What is it now?...

Flame2hawk · Mar 14, 2021

So caught him and did 5m f/w dip....nothing fell off. Did take some closer pics below. Also noticed 2 brown dots on his tail. I’ve treated for bacterial (furan2/metro/Kano). Ich/velvet w/ copper twice and prazi for flukes. All that is left is viral. I already feed with beta gkuctan and SELCON enriched foods. So now what?

Jay Hemdal · Mar 14, 2021

I wish the tail pictures were in focus - that is something I hadn't seen in the other pictures but I can't tell what it might be. At this point, all I can say is those spots look like hyper-melanization - fish try to wall off infections with tissue that often has darker melanin in it, so the result is diffuse brown/black spots. Usually they are nothing to worry about because they are a sign that the fish is handling the issue on its own.

Jay

Flame2hawk · Mar 20, 2021

Lost my purple tang today as the loses keep piling up with no end in sight...although there were no flukes that feel off of PT when dipped, I saw allot of fish scratching against rocks so I really didn’t know what else to do so I did 3 doses of Prazi in DT ( The PT was in hospital tank) 3 days apart and fish are still scratching against rocks. What can it be now?

Lowell Lemon · Mar 20, 2021

I agree with Jay! You need microscopic examination to determine actual cause. Find someone local who can help you. I used a local DMV with a background in aquaculture to help me out at a local university. Diagnosis first and then treatment will yield better results. Not a fan of diagnosis by Internet...no offense to you Jay....but telemedicine is bad medicine in my very uneducated opinion.

I have maintained and managed very large aquariums in the past and professional help is worth the time and money when you are stuck.

Jay Hemdal · Mar 21, 2021

Flame2hawk said:
Lost my purple tang today as the loses keep piling up with no end in sight...although there were no flukes that feel off of PT when dipped, I saw allot of fish scratching against rocks so I really didn’t know what else to do so I did 3 doses of Prazi in DT ( The PT was in hospital tank) 3 days apart and fish are still scratching against rocks. What can it be now?

Sorry to hear. Did the number of spots increase or stay the same? Microsporidians was one idea that I had tossed out there, but I've never seen that infect a number of different species at one time before.

Jay

Flame2hawk · Mar 21, 2021

Jay Hemdal said:
Sorry to hear. Did the number of spots increase or stay the same? Microsporidians was one idea that I had tossed out there, but I've never seen that infect a number of different species at one time before.

Jay

Spots stay the same....more fish breathing heavy with flapping gills even after a v40% water change...

gentlefish · Mar 21, 2021

I am so sorry for the ordeal you are going through. I can not think of anything you did not try. It clearly is infectious, but unresponsive to antibacterial/anti fluke. Not covered to me is merely and for completeness sake fungus, viral, untreatable of sorts. I think I would trend towards viral with these choices, hence only the immune system could control such. So decreasing stress. Increasing salinity or else to find a good vet. As disclaimer, my knowledge is less than 1% of Jay’s. Best of luck!

Jay Hemdal · Mar 22, 2021

Flame2hawk said:
Spots stay the same....more fish breathing heavy with flapping gills even after a v40% water change...

Well, viral or microsporidians are all that seems to be left based on your treatment history. Those are much rarer, and as I said, usually do not infect broadly different types of fish. Sorry I can't give you a definitive treatment!

Jay