Wrasse with scale hanging off

[Tuffloud1]

Wrasse currently in QT.

Eating, swimming normally.

Noticed a scale literally hanging off his head like a flap leaving a hole in his head. No signs of anything else that I can see.

What is this?

 

[HairyGary]

Have a top on the QT tank? May jumped and scraped its head. I would just observe and make sure it keeps eating etc.

 

[Tuffloud1]

I do, it’s a diy mesh top.

I did notice yesterday that the same area on his head appeared to have some kind of a clear/whitish patch on the same area.

 

[HairyGary]

yeah more than likely it got spooked. Do you have rocks in the QT as well? Other fish? Cirrhilabrus will wedge themselves in rocks at night as well so may have gotten scraped that way too.

 

[Tuffloud1]

I do I have live rock and sand that I don’t plan on using after I’m done with the QT (if I need to medicate).

 

[Tuffloud1]

He has taken a turn for the worse. I came home to him swimming unbalanced, upside down, sideways like he can’t control himself.

Not rapidly breathing and he is attempting to eat but has difficulty catching the food because of the imbalance in his swimming.

No other visual signs of anything except that same nick in his head.

Anything I can do?

 

[Big G]

If it was my fish, I'd consider giving the fish a bath in Ruby Reef Rally. It has both antiseptic and antibiotic qualities that are very mild. 60-90 minutes. Aerate and heat while doing the bath. Make sure to ph, salinity, and temp match the tank.

 

[Tuffloud1]

If it was my fish, I'd consider giving the fish a bath in Ruby Reef Rally. It has both antiseptic and antibiotic qualities that are very mild. 60-90 minutes. Aerate and heat while doing the bath. Make sure to ph, salinity, and temp match the tank.

@Big G

I’ve read the formalin in Ruby Rally is carcinogenic and fish live only 2-3 years after treatment.

It really is frustrating sifting through all the information out there. What is true? What isn’t?

 

[Big G]

RRR is largely acriflavine. The formalin component is very, very small.

The 2-3 year life span after treating with formalin is referring to 37% formaldhyde product that is indeed quite strong. But the 2-3 year life span is anecdotal and not scientifically proven.

 

[Tuffloud1]

RRR is largely acriflavine. The formalin component is very, very small.

The 2-3 year life span after treating with formalin is referring to 37% formaldhyde product that is indeed quite strong. But the 2-3 year life span is anecdotal and not scientifically proven.

Can I just add it to my entire QT since I have 5 other fish currently in QT?

 

[Big G]

Can I just add it to my entire QT since I have 5 other fish currently in QT?

Works best as a 60-90 minute bath, but plenty of reefers use it in the QT and even the DT as the manufacturer claims it to be reef safe.

 

[Tuffloud1]

@Big G

My trigger has this going on as well after being scraped up - also in QT. I thought it might be best to just treat the whole QT instead of adding stress by catching all the others and attempting a bath.

 

[Tuffloud1]

Also, if I use in the QT, how much and do I need to do water changes after? And should I run my skimmer or wait?