fin posterior margins, and terminal margin of upper caudal lobe frayed. Lower caudal lobe indistinct. Dorsal coloration brown with bronzy hues. Fins sometimes dusky.

Dusky Smoothhound Shark Identification​ Body slender. Snout fairly long and pointed. Upper labial furrows noticeably longer than lower. Small, visible spiracle behind eye. First dorsal fin origin over pectoral fin free rear tip. Second dorsal fin much larger than anal fin. Lower caudal lobe distinct, with a rounded tip. Dorsal coloration olive-grey or grey-brown. Fins usually dusky with white tips and posterior margins.

Here are pics of the female for identification . https://photos.app.goo.gl/5EtQpuh3HkSXEuLfA

The female was dead this morning . The male is still swimming around but isnt eating.

That shark is definitely a gray. You should chill the water to 68-70. Also get that UV up and running asap.

 

[dkegflorida]

Both sharks died. Post mortem it has been determined by a marine vet that the sharks had a type of nematode (as the vendor originally had suspected).

 

[dkegflorida]

I just received it monday. The tank is 74 degrees. The pectoral fin was lighter and has progressed quickly to what you see now. It’s even worse this morning. I was thinking bacteria since I dont see any worms.

For future reference, how would a bacterial infection be treated in a shark?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

For future reference, how would a bacterial infection be treated in a shark?

It depends, but most external bacterial diseases are caused by gram negative aerobic bacteria - I use broad spectrum antibiotics like Neomycin. Do you have a shark with an infection? You can post pictures and give details and we can give more specific advice.
Jay

 

[dkegflorida]

It depends, but most external bacterial diseases are caused by gram negative aerobic bacteria - I use broad spectrum antibiotics like Neomycin. Do you have a shark with an infection? You can post pictures and give details and we can give more specific advice.
Jay

Could I use KanaPlex or Nitrofuran for a bath or qt tank?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Could I use KanaPlex or Nitrofuran for a bath or qt tank?

Either of those would be options. I’d start with the kanaplex first.
That’s a weird looking linear mark - more like an injury than an infection. The circular red lesion above that is more typical of shark skin infections.
Jay

 

[dkegflorida]

Could those be ammonia burns? Turns out the shark was shipped with ammonia levels already at .25 when bagged. Vendor said its fine for sharks to be in ammonia .25 to .35. I said it should be zero.

 

[Aspect]

Could those be ammonia burns? Turns out the shark was shipped with ammonia levels already at .25 when bagged. Vendor said its fine for sharks to be in ammonia .25 to .35. I said it should be zero.

Tips of fins would burn first