Sunburst Anthias

[Friday24]

So I got this Sunburst Anthias several weeks ago, after a day in QT it developed Popeye in one eye which I attributed to an injury due to only one eye. The eye was better in a week but he developed a small brownish gray spot on his side during that time. Again about a week later the spot was gone and it looked like skin that just needed to heal. Fast forward 2 weeks and the spot came back in the same place but larger. There are other fish with him, all of which are doing great, to include another smaller Sunburst Anthias. I have no idea what it is, so I'm unsure what to use to treat.

 

[drawman]

Is the fish in the display tank now? If in quarantine it may be wise to run a course of antibiotics for the popeye. It almost looks like he has white, stringy poop as well so you may want to treat for internal parasites. I can't really say what that spot is so maybe @Humblefish @melypr1985 can comment...

 

[ngoodermuth]

It looks like he has a bit of white stringy poop, that would indicate internal parasites. You would want to feed him Metroplex with food using Focus as a binder.

The spot on his side looks bacterial. Do you have any antibiotics on hand?

 

[Friday24]

It looks like he has a bit of white stringy poop, that would indicate internal parasites. You would want to feed him Metroplex with food using Focus as a binder.

The spot on his side looks bacterial. Do you have any antibiotics on hand?

I have something for almost everything on hand, as I QT all my fish. He was previously treated with Prazipro, I think the poop looks like it does du to the amount of Mysid he eats. Also the Popeye has been gone for over a week.

 

[Friday24]

Also he is in a "second stage QT" so to speak with a few other fish. It is setup similar to a DT I guess because it has sand, some snails and a serpent star.

 

[ngoodermuth]

If it was me, I would probably start with a wide-spectrum like kanaplex or Furan-2 and see how it responds.

Anthias are notorious for internal worms. I would still consider feeding metroplex/focus as well.

Edit. You could maybe try feeding kanaplex + metroplex/focus with food in the tank he is in now to address both possible issues...but external infections are best treated in a hospital tank as a bath for at least 10 days.

 

[Friday24]

If it was me, I would probably start with a wide-spectrum like kanaplex or Furan-2 and see how it responds.

Anthias are notorious for internal worms. I would still consider feeding metroplex/focus as well.

I've got Kanaplex and Metroplex which I know can be used together, but I can't remember if they're invert safe or if I need to move him back to the other QT to dose it

 

[Humblefish]

I've got Kanaplex and Metroplex which I know can be used together, but I can't remember if they're invert safe or if I need to move him back to the other QT to dose it

I'd move him back to the (non-invert) QT if you are going to dose antibiotics into the water.

 

[nrupaw]

Sunburst are a great fish but they seem to be very susceptible to bacterial infections. had many reefers tell me stories of losing sunbursts to infections. I would continue keeping him in QT. I don't know much about the meds that'd help, but I would certainly recommend keeping water levels clean and watching how much left over food's in the QT tank

 

[cheseenlo]

i tried so many times to keep this fish, its such a journey to get the fish to start eating.
then out of no where a few weeks down the line they always stop eating.
this fish is like moby dick, i can never keep them.

the blotchy anthias is expensive but has a much better track record.

 

[Friday24]

i tried so many times to keep this fish, its such a journey to get the fish to start eating.
then out of no where a few weeks down the line they always stop eating.
this fish is like moby dick, i can never keep them.

the blotchy anthias is expensive but has a much better track record.

Blotched is on my list, these were actually sent to me as part of an incorrect order...it's kinda strange, the smaller one doesn't eat as much but hasn't had any problems, the larger eats like a pig and has had Popeye and now this

 

[nrupaw]

i tried so many times to keep this fish, its such a journey to get the fish to start eating.
then out of no where a few weeks down the line they always stop eating.
this fish is like moby dick, i can never keep them.

yup, agree with you on that. I typically resist getting Sunburst Anthais unless they are on a deep discount at LFS.

 

[cheseenlo]

yup, agree with you on that. I typically resist getting Sunburst Anthais unless they are on a deep discount at LFS.

i have tried 4 separate times, each time got them eating, each time they have stopped eating.
sometimes the LFS in nyc, cant get them to eat they sell them for $20 a piece to anyone brave enough to try.

 

[drawman]

I had one for several years and initially it was tough to get him eating. Took him a couple of weeks to start, then he ate, then he stopped eating. I got him eating again by hatching brine shrimp and got him back on frozen. He was a champ at eating since. After a couple of years he succumbed to what I believe was internal parasites sadly. I got mine from the divers den so it may have had a better initial outlook.

Definitely helps to get one that you know is eating or have live foods ready to go. Easily one of the coolest/most personable fish I've ever had.

 

[melypr1985]

I agree with the intestinal worms. The white stringy poop isn't normal even for a fish with mysis as their primary diet. You'll definitely want to feed the metroplex + Focus for that issue. Antibiotics for the infection in a non-invert QT.