Starcki damsel red blotch on caudal fin

Muffin87 · Mar 17, 2023

#reefmedic

The damsel isn't eating, and it's got this red blotch on the caudal fin.
Spends some time swimming, then hides again.

Before putting it in the QT yesterday, I ran it though Safety stop (formalin, and methylene blue in two diffirent baths).
QT tank is newly cycled but two seachem ammonia alarm detect no ammonia.

Any insight?
I just hope it's not uronema.

Thanks a lot for all the help!

Ben.QLD2 · Mar 17, 2023

Can't tell much with that candlelit photo, could be uronema, bacterial ulcer or just trauma.

Stigigemla · Mar 17, 2023

I have cured Uronema with hydrogen peroxide.
Just do as if You are defeting algae.

Muffin87 · Mar 17, 2023

Are these pictures any better?

Muffin87 · Mar 17, 2023

This isnt looking good. Fish is upside down on the botttom of the tank

52728299 · Mar 17, 2023

Any other symptoms? Labored breathing, itching? Do you have a microscope to check a skin scrape with? I would suggest testing ammonia with a different test kit to cross check if you have one.

The formalin bath would have helped with uronema, but if it is that then there's not anything more you really could have done. If the fish makes it a bit longer it would be pretty difficult to save it at this point if its uronema but since we arent sure what it is it would be best to treat as if bacterial in nature and hope for the best. An abx like ciprofloxacin would be a good choice. I'm sorry the fish is doing poorly, not fun..

Muffin87 · Mar 17, 2023

Aluco said:
An abx like ciprofloxacin

I have chirp at home what dosage?

Thanks a lot!

Jay Hemdal · Mar 17, 2023

It isn't in a typical location for inter cellular Uronema. I didn't see that anyone asked - what other fish has it been in with? The caudal fin is eroded, and it looks like a secondary infection has spread to the caudal peduncle, but those issues almost always start from some physical damage. That can sometime happen from abrasion seen during shipping, but more often, it is from aggression.

That the fish is upside down is a very bad sign, I have only ever brought fish back a couple of times once they reach that stage. A broad spectrum, gram negative antibiotic would be what is indicated here, but that takes 3+ days to work, and I'm afraid this fish doesn't have that long, sorry.

Jay

Muffin87 · Mar 17, 2023

Jay Hemdal said:
It isn't in a typical location for inter cellular Uronema. I didn't see that anyone asked - what other fish has it been in with? The caudal fin is eroded, and it looks like a secondary infection has spread to the caudal peduncle, but those issues almost always start from some physical damage. That can sometime happen from abrasion seen during shipping, but more often, it is from aggression.

That the fish is upside down is a very bad sign, I have only ever brought fish back a couple of times once they reach that stage.

Jay

Yeah I think it's dead now.

vetteguy53081 · Mar 17, 2023

Muffin87 said:
Are these pictures any better?

This is a bacterial issue and mayhave started with injury but will say, fish appears to be moribund and will likely not make it as treatment may trigger no response in the state of fish's health.
You can add an air stone to see if it perks fish up but I believe its past that point , sorry to say