Sick Cardinalfish Need Diagnosis

[Reef AquaCult]

I have 4 black cardinalfish I noted some color change on one of them. The fish was QT for 4 weeks without meds and was healthy so introduced to DT. About 10 days after Intro to DT it exhibited some skin change. I thought it was brook or velvet yesterday when I noted this and removed him into a separate QT immediately. I noted some skin sloughing yesterday I think. He’s in copper power dosed per container directions. Today the sloughing is gone but it looks like his head has skin missing and is breathing heavy. I didn’t do FW bath but am considering it. With the location it looks somewhat like HLLE but it came on too abruptly for this. Any ideas on what I’m dealing with?

YouTube Video


Thank you

 

[Gareth elliott]

@HotRocks @4FordFamily @pathot984 @Big G

i am not sure what i am seeing, if brook was what you thought you saw might help to also dose metro as copper will just suppress not cure it.

 

[Reef AquaCult]

@HotRocks @4FordFamily @pathot984 @Big G

i am not sure what i am seeing, if brook was what you thought you saw might help to also dose metro as copper will just suppress not cure it.

Yes that’s a good idea thanks

 

[4FordFamily]

Could be brook or infection — metro can help with both but I’d add kanaplex and furan 2 as well to treat a broader spectrum of bacterial infections.

 

[LAReefer4Life]

Sorry to hear about your troubles. The video
isn’t working for me and it’s hard to tell by the photo you posted.

To address the heavy breathing, make sure the surface is highly agitated. What type of copper and test kit are you using? If this is dosed inaccurately that could also be the cause of the heavy breathing.

As @Gareth elliott stated copper doesn’t treat brook only velvet. You need to administer Metro for brook. Since you stated it could either velvet or brook, although it’s not typically advised to mix medications, you can add recommended dose of seachem metro in combination with copper.

Quick note, if you’re truly dealing with velvet or brook you’ll to QT all your fish and run your display fallow for 6 weeks to eradicate the parasite.

Post some more pictures if you can and also use youtube to post the video and paste the URL in the body of you R2R thread so we can see the video.

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

From your description It sounds like brooklynella. You will need to treat all your fish and fallow the display to get rid of it, as already mentioned.

Brooklynella

Brooklynella hostilis What You Need To Know: * This is most often seen in clownfish, but it can afflict any fish. The fish’s skin will appear to be peeling or sloughing off, oftentimes causing excessive white mucous to form around the affected area(s). * Treatment of choice is a 45 minute...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Reef AquaCult]

Thank you. The cardinal fish appears to be getting worse. The surface is agitated and I have a good amount of well cured bio media in the tank. Unfortunately I think you are all correct. I need to remove fish and treat. I'm using API kit for copper testing and I use a 10cc syringe and 5 gallon buckets to ensure accurate dosing then check with test kit. I need to order a Hanna checker but in the mean time this will do. I added a Youtube link for the video. I think the problem was some snails I added after a 20 day QT but I think they introduced the disease. Ive been keeping saltwater fish for a long time but I feel like the diseases are getting worse/more prevalent, specifically velvet.

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

Yes, there is no question disease is becoming more prevalent.

 

[Reef AquaCult]

Unfortunately the cardinal fish died he does appear to have velvet based on his final appearance and the speed of his demise. All other fish are now in 65g QT with approx 1ppm of copper power. Going to raise to 2 ppm over next couple days. DT is fallow. Will hope for the best.