Autopsy help! Save future fish! Bacterial or parasitic?

[dandelion]

Update (11/27 10am): It didn't make it. I'm suspecting septicemia because of the red streaks?

Update (11/26 11pm): I just treated with Maracyn 2. Does it look bacterial or parasitic?

 

I got my royal gramma from my LFS on Monday and drip acclimated him into my QT. He has been hiding behind my internal filter not eating for two days and today I hushed him out so I can check on him. He's been very still not moving much. He's breathing fine not super fast. And then I noticed on the left side there are 3 vertical white streaks that were not there before. Are those wounds or parasite?

 

My ammonia is at 0 and I dosed prazipro yesterday as prophylaxis. Are there evidence of bacterial infection? I have some melafix and Maracyn 2.

 

[mystersyster]

Sorry, I can't identify it, other than I think it is a wound. Do you have anything else in the tank for him to hide in? Royal gramma are a deep water fish, who hide under rock. A couple pieces of PVC pipe would be great for him to hide in, in your QT. =]

[dandelion]

I have a ceramic wax melter in there but he didn't seem to like it. Should I do nothing or put melafix or put Maracyn 2 in? :(

 

Sorry, I can't identify it, other than I think it is a wound. Do you have anything else in the tank for him to hide in? Royal gramma are a deep water fish, who hide under rock. A couple pieces of PVC pipe would be great for him to hide in, in your QT. =]

[mystersyster]

I have a ceramic wax melter in there but he didn't seem to like it. Should I do nothing or put melafix or put Maracyn 2 in? :(

 

Oh okay, I'm guessing you have it sideways? Interesting he hasn't found that to his liking. I might use the melafix. That seems to be the best option. Don't add two different medicines though. It isn't normal though. My thoughts are that it is a parasite, bacterial infention, or wound. I doubt it is a parasite. So IMO melafix is the best option. Of course, if anyone else would like to chime in, please do.

[Tamberav]

Hard to say but read up on Uronema marinum

[dandelion]

It didn't spend very much time exploring the QT before picking a hiding place.

 

I may put Melafix in it tomorrow. The air pump should prevent Melafix from suffocating my fish. I noticed the stripes were only visible when I turn on my QT light (desk lamp mounted right above the tank with household cool white CFL bulb.) and it looks like the stripes are under the scale. I guess another way to say it is the stripes look like an opaque spots on a slightly translucent body.

 

Oh okay, I'm guessing you have it sideways? Interesting he hasn't found that to his liking. I might use the melafix. That seems to be the best option. Don't add two different medicines though. It isn't normal though. My thoughts are that it is a parasite, bacterial infention, or wound. I doubt it is a parasite. So IMO melafix is the best option. Of course, if anyone else would like to chime in, please do.

 

I looked that up but the white looks like it is from underneath the scale. I'm thinking maybe he got the wound when the LFS employee roughly handled him. (This place have great fish and corals but I LOATH their employees. One day I haven't finished my questions and the employee walked away on me so he could play on his phone. The owner and his wife seem to be the only people who care at the store.) I'll wait till tomorrow before I do anything.... If it's Uronema it probably won't survive the night.

 

Hard to say but read up on Uronema marinum

[ndrobey]

It looks like wounds that have gotten infected. I have had great success with plain yogurt.

[dandelion]

Plain yogurt as food...?

 

It looks like wounds that have gotten infected. I have had great success with plain yogurt.

[dandelion]

I got a better look today and I'm pretty sure those are wounds. Notice the left side of the body has bumps there the stripes are.

 

I added melafix but I have a feeling the fish is not going to make it. I may do a Maracyn or methylene blue bath later if I find evidence about their uses.

 

[ndrobey]

Plain yogurt as food...?

Yes. Plain yogurt from the grocery store.

[mystersyster]

It looks like you need oxygen in the water asap! Flow, and air.

[dandelion]

I have an air pump with sponge filter so I'm pretty sure I have lots of air. I also have an internal filter to help with flow and a place to put carbon when I want to remove meds.

 

The white streaks seem to be more profound today. The fish is also having white stringy poop. As I stated I've already added prazipro on Tuesday, and just now I put in Maracyn 2. Does it look like a bacterial infection to you? It looks like the white streak is from under the skin....

 

 

It looks like you need oxygen in the water asap! Flow, and air.

[mystersyster]

At this point it does look like a bacterial infection. I suppose all you can do is wait i have a lot of experience with royal grammas, but I have never seen this.

[dandelion]

I guess I'll do a course of Maracyn 2 then. I hope it'll pull through but I really am not sure. At lease the fish isn't acting any worse.

[dandelion]

It didn't make it. I pulled it out from my QT and I saw some red streaks on the back of its body, so most likely it was septicemia. But then I noticed the white fuzz extended all the way to the anus to.... I don't know. I guess the Maracyn 2 was the right treatment. Just probably too late.

 

This is the 2nd royal gramma I lost in QT. Now I wonder if I should go with another fish.... Maybe a Bangai Cardinal? Those fish don't hide as much do they?

 

 

At this point it does look like a bacterial infection. I suppose all you can do is wait i have a lot of experience with royal grammas, but I have never seen this.

[ndrobey]

Man that sucks. A Royal Gramma is such a gorgeous fish to lose like that. Did both fish come from the same LFS? You said the stupid employee handled it very roughly, which probably caused an internal injury such as a ruptured intestine. I wouldn't buy another fish from them.

[dandelion]

No... First one is from Petco. This is from another LFS. At least Petco refunded my money.

 

Well there one other LFS but they have clowns with either velvet or brook so I swore I wouldn't buy anything from them, so my choices are limited. I guess I'll just get another employee or the owner next time I need help. The owner's wife is really nice and knowledgeable but she isn't always around.

 

Man that sucks. A Royal Gramma is such a gorgeous fish to lose like that. Did both fish come from the same LFS? You said the stupid employee handled it very roughly, which probably caused an internal injury such as a ruptured intestine. I wouldn't buy another fish from them.