Sick Fish

bennycbenny · Jun 23, 2022

Hi everyone,

I have lost 3 fish in the past month (2 Stripped Blennies and and stripped goby). They would start getting really skinny and then would lay on the bottom with rapid breathing.

Now my Kole Tang appears to have caught whatever they had. I first noticed his fins looking frayed, so I thought it might be fin/tail rot. I’ve had been dosing KanaPlex/Focus in their food once a day for the past week, but doesn’t appear to be helping. The tang was still swimming around and eating until this morning. He is in rough shape and is laying on the sand. Also noticed some white stuff in his mouth.

Any thoughts on what this might be? All my parameters seem to be in check. 55 gal tank +15 sump, 1.5 years old. No fish aggression or new fish added in the past year. All fish quarantined before adding. Only additions in the past couple months have been snails and a coral bandit.

attached is a picture of the tang of that helps.

fishguy242 · Jun 23, 2022

#fishmedic

fishguy242 · Jun 23, 2022

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mindme · Jun 23, 2022

Where are your nitrates?

threebuoys · Jun 23, 2022

How long have you had these fish and what and how much have you been feeding ?

Goaway · Jun 23, 2022

How often were fish fed?

MnFish1 · Jun 23, 2022

IMHO - just answer the questions at the links provided - and you will get plenty of help

MnFish1 · Jun 23, 2022

PS - the fish in the picture will not likely survive - due to its status.

bennycbenny · Jun 23, 2022

mindme said:
Where are your

mindme said:
Where are your nitra

mindme said:
Where are your nitrates

mindme said:
Where are your nitrates?

Nitrates are normally not detectable. I’ll retest when I get home.

bennycbenny · Jun 23, 2022

MnFish1 said:
PS - the fish in the picture will not likely survive - due to its status.

Yeah… that was my thought too. Just want to see if I can figure out what is causes it, because it seems to be spreading.

bennycbenny · Jun 23, 2022

Mibu said:
How often were fish fed?

They are normally feed once a day. I have been doing this for about a year prior to the issue.

Goaway · Jun 23, 2022

bennycbenny said:
They are normally feed once a day. I have been doing this for about a year prior to the issue.

How long have you had these fish? Who was added last?

Edit: what other fish do you currently have? Any pictures?

bennycbenny · Jun 23, 2022

threebuoys said:
How long have you had these fish and what and how much have you been feeding ?

I have had these fish for about a year. I feed frozen. A mix of mysis (large and small), brine, and plankton. Probably quarter cube each (maybe a little less). Then I feed some red nori sheets about once a week. I’ve been doing this for about 4 months. Was just doing pellets prior to that.

bennycbenny · Jun 23, 2022

Mibu said:
How long have you had these fish? Who was added last?

Edit: what other fish do you currently have? Any pictures?

The other fish I have are two clown fish, blue sapphire damsel, or Orchid dottyback, and a watchman goby

bennycbenny · Jun 23, 2022

Mibu said:
How long have you had these fish? Who was added last?

Edit: what other fish do you currently have? Any pictures?

I can add some picture later. I think the blue damsel was added last, but that was over a year ago.

Goaway · Jun 23, 2022

bennycbenny said:
I can add some picture later. I think the blue damsel was added last, but that was over a year ago.

Only asking to help get information for you. Internal parasites can take a long time to kill fish. If that's the issue.

bennycbenny · Jun 23, 2022

Mibu said:
Only asking to help get information for you. Internal parasites can take a long time to kill fish. If that's the issue.

Gotcha! Appreciate the help

threebuoys · Jun 23, 2022

bennycbenny said:
I have had these fish for about a year. I feed frozen. A mix of mysis (large and small), brine, and plankton. Probably quarter cube each (maybe a little less). Then I feed some red nori sheets about once a week. I’ve been doing this for about 4 months. Was just doing pellets prior to that.

Mysis, brine and plankton are relatively low in protein and fat content. The cubes are mostly water. If they were eating pellets previously, you should continue to offer them along with the other. Pictures may help with diagnosis of other possible issues but I fear the fish may be malnourished since you've had them so long without other issues.

Jay Hemdal · Jun 23, 2022

I agree, the tang looks pretty thin. Perhaps the other fish are outcompeting it’s for food. Even if the tang has internal parasites, those can be overcome to a good extent by feeding it more food, more often.
Kanaplex just mixed with focus won’t work very well, since the dose is unknown. The standard kanamycin dose is 23 mg per pound of fish weight daily.
Jay