Help! How do I save my Chromis? He's getting skinny and will die soon

[Subnautica]

EXTREMELY thin chromis with sunken belly. When I first got him he's fat and healthy. But now he's getting skinnier every day. Eating is normal but one thing I noticed is that his belly never gets full. Looks like all the food he swallowed went missing mysteriously.

Had the same issue with 2 other chromis, 3 anthias, and 2 blennies. I never had luck with these species.

Food: LRS RF, NLS pellet

Water par:
- Ca 350
- Mg 1200
- KH 7.0
- NO3 25
- PO4 0.25

 

[Reefer Matt]

#fishmedic

 

[KQuillan]

They will need water parameters.

 

[Joe81]

EXTREMELY thin chromis with sunken belly. When I first got him he's fat and healthy. But now he's getting skinnier every day. Eating is normal but one thing I noticed is that his belly never gets full. Looks like all the food he swallowed went missing mysteriously. How do I save him? I'm sure he'll die soon.

How long have you had him? Notice anything else about his behavior?

 

[Subnautica]

They will need water parameters.

Water par coming in 10 minutes.
Also all other fish are doing "fat", including clowns and damsels.

 

[Subnautica]

How long have you had him? Notice anything else about his behavior?

I've had him for almost 2 years. Only weird behavior is always swimming near the top (not trying to take oxygen, only near the top)

 

[Tcook]

Was this fish quarantined? Did you treat fir parasites with Prazi?

 

[chimbo84]

What are you feeding? How frequently? Notice any white stringy poop?

 

[Newb_reefer1]

Was this fish quarantined? Did you treat fir parasites with Prazi?

Also have you added any new fish to the system ? I find it hard to believe it could be from parasites if the fish has already been in there for two years ?

 

[nereefpat]

What is it eating, and how often?

Any new fish additions?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I've had him for almost 2 years. Only weird behavior is always swimming near the top (not trying to take oxygen, only near the top)

Since you've had it for two years, and the other fish aren't thin, I'll rule out underfeeding (we see a lot more of that now days than in the past - it seems some people underfeed their fish in order to minimize nutrients in the water for their corals).

That leaves an internal infection. Worms are unlikely. It is more likely Mycobacterium, fish tuberculosis. There isn't any treatment for this - just supportive care (target feed it more food if you can).

Jay

 

[vetteguy53081]

EXTREMELY thin chromis with sunken belly. When I first got him he's fat and healthy. But now he's getting skinnier every day. Eating is normal but one thing I noticed is that his belly never gets full. Looks like all the food he swallowed went missing mysteriously. How do I save him? I'm sure he'll die soon.

What foods are you feeding it?
How is its breathing rate?
What is behaviors and looks of other occupants?

 

[nereefpat]

How long do chromis live, btw?

 

[Subnautica]

Was this fish quarantined? Did you treat fir parasites with Prazi?

Yes I did quarantine him

@chimbo84 @nereefpat @vetteguy53081
I feed him LRS Reef Frenzy and New Life Spectrum There A+ pellet, 2 to 3 times a day.

 

[Subnautica]

@ktfloyd01 water parameters updated

 

[Subnautica]

Last fish addition was the Firefish one year ago, but he died mysteriously shortly after

 

[Subnautica]

Since you've had it for two years, and the other fish aren't thin, I'll rule out underfeeding (we see a lot more of that now days than in the past - it seems some people underfeed their fish in order to minimize nutrients in the water for their corals).

That leaves an internal infection. Worms are unlikely. It is more likely Mycobacterium, fish tuberculosis. There isn't any treatment for this - just supportive care (target feed it more food if you can).

Jay

Thank you. There's not a single skinny fish in my tank except for the chromis. Also, I've had this EXACT SAME issue with 2 chromis, 3 anthias and 2 blennies before. All of them had the same symptom (fat at first, then skinny and died).

Fish that were added very early and still doing well: Clown, Pink Damsel, Springeri Damsel, Blue Star Wrasse, Melanurus Wrasse, Hippo Tang, Watchman Goby, Bangaii, Royal Gramma

 

[Subnautica]

New fish addition culprit: If one of the newer fish spread out the disease then why didn't other fish in my tank get it, but only the chromis?

 

[Sharkbait19]

Were the deaths close together or spread over a long period of time? How long does it take for the fish to get thin like this?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Yes I did quarantine him

@chimbo84 @nereefpat @vetteguy53081
I feed him LRS Reef Frenzy and New Life Spectrum There A+ pellet, 2 to 3 times a day.

I use new life. The pellets are not the most pallatable and should be soaked for their small intestines , Frenzy is excellent and should have fattened this fish literally unless it has lower intesinal issue known as Hexamita.
The parameters needed are your current : Ammonia-Nitrate-PH-Salinity And what test kit(s) are you using ?
Any yawning effect, mouth stuck open, etc