What happened to my Mandarin?

[ZachsZoo]

Hi everyone, just wanted to share something that happened in my nano reef and wondering if I can get your opinions. I bought a nice Mandarin for my 10 gallon reef 2 weeks ago and he was doing great, I was feeding him live pods and he spent the first week eating constantly. Then one day I noticed a little gash in his side and thought he might have gotten scratched on a rock, he was still swimming and eating and I don't have any medication so I just decided to leave him be. Just today I found him lying on the sandbed breathing heavily and noticed the gash had gotten a lot bigger. Anybody have any idea what happened? He is still alive, but I think I found him to late. Livestock includes a black ice clown and RBTA, small Wheeler's goby and pistol shrimp, a tiny Midas blenny, a fire shrimp, a derasa clam, and lots of coral. I know it's overstocked but I will be upgrading tanks soon so please don't freak out, just trying to find out what happened.

 

[JoshH]

Almost looks like aggession given the environment but I'll call in the pros here as Well, I'm sure you might catch some flack for the tank size but let's try and get this little guy back on his fins! I would say he needs a QT as soon as you can with meds....

@melypr1985 @Humblefish @4FordFamily <didn't forget you this time

@Paul B @tahoe69 as well

 

[KMench]

Is that big spot on the fish or the glass? I too would think aggression.

 

[ZachsZoo]

Almost looks like aggession given the environment but I'll call in the pros here as Well, I'm sure you might catch some flack for the tank size but let's try and get this little guy back on his fins! I would say he needs a QT as soon as you can with meds....

@melypr1985 @Humblefish @4FordFamily <didn't forget you this time

@Paul B @tahoe69 as well

I'm thinking it's too late for quarantine, that pic was from about an hour ago and now his eyes are starting to sink in, I too thought it was aggression but I have had all three fish other than the Mandarin for almost 6 months now and haven't seen any of them act aggressive towards one another. Plus, the Mandarin is bigger than all of them, he is the only fish over 3/4 inch in the tank. Do you think he could've gotten scratched on a rock and gotten an infection?

 

[MTBake]

Looks like it was attacked to me. But, it looks like a larger fish took a bite out of it. Do you have any rogue crabs in there?

Or maybe something came out of it? Some kinda parasite?

 

[JoshH]

I still wouldn't rule out aggression my male clown takes me on when I stick my farrr bigger hand in the tank. I would set up the QT anyway and any meds on hand. It is quite the sizable wound so I seriously doubt he damaged himself on a rock or coral. Unless this is a long term infection that somehow missed your eye I don't think it would spread to that size in a very short amount of time..

 

[ZachsZoo]

Looks like it was attacked to me. But, it looks like a larger fish took a bite out of it. Do you have any rogue crabs in there?

Or maybe something came out of it? Some kinda parasite?

Actually started a year ago with dry rock I cycled myself. I also give all my new fish a freshwater dip and I always dip my corals and change the plug. Don't think there could be any hitchhikers. I do have a fire shrimp, trochus snails, and a small brittle star

 

[ZachsZoo]

I still wouldn't rule out aggression my male clown takes me on when I stick my farrr bigger hand in the tank. I would set up the QT anyway and any meds on hand. It is quite the sizable wound so I seriously doubt he damaged himself on a rock or coral. Unless this is a long term infection that somehow missed your eye I don't think it would spread to that size in a very short amount of time..

Don't have any tanks to use for quarantine right now, once I set up my 180 in my new house, I will have a 40-60 gallon frag tank with the display, and a 20 and 40 gallon quarantine. Here is another pic of the wound from 3 days ago:

 

[MTBake]

I'm pretty sure I've seen this before. Not in my tank though. I can't remember what the diagnosis was, unfortunately. Really leaning towards a parasite. I'm looking through saved pages now to see if I can find the thread I saw this in. Not sure I'll be able to find it though.

 

[ZachsZoo]

I'm pretty sure I've seen this before. Not in my tank though. I can't remember what the diagnosis was, unfortunately. Really leaning towards a parasite. I'm looking through saved pages now to see if I can find the thread I saw this in. Not sure I'll be able to find it though.

Well I'm almost certain he won't make it through the night sadly, if it's a parasite I don't want to risk giving it to my other fish so should I just put him in an ice cream bucket and a heat pack through the night?

 

[JoshH]

Any chance you could pick up a 5-10 gal cheap tank to treat at all? Or do you have meds on hand?

 

[MTBake]

Sorry to hear for sure. I had a mandarin 12 some years ago that was fun to watch. Really sucked losing him.

Edit:
I agree with JoshH, treatment can help. Still haven't found this in my saved pages

 

[ZachsZoo]

Any chance you could pick up a 5-10 gal cheap tank to treat at all? Or do you have meds on hand?

Only place near me that has even 5-10 gallon tanks is closed right now. Looking for meds but I can't find any, I think I have some but I have no idea where they would be. This is actually the only livestock I've ever had sick. I do have a clean 5 gallon bucket that I could put him in but I doubt he will make it through the night.

 

[ZachsZoo]

Sorry to hear for sure. I had a mandarin 12 some years ago that was fun to watch. Really sucked losing him.

Edit:
I agree with JoshH, treatment can help. Still haven't found this in my saved pages

No problem, don't think he has a good chance even with meds. I will be sure to pick up some meds and a small quarantine this week at my LFS to be prepared if something like this ever happens again. Any recommendations for good medications or disease prevention?

 

[JoshH]

Kanaplex, metroplex, Selcon are all good meds and a 5 gal bucket will work for sure

 

[MTBake]

Not sure on meds for this one.

I will say mandarin are tough to treat just because of their diet of live foods. That's hard to replicate in a qt.

 

[ZachsZoo]

Well thanks for your help everyone! Not sure if he will make it which sucks but at least I'll be ready if something like this happens again

 

[JoshH]

I hope he does, best of luck to you and your little guy!

 

[Maritimer]

This looks more like an infection to me than anything else - but it's an odd infection. He also looks very thin, which may be due to decline from the wound.

The combination of Furan-2, Kanaplex, and Metroplex (in a QT) is one that's worked for many, but it's complicated by a mandarin's dietary habits. Some folks have reported success with Nutramar OVA.

~Bruce

 

[4FordFamily]

This looks more like an infection to me than anything else - but it's an odd infection. He also looks very thin, which may be due to decline from the wound.

The combination of Furan-2, Kanaplex, and Metroplex (in a QT) is one that's worked for many, but it's complicated by a mandarin's dietary habits. Some folks have reported success with Nutramar OVA.

~Bruce

This exactly. As fast as this is progressing, this may be a gram negative bacterial infection. This would require immediate treatment and to be honest at this stage, I don’t see a scenario in which this fish pulls through. If you have meds on hand I’d give it a try, and dip in an acriflavin bath first if available. Otherwise, it may be more humane to euthanize the fish.