Very sick Fox Face could use some help please

[Tyes68gto]

Got a one spot fox face from TSM aquatics and was doing great for about two weeks. Now he is struggling. Yesterday totally fine, today looks like this and is struggling to swim. Any idea what this is?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi, can you take a better picture under white light? Also, we need more background information about your tank. There is a link to the helpful hints in the sticky section at the top of this section.
To be honest though, from what I can see, the fish is moribund, close to death. We can’t save it if it is, but if you have other fish in the tank, you should go through the process to try to help them.

Jay

 

[HeyJay]

Just curious if the foxface went into a tank with other non-quarantined fish? TSM has a pretty long and robust QT process from what I've seen

 

[Tyes68gto]

Tank is a upgrade about 5 months ago using all my old live rock and inhabitants, all new sand. Was a 75 gallon now 105 Red Sea peninsula.

Temp 76.5 on average, swings about .3
Alk 8.1
Ca 415
Nitrate 2.5
Phosphate .08

only addition made since tank swap.

tried to get some better photos, forgive me for the tank glass build up, did not want to scare tonight and stress further

 

[PeterC99]

What’s interesting is that his color looks good in the latest pics.

Any other fish having problems?

 

[RGoltz]

What is the behavior, is the fish sort of lying about like it appears in these photos?

 

[Tyes68gto]

He try’s to swim but then floats, around. All other fish 100% normal. Could this be a bacterial infection that I should pull him and treat for?

 

[RGoltz]

Yeah I believe he has an internal infection and it might be too late. But as Levar Burton said “don’t take my word for it” and let’s see what @Jay Hemdal says.

 

[Tyes68gto]

Thank you all for the help, it is very much appreciated. Fish disease is not something I am not good with.

 

[RGoltz]

I would minimally pull him, if possible, to avoid other fish being infected. But, he looks pretty rough in many ways (behaviorally, scales, eyes). If he were my fish I would likely euthanize BUT again I’d like to hear one of the experts weigh in here.

 

[Tyes68gto]

I pulled him and put into QT last night. He was laying in the bottom of the tank not moving last night. I started the trifecta, furan-2, kanaplex, and metro last night. Today he is trying to swim but still looks rough, certainly more active then last night though…. Should I continue to treat him to see if he can pull through this since condition seems to have improved a little in 24 hrs?

 

[Uncle99]

He looks like he was in a big fight, and lost.
Is that possible?
It might take a miracle that one.
Sorry.

 

[RGoltz]

What looks like bruising is a serious bacterial infection. I don’t believe he will make it. So sorry..

 

[BoneDoc]

Please continue the treatment until he gets better, or pass away. Once treated with an anti microbial, do NOT stop (unless you are thoroughly convinced that you’re not treating the right disease with the medication) because the surviving pathogens will be deadlier as they mount a comeback.

 

[BoneDoc]

I pulled him and put into QT last night. He was laying in the bottom of the tank not moving last night. I started the trifecta, furan-2, kanaplex, and metro last night. Today he is trying to swim but still looks rough, certainly more active then last night though…. Should I continue to treat him to see if he can pull through this since condition seems to have improved a little in 24 hrs?

the discoloration is from being moved to a different tank without natural rock formation (and some stress too). Maybe put some big pipe fittings as hiding places.