Thought fin rot, but thinking Uromena - not sure

[M0nsterUnderY0urBed]

Hi, I have a beautiful pink fairy wrasse. He's been my best fish I've had in my 65 gallon tank. On 06/22/23 I noticed he was swimming differently and would occasionally flash across the sand on his side. By that evening I noticed he was distressed and hiding in the back of the tank along the wall down at the bottom. Odd behavior for him since he always sleeps in a particular rock every night like clockwork. The next morning he was swimming very odd (first video). I thought it looked like he had fin rot and my LFS said the same and gave me Erythromycin to treat it. I put him in a QT tank and ran him through the treatment. I thought he seemed a little better, but now I've noticed discoloration on his body- these are white patches. His swimming is still off - almost like he is unable to do a full turn unless he has momentum. He eats like usual. I read that it could be Uronema, but I am hoping someone else may know so I am try another treatment. There are no open wounds so whatever it is, it's coming from the inside. To note I have 2 clowns, a watchman goby and 2 pajama cardinals that have no symptoms. I did add one of the clowns last month, along with an anemone. I did not QT the anemone unfortunately which is where I am thinking the problem started.

I am unable to post the updated QT video, but will add it in the comments.

 

[M0nsterUnderY0urBed]

white patches

 

[M0nsterUnderY0urBed]

Seems to twitch a little

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

How long have you had the wrasse?

It isn't uronema. It does look like a bacterial infection. Erythromycin wouldn't be my first choice, I would use Kanamycin or Neomycin.

However, you said you saw some improvement with the erythromycin - I wonder if you didn't treat long enough. Five days is typically the minimum treatment time for antibiotics, including erythromycin.

Jay

p.s. - I see you posted twice. I'll have the other post tagged for removal.

 

[M0nsterUnderY0urBed]

@Jay Hemdal Hi, Jay

I've had him for several months now. He seems to have this forward twitch going on and when he swims he is jumping forward. I can start him on the Erythromycin again - Tomorrow I could get ken or neo - should i wait and just get that tomorrow?

 

[M0nsterUnderY0urBed]

How long have you had the wrasse?

It isn't uronema. It does look like a bacterial infection. Erythromycin wouldn't be my first choice, I would use Kanamycin or Neomycin.

However, you said you saw some improvement with the erythromycin - I wonder if you didn't treat long enough. Five days is typically the minimum treatment time for antibiotics, including erythromycin.

Jay

p.s. - I see you posted twice. I'll have the other post tagged for removal.

I am also wondering if there may be something Walmart would carry this late that I could try. My LFS will be open tomorrow - I am just hoping to do whatever I can to save this guy. Thank you so much!

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I am also wondering if there may be something Walmart would carry this late that I could try. My LFS will be open tomorrow - I am just hoping to do whatever I can to save this guy. Thank you so much!

Sorry - I signed off early last night (long day)

Let me know what direction you decided to go with.

Jay

 

[M0nsterUnderY0urBed]

Sorry - I signed off early last night (long day)

Let me know what direction you decided to go with.

Jay

Hi, Jay

I dosed again with Eryth- but I’m heading to my LFS to get the Keno or Neo. I’m going to do a 25% water change as I haven’t in a couple of days since stopping his first round of abx.

He still has that tail drop but he’s eating well and moving around great when eating. He just twitches out at times.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi, Jay

I dosed again with Eryth- but I’m heading to my LFS to get the Keno or Neo. I’m going to do a 25% water change as I haven’t in a couple of days since stopping his first round of abx.

He still has that tail drop but he’s eating well and moving around great when eating. He just twitches out at times.

That "twitching", can you describe that better, or catch it on video?

Another hypothesis is that the fish has flukes, and the white you are seeing is secondary to that.

You could try a 5 minute freshwater dip - let me know if you want me to talk you through that.

Jay

 

[M0nsterUnderY0urBed]

Hi, Jay

Let me see if I can catch the twitching for you.

I just picked up the neo and the kana. Is there one that’s better than the other to do?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi, Jay

Let me see if I can catch the twitching for you.

I just picked up the neo and the kana. Is there one that’s better than the other to do?

Either one of those are effective against gram negative external bacteria, so it's a toss of the coin I guess.

Jay

 

[M0nsterUnderY0urBed]

I chose Kano. Here is that video of him twitching. Sometimes it's a little worse.

Kano dosing says overy 48 hours for 3 total doses. Should it be for 10 days? Thanks!

 

[M0nsterUnderY0urBed]

I wanted to update. He’s doing a lot better today. He’s swimming around a lot in the QT tank. I did put some pvc in it but he doesn’t go in it. He’s back to his curious self and following me. I’m not sure what had happened to him since this first presented as a spinal injury of some sort and maybe caused a bacterial infection. My fingers are crossed that he makes a full recovery. I’ve lost some good fish over the year, but this guy would be the hardest hit. I am going to keep the Kanaplex up for the suggest 2 more doses (one dose a day every other day for 3 total doses. If all is well I’m putting him in my 38g bio which houses one hermit and a clown fish. Lots of rocks and hiding spots for him in there.