New wrasse has bacterial disease?

[FishWife]

Hey there,

 

When my new Melanurus wrasse emerged from the sand this morning, I was feeding him and noticed a minute white spot (bigger than ich... more like a tiny patch) on one of his side fins. We've had him about four days, and since his arrival, there's been a small white patch that I thought was an injury on his left side as you face with him (same side as the now affected fin).

 

Here are pics:

Still: you can't see the spot on this affected fin or the small white patch here, though. It's hard to capture on still film:

 

Video: It's easiest to see the affected left fin in this short video:

 

I've been trying to diagnose: I'm thinking the closest description I can find is Columnaris Disease. Here's my source: http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/Q&A/fin_disorders.html

 

1. Anyone had this problem? Think I'm on the right track?

 

2. Anyone tried any of these drugs?

 

Drugs listed: Sulfa drugs: TMP-Sulfa -or- Sulfa 4 TMP -or Triple Sulfa Powder

 

3. How long is the treatment?

 

4. Will sulpha drugs affect live rock/sand? (Got sand in there for him to sleep in.)

 

5. Any downside to trying them sooner than later, before it spreads? (Thankfully, fish is in isolated QT tank.) In other words, should I wait for it to develop more because sulfa drugs have their downsides too, or just go ahead and treat it?

 

Other comments?

 

TIA for reading/answering.

Edited April 9, 2008 by FishWife

[YBeNormal]

I've seen small white patches on many of my fish over the years, both newly purchased and fish that I've had for a year or more. In almost all cases it went away after a day or two. Never doubt the healing abilities of healthy fish! I'd watch it to see if it gets worse or improves before resorting to meds. JMHO.

[jason the filter freak]

Could it be a parasite?

[FishWife]

Could it be a parasite?

 

Yes, but which? I called Congressional (to see if they even had meds) and he suggested a fresh water bath. I thought that sounded wise and prudent. But, I'm comforted by Bob's advice, too. Perhaps we'll wait another day before disturbing Joey.

 

(Joseph, because of his coat of many colors. Of course, my children call him by his Egyptian name: Zaphnathpaaneah (said: ZAP pan ath pan I ah)

[OUsnakebyte]

(Joseph, because of his coat of many colors. Of course, my children call him by his Egyptian name: Zaphnathpaaneah (said: ZAP pan ath pan I ah)

 

I love that musical!!! And strangely, I actually liked Osmond in that role too...

[mogurnda]

Space Ghost: Yeah. If Marie's a little bit country, and you're a little bit rock and roll... What's the rest of you?

 

Donny Osmond: I guess if I'm a little bit rock and roll, the rest of me is composed of mostly water.

[FishWife]

Update on Joseph: in case anyone else has a fish in this kind of situation.

 

Well, we left him alone for 24 hours and the white spot on his fin spread.

 

We noticed the next day that the fin looked eaten away and ragged. (He's alone in his tank.) We surmised that the problem is fin rot, and hoofed down to Congressional and bought gram-negative antibiotics.

 

I read on the Internet that the BEST way to get antibiotic into a fish is in his food, so we've been lacing his frozen mysis feedings with it morning, noon, and night. He downs it readily if we soak it less than five minutes, but soaking it more leads to him spitting it out. So far, the fin is holding steady, and the white on it is almost gone. I think he's also getting more active and feeding more and more. (Remember, he was new and not voracious when we acquired him from Blue Zoo.) We're pretty sure that this is a gram-negative bacterial infection induced by stress from shipping. (Lots of fish in this order were unusually stressed/dead on arrival.)

 

We make up a small batch of antibiotic each morning and keep it in the fridge. We crumble frozen brine into it three times per day, and are planning to finish out a 10-day course with this antibiotic. If he takes any turn for the worse, we plan to dose the whole tank, but for now, we are taking this more conservative approach so as to keep the live rock in the tank available for ammonia processing.

Edited April 14, 2008 by FishWife

[FishWife]

Again; updating for others who may face similar situations.

 

By April 21, here's what I posted elsewhere:

 

I've been battling what I feel is a gram negative infection with our wrasse. We treated him first by means of soaking his food in gram negative antibiotic, then we treated the hospital tank for five days. Yesterday, we moved him into quarentine, thinking he was better. We stressed him in the process. Last week, it was his fin was affected, but yesterday he was sluggish and today he has ONE cloudy eye... Sort of looks like a cateract. I would not say that his eye is popped; more a cloudy film over it. He's swimming and eating.... anyone know what it is and how do we treat it?

 

May 5

 

It was popeye. We treated him with Myacin 2 for five days; then we treated him for another 5 days. He's been w/o meds now for about 4 days. At first his eye was large, black and blind. Day by day, it's returning to normal size. He mostly swims to the side of his good eye in spirals. For weeks he spent 22 hrs. per day buried in the sand but ate each time he emerged. About two days ago, he stayed out for HOURS. Yesterday, he was out for a few hours, then dove in to the sand around 3 PM (which I've read is normal). Today, it almost seems like his eye is returning to ALMOST normal... his good eye has an orange rim around it, and his bad eye's rim is returning to view. Otherwise, he's perfectly healthy. So, we are grateful.

[lanman]

My Leopard Wrasse is also a sand dweller - he pretty much follows the light cycle. Within 15-20 minutes of lights out, he selects a bed, circles it for a while - and then dives in. He comes back out within an hour after the lights come back on. Between him and the gold-headed sleeper goby, my sand keeps pretty well stirred, not shaken.

 

bob

[treesprite]

glad to hear that he's doing better.... you're a great fish doctor