What am I dealing with here?

[Seahorselover]

Hi, I am new to this group, but not new to saltwater fish. I have had this beautiful Naso tang for 15 years (yes, you heard that right). I am concerned because 2 nights ago he didn't eat his food, and last night I noticed this dark area which today looks like bleeding under the skin. He was breathing fast yesterday, but not as fast today. Am I dealing with septicemia? If so, what do I do?

I cannot move him to a quarantine tank, as I'm afraid that would traumatize him too much. He has grown up in his current 125 gal tank, so whatever treatment I do will need to go for the whole tank.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much

 

[NashobaTek]

Welcome to R2R! Let's get @Jay Hemdal

 

[Red_Beard]

Poor dude. I have no ideas myself, and hope i am not overstepping, but @Jay Hemdal or @vetteguy53081 may have a better idea of what is going on and how to remedy it.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Oh no. That is a heck of a bacterial infection. Maracyn 2 for saltwater is the correct treatment and should be very effective. You cannot use it in the display tank. Set up a quarantine tank, if you do not have one already. It generally occurs with either poor water quality and/or diet. Other cause would be an injury or parasite that opened the skin and allowed fish to get infected. I admire the age of fish as well as the fish.
To further elaborate, diagnosing bacterial diseases and why they occur is not always a simple, straight forward task. Bacterial infections can stem from many causes, even combinations of contributing causes, and can be topical . . . internal, external or both. Healthy fish have a strong, natural resistance to bacteria and can usually fight it off on their own, but weak, sick and/or stressed fish can be very susceptible to this illness. The tiny open pores of the lateral line or open wounds are most often the point of entry for the onset of internal infections, but the soft tissues of the gills are also a prime entry point.
You may then ask as in case with your naso, what caused it. Some causes are :

• Poor environmental conditions. If conditions are poor enough, the bacteria can bloom and overrun even the healthiest of fish. White cloudy water with the presence of sores on the fish can be signs of this problem.
• A secondary infection resulting from having another disease. An excellent example of this is the open sore left by a parasite infection, such as cryptocaryn. In many cases, the fish has been cured of the parasite, but the resultant infection from bacteria entering the fish's body via the break in the skin will cause death
• Poor nutrition
• Injury, such as open wounds, cuts or scrapes
• Harrassment from other tankmates
• Stress
• Weakness

Maracyn 2 is mincycline hydrochlor based and is a gram-negative bacteria treatment, as well as sufficiently absorbed through the skin to treat internal infections. Since most bacteria that cause disease in marine fish are gram-negative and can quickly become systemic, Increase oxygen during treatment , even with an airstone.

 

[KrisReef]

Hi, I am new to this group, but not new to saltwater fish. I have had this beautiful Naso tang for 15 years (yes, you heard that right). I am concerned because 2 nights ago he didn't eat his food, and last night I noticed this dark area which today looks like bleeding under the skin. He was breathing fast yesterday, but not as fast today. Am I dealing with septicemia? If so, what do I do?

I cannot move him to a quarantine tank, as I'm afraid that would traumatize him too much. He has grown up in his current 125 gal tank, so whatever treatment I do will need to go for the whole tank.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much

Sorry your sweet Naso appears to be ill, possibly critical and based upon your post your fish is possibly reaching the end of its life? Have you introduced anything new into his tank recently that could have transmitted a disease? The treatment experts already summoned will need to know to shape thei response and prognosis

Sorry, kris

 

[vetteguy53081]

 

[Goaway]

Omg, my heart would break. Hope you get help for him. So beautiful.