What might this be?

[alin2]

3 male bicolor anthias in fish QT.

SG 1.025
NH3: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 5
PO4: 0.03

In 3rd week of Cu (Cupramine): tested 0.5 with Salifert at least every other day.

The anthias have developed white lesions on only their tail fins and pectoral fins. Ventral fins and dorsal fins with nothing. No evidence for ich on the bodies. All 3 fish are eating well and active.

I thought it might be a bacterial superinfection from some fin damage from fighting before I separated all 3 with egg crate.

I went ahead and dosed kanamycin last night. The Cu level is still 0.5.

Any thoughts?

 

[Humblefish]

It could be Lymphocystis, but you are smart to take precautions in case this is actually a bacterial infection. If it doesn't respond to kanamycin, you can add nitrofurazone and metronidazole to the mix to widen the spectrum of treatment.

 

[alin2]

So, redose kanamycin tomorrow, if no response, add an antiprotozoal. Add it to the kanamycin or remove the kanamycin with carbon first?

Also, get rid of the Cu with cuprisorb before dosing more abx?

 

[Humblefish]

So, redose kanamycin tomorrow, if no response, add an antiprotozoal. Add it to the kanamycin or remove the kanamycin with carbon first?

Also, get rid of the Cu with cuprisorb before dosing more abx?

Antibiotics are notoriously slow acting in fish. Kanamycin is readily absorbed by a fish's skin, but it can still take up to 10 days of continuous treatment to see results.

 

[alin2]

Okay, so re-dose the kanamycin every 2 days per directions? Okay to keep the Cu @ 0.5?

 

[alin2]

And, in your opinion, this isn't ich, correct? It seems only isolated to the tail fin and pectoral fins. Plus, the Cu level has been 0.5 continuously for 3 weeks.

 

[Humblefish]

Okay, so re-dose the kanamycin every 2 days per directions? Okay to keep the Cu @ 0.5?

Yes & yes. You can safely mix kanamycin with copper.

And, in your opinion, this isn't ich, correct? It seems only isolated to the tail fin and pectoral fins. Plus, the Cu level has been 0.5 continuously for 3 weeks.

The spots look too large to be ich.

 

[alin2]

Just a quick update, after 7 days and 3 redoses of kanamycin, the white lesions all disappeared from the anthias. There were never signs of ich, and after 30 days of Cu, the anthias have been placed in the main tank.

Actually, only 1 male. The other 2 (which are doing great) I brought to Reefwise for re-homing since they fight so badly (leading to the torn fins in the first place). So, if anyone is in the Chicago area and would like some beautiful bicolors, Reefwise has 2 now.

 

[Humblefish]

Good job! Love to hear a success story!