Uronema on blue/green chromis?

[rwreef]

@Humblefish was looking thru your information on chromis fish regarding Uronema. I currently have/had 6 blue/green chromis in QT. I just lost one fish today (see pic) I noticed the reddish area on the gills of the fish and thought it may be Uronema. I took a skin scrap from the area and took some videos. If you wouldn't mind helping me ID. If it is Uronema, I can plan accordingly with a new QT setup for the remainder 5. I appreciate the help!

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[vetteguy53081]

@Humblefish was looking thru your information on chromis fish regarding Uronema. I currently have/had 6 blue/green chromis in QT. I just lost one fish today (see pic) I noticed the reddish area on the gills of the fish and thought it may be Uronema. I took a skin scrap from the area and took some videos. If you wouldn't mind helping me ID. If it is Uronema, I can plan accordingly with a new QT setup for the remainder 5. I appreciate the help!

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtube.com

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtube.com

sorry to see the end result. While the scope image has the shape of uronema, it also looks like an ostracod and is single cell. The fish itself shows no visible sign. With the mouth open, it may be either low level oxygen or gill flukes but I believe oxygen.

 

[rwreef]

sorry to see the end result. While the scope image has the shape of uronema, it also looks like an ostracod and is single cell. The fish itself shows no visible sign. With the mouth open, it may be either low level oxygen or gill flukes but I believe oxygen.

I can increase oxygen levels. But I believe the mouth is open from me getting skin scrapes on the gills.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Yes, those are "Uronema". Except for taxonomists, nobody can really ID them to species level, and often not even to genus level, so the most accurate way to describe them is "Scuticociliates", the main group of protozoans that include Uronema.

The open mouth posture of the dead chromis is also very common with Uronema. When Uronema is inter-cellular, there is simply no effective treatment. Externally, it can be controlled with formalin or chloroquine.

Here is an article I wrote about it:

Uronema / Red Band Disease - Hemdal

Red Band Syndrome in Marine Fishes: Caused by the Protozoan; Uronema sp. Jay Hemdal Introduction: This moderately common disease of certain species of marine fish is so often misdiagnosed that most aquarists apply incorrect treatment methods...

www.reef2reef.com

Jay

 

[rwreef]

Yes, those are "Uronema". Except for taxonomists, nobody can really ID them to species level, and often not even to genus level, so the most accurate way to describe them is "Scuticociliates", the main group of protozoans that include Uronema.

The open mouth posture of the dead chromis is also very common with Uronema. When Uronema is inter-cellular, there is simply no effective treatment. Externally, it can be controlled with formalin or chloroquine.

Here is an article I wrote about it:

Uronema / Red Band Disease - Hemdal

Red Band Syndrome in Marine Fishes: Caused by the Protozoan; Uronema sp. Jay Hemdal Introduction: This moderately common disease of certain species of marine fish is so often misdiagnosed that most aquarists apply incorrect treatment methods...

www.reef2reef.com

Jay

Thank you for the details! It sounds like these guys are gonna be a huge risk for my main tank at this point with no way to truly cleanse the fish.

 

[rwreef]

Update, 3 of the 6 fish have died. However, the remaining 3 seem to be doing great. I may move them to a fresh QT to see how they do longer term. Thoughts?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Update, 3 of the 6 fish have died. However, the remaining 3 seem to be doing great. I may move them to a fresh QT to see how they do longer term. Thoughts?

I’d give it two weeks after the last fish died just to ensure things have settled down with them.
Jay

 

[rwreef]

I’d give it two weeks after the last fish died just to ensure things have settled down with them.
Jay

Good advice, thanks!