Swim bladder issue?

[Paneubert]

Paging @Humblefish.....

I have a little maroon clown who started to float on the surface about 2 days into QT time. His mate/friend is still super active and happy. If I poke him he will right himself and swim a little deeper for a few seconds, but then he goes right back up. He pecks at food that floats near, but doesn't actively seek food when I am feeding.

Thoughts? I was sent here from a different reef forum specifically for your help Humblefish. Although I want to hear from all of the rest of you as well. Hahaha.

Video of the problem....


The chasing you see at the end is new.... And the rapid breathing is new as well. Since he was being chased, after this video I stuck him in a smaller critter cage in the larger tank. He is not wedged against the lid.....so I don't think he lacks complete control of floating/sinking. MIght just be weak and therefore not trying.... Soaked some frozen food in garlic and put it in there. Been 24 hours and he still just floats at the roof of the critter cage.

 

[KJ]

@4FordFamily @Brew12 @Big G @HotRocks

 

[Paneubert]

Thanks @KJ .

Other pertinent info is that I was treating with 250 mg Metronidazole, and 75 mg Praziquantel per 10 gallons starting 2 days before the issues showed up. As a precaution, not due to knowing of an active infection. Both those drugs seem to be pretty well tolerated. So maybe a coincidence? When he took a turn for the worse, I did some big water changes and added carbon back in. So the drugs should be out by now, but he is still a floater.

 

[KJ]

Thanks @KJ .

Other pertinent info is that I was treating with 250 mg Metronidazole, and 75 mg Praziquantel per 10 gallons starting 2 days before the issues showed up. As a precaution, not due to knowing of an active infection. Both those drugs seem to be pretty well tolerated. So maybe a coincidence? When he took a turn for the worse, I did some big water changes and added carbon back in. So the drugs should be out by now, but he is still a floater.

YW.

 

[Humblefish]

I don't think this is a swim bladder issue; rather the rapid breathing probably means parasites and/or worms are inside the gills.

He looks to be in pretty bad shape, but I think a necessary first step is a 5 min FW dip: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/freshwater-dip.248898/

Hopefully he can survive that, and report back on his condition following the FW dip. Also look for flukes during the dip.

 

[Paneubert]

I don't think this is a swim bladder issue; rather the rapid breathing probably means parasites and/or worms are inside the gills.

He looks to be in pretty bad shape, but I think a necessary first step is a 5 min FW dip: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/freshwater-dip.248898/

Hopefully he can survive that, and report back on his condition following the FW dip. Also look for flukes during the dip.

Thanks for the quick reply. I am doubtful I will find flukes since I drenched them in Metronidazole and Praziquantel prior to this happening, but maybe I just Pi%&ed off the flukes. Haha. Trying to stay positive...... I will do a dip and see what we can see.

 

[Humblefish]

Thanks for the quick reply. I am doubtful I will find flukes since I drenched them in Metronidazole and Praziquantel prior to this happening, but maybe I just Pi%&ed off the flukes. Haha. Trying to stay positive...... I will do a dip and see what we can see.

If no flukes show, I would assume the worst (velvet) and begin copper treatment: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/copper-treatment.193343/

How long were they treated with metro?

 

[Paneubert]

Cupramine was my next planned step even if I had not seen any issues. I am one of those people who treat for flukes and ich on all new arrivals. So luckily I am already ready to do copper whether he survives or not (since I have the other clown in QT who is acting totally normal). But I was going to wait on copper until this little guy got better. Now there might not even be time to wait.

As if the little one can hear us talking, he is now spinning in circles......like he has lost control of one of his fins or something. Tight spirals and loops.....not good.

Still heating and aerating some water for a dip, but I am thinking this might not end well....

 

[Paneubert]

Sorry, just saw the drug question. I added metro and prazi on Monday. Did a second dose on Wednesday, he went downhill fast wednesday night. So I carboned the tank and did some water changes Thursday morning. He has been in his worst state for about 24 hours. That's why I am thinking it isn't flukes.

 

[Paneubert]

Well, dip went about like this.

1. Lay on bottom of bowl for 5 minutes breathing rapidly.
2. Nothing comes out of the gills.
3. Back in the QT tank just listlessly floating.

I took the opportunity to do a 50% water change in the QT while he was out. Dosed the tank with 1 mL of Cupramine. I have a copper test, so I will check it in a little bit to make sure the copper is where I want it. Then see how things go.....

 

[Paneubert]

And dead as a doornail. That was a wild ride

 

[4FordFamily]

And dead as a doornail. That was a wild ride

Sorry for your loss. At that stage, unfortunately, you weren’t going to win that battle

 

[Paneubert]

Thanks @4FordFamily .

Does anyone have a strong opinion about dosing prazi at the same time as copper? I see conflicting reports. If I can dose at the same time then I might pick back up where I left off before I removed it all with carbon due to the little floater.

 

[Humblefish]

Does anyone have a strong opinion about dosing prazi at the same time as copper? I see conflicting reports. If I can dose at the same time then I might pick back up where I left off before I removed it all with carbon due to the little floater.

It can be done, but there is the possibility of creating a bacterial bloom (cloudy water) if combining Prazipro (which contains Oxybispropanol) with copper.

Btw, I am sorry for your loss.

 

[Paneubert]

It can be done, but there is the possibility of creating a bacterial bloom (cloudy water) if combining Prazipro (which contains Oxybispropanol) with copper.

Btw, I am sorry for your loss.

Thanks. I will most likely try again with a new "mini" maroon if I can find one locally. Don't want to get one that is similar in size to the survivor since it might risk them both being female already. Longer it takes to find a replacement, longer the survivor stays in QT though, which I guess isn't the WORST thing.