Fish Disease ID

[Brian Ward]

My Semilarvatus Butterfly has an odd spot on his fin below the tail. Please take a look and let me know what you think it is and how to treat it. It seems to be getting worse so I'm getting concerned. No one is picking on him. If anything, he rules the tank.

 

 

 

 

[jason the filter freak]

Looks like a cut, is it getting picked on by some one?

[treesprite]

is it flat or fuzzy looking? Would not a fungus be a little fuzzy?

[gmubeach]

Might be an infected scrape thats my bet treatment wise I am not sure:)

[Brian Ward]

it looks much worse in person - camera couldn't get a good shot of it. he had a similar spot toward the center of his body a couple weeks ago but that cleared up. this one seemed to be getting worse so I got concerned. no one is picking on him, he's probably the most aggressive fish in the tank at the moment. he could have brushed up on the rabbitfish's spines - they usually fight over the formula cubes. no idea why, but the butterfly only wants to eat whichever cube the rabbit is eating.

[Highland Reefer]

If he was stung by the rabbit fish, it might be a secondary infection. My best guess would be a bacterial infection. I would try the medicated flakes for bacterial infection first if it were me. Usually fungal infections tend to be more concentric than bacterial infections. Plus, when you are dealing with puncture wounds, the most likely culprit will be the bacteria. I would pick the most wide spectrum bacteriacide you can find and one that works on staphylococci bacteria (they cause the irregular appearing infection sites), which penicilian is not very effect on. My two cents. :(

Edited April 2, 2008 by Highland Reefer

[traveller7]

Halfway down the page, septicemia:

http://www.afip.org/vetpath/POLA/99/Diseases_of_Fish.htm

 

I have found removal of stress, adressing water quality, and adding a varied diet fairly effective. Antibiotics in the near term to halt disease, but the stressor must be removed to prevent return.

 

Good luck with that pretty fish.

[Highland Reefer]

Thanks for the link.