What happened to my blue star?

[Mini Coop]

Hey there, the tank lights turned on this afternoon and I look over to see the other fish in my tank eating on my blue star leopard Wrasse. I got her as a female and she changed to a male about six months ago. No idea what in the world could have happened! Yesterday she was out and eating fine, I didn’t notice anything on her tail or anything. Not sure if you can tell since her middle has been eaten out by the time I found her. But if anybody has any ideas on what may have happened, I would appreciate your insight.

Everything in my tank has been religiously quarantined. I did add a diamond goby about a month ago - but he’s fine and no signs of anyone having issues on the surface.

 

[Big G]

Sorry for your loss
The tail looks a bit frayed, but that could be normal decomposition.
How did the internal organs look, or were they already gone?

 

[Mini Coop]

Sorry for your loss
The tail looks a bit frayed, but that could be normal decomposition.
How did the internal organs look, or were they already gone?

Her tail looked ok yesterday. I always watch them eat.
I think gone - what you see is all I could see. I wouldn’t really know what to look for - but thought pics could help - but all I could see was pretty much flesh.
mom worried if she somehow got an internal that now the other fish have eaten it .... treat the tank with general cure for a while to be safe?

 

[Big G]

Her tail looked ok yesterday. I always watch them eat.
I think gone - what you see is all I could see. I wouldn’t really know what to look for - but thought pics could help - but all I could see was pretty much flesh.
mom worried if she somehow got an internal that now the other fish have eaten it .... treat the tank with general cure for a while to be safe?

Definitely something to consider, treating the tank. Fish eating other fish is a common pathway for parasites and disease.

 

[jp_75]

Sorry for your loss!
Lost one few weeks ago! Fed the tank at 5 and had to leave the house for a while. Came back at 7 and couldn’t see him. Next day found almost eaten by clean up crew. Never seen any aggression....

 

[Mini Coop]

Definitely something to consider, treating the tank. Fish eating other fish is a common pathway for parasites and disease.

Ok - so here is my blue tang. She has been hiding wya more than normal. AS have most of the other fish. I just noticed tonight that I could see the line down her side, and her stomach is all sunken in. Are you thinking internal parasite? general cure plus focus for all or is there a way to prazi the whole tank? Any advice appreciated. I need to get them taken care of. I’ve noticed my smaller clown has also been shy.
please tag anyone else you think can help too!

 

[Mini Coop]

@Big G @lion king @ReefSquad any thoughts?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Looks like flukes by eye or start of velvet. Give tang a Freshwater bath and see on bottom of pail if anything fell off of fish

What is tank temperature and salinity reading?

 

[Mini Coop]

Looks like flukes by eye or start of velvet. Give tang a Freshwater bath and see on bottom of pail if anything fell off of fish

What is tank temperature and salinity reading?

The white spots are in the water. I had just fed them. I am not seeing any spots on any fish or dust on the tails. They are all clear.

I think there must be some kind of internal parasite - the symptoms of the tang are coming out less, getting skinny and sunken stomach. No external visible signs of anything wrong with any of them.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I'd try GC with focus soaked in frozen food for ten days.

 

[Mini Coop]

I'd try GC with focus soaked in frozen food for ten days.

That’s what I was thinking! I ordered some focus - I didn’t realize I’m out. I have GC - can I treat with that by itself until the focus comes in?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Is the poop normal or white ?

 

[Thomashtom]

Dont see anything on tang! What are tankmates? Fish could have died and everyone ate! sorry but it happens

 

[Big G]

@Big G @lion king @ReefSquad any thoughts?

Internal worms/parasites. Treating with GC + Focus + a pinch of epsom salts + food as you suggest may be the be best path. Any white and stringy poop?

 

[lion king]

Yes you can start with the gc alone, the focus helps it bind to the food. That's what I would do. Internal parasites can linger so much longer than most expect. Some fish can literally last 2-3 months. And it doesn't always clear through initial treatment, I've found some angels and wrasses need to be fed gc/metro for quite a while before finally clearing.

Also fish just drop dead for reasons we don't always see or are any fault of our own.

 

[jeffrey750750]

Sorry about your fishy