Scotts fairy wrasse

[kb reef relief]

Does everyone think this is ich? Got this Scott’s fairy two days ago and sitting in my QT. Eating fine on a combination of frozen blood worms, mysis with garlic and brine. I dosed copper a few hours ago.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Does everyone think this is ich? Got this Scott’s fairy two days ago and sitting in my QT. Eating fine on a combination of frozen blood worms, mysis with garlic and brine. I dosed copper a few hours ago.

I see three dots and can be sand grains or start of ich. Observe fish again tomorrow and see if there are more dots as ich will move on fish and multiply each 24 hours

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I agree, could be ich trophonts or grains of sand or mucus plugs. Ich trophonts will come and go, and change location every few days, but general increase in numbers. You can use this video to “mark” the location of the spots to see if they change. Be aware that when it first starts, it is pretty common for all the spots to drop off in unison, but then return as a group when they reproduce in the tank floor.

 

[kb reef relief]

Thank you. Had concerns for the right side of the fishes face as well. Not sure if it has been rubbing against the side of the rock work or if it was injured.

 

[kb reef relief]

Just concerned for bacterial infection due to this as well.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Just concerned for bacterial infection due to this as well.

I see that what looked like ich spots have sort merged into a larger lesion - ich doesn’t do that. It could be bacterial.

 

[kb reef relief]

I see that what looked like ich spots have sort merged into a larger lesion - ich doesn’t do that. It could be bacterial.

Definitely less concerned for ich. I’ve treated with copper and I’m slowly increasing it to therapeutic levels, prazipro, and maracyn oxy. Anything else you’d add?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Definitely less concerned for ich. I’ve treated with copper and I’m slowly increasing it to therapeutic levels, prazipro, and maracyn oxy. Anything else you’d add?

Are you using coppersafe or copper power? If so, taking too long to reach a full dose isn't good. Only ramp up copper slowly if you are using ionic copper, or Cupramine. Then, you should reach full dose in 3 days.

I don't see using prazipro or maracyn oxy in this case. A broad spectrum, gram negative true antibiotic would be best against a possible bacterial infection. Neomycin or Kanamycin are two examples.

Here is another thought - the original lesions looked like ich, but then they grew in size and coalesced into larger areas. That MAY mean that the actual infection is internal, and grew in size when they reached the surface of the fish's skin. Internal infections are more difficult to treat.

Jay

 

[kb reef relief]

Are you using coppersafe or copper power? If so, taking too long to reach a full dose isn't good. Only ramp up copper slowly if you are using ionic copper, or Cupramine. Then, you should reach full dose in 3 days.

I don't see using prazipro or maracyn oxy in this case. A broad spectrum, gram negative true antibiotic would be best against a possible bacterial infection. Neomycin or Kanamycin are two examples.

Here is another thought - the original lesions looked like ich, but then they grew in size and coalesced into larger areas. That MAY mean that the actual infection is internal, and grew in size when they reached the surface of the fish's skin. Internal infections are more difficult to treat.

Jay

I’m using coppersafe. You suggest going with a full dose?

I think I’m light on the bacterial treatments so I did order some metroplex for anaerobic coverage. I’ll look into the neomycin treatments. You suggest neoplex or something else? Fish seems to be eating and swimming ok for now.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I’m using coppersafe. You suggest going with a full dose?

I think I’m light on the bacterial treatments so I did order some metroplex for anaerobic coverage. I’ll look into the neomycin treatments. You suggest neoplex or something else? Fish seems to be eating and swimming ok for now.

Neoplex is good but best is seachem Kanaplex as it is absorbed by the fish and will work internally and externally and forget the metro. To many are resorting to Metro and not understanding the need for Precise treatment by weight which is .5 gm which is a very tiny amount and makes food taste bitter to the fish.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I’m using coppersafe. You suggest going with a full dose?

I think I’m light on the bacterial treatments so I did order some metroplex for anaerobic coverage. I’ll look into the neomycin treatments. You suggest neoplex or something else? Fish seems to be eating and swimming ok for now.

Anerobic bacteria never infect fish externally, because the fish's skin is bathed in oxygenated water. However, being internal, it could possibly be an anaerobe, but it shouldn't then be growing outside the fish.

There are some internal fungal infections that can break through the fish's skin (Icthyphonus hoferi), I don't know a treatment for those though.

I would treat with Neoplex or Kanaplex -

 

[kb reef relief]

Anerobic bacteria never infect fish externally, because the fish's skin is bathed in oxygenated water. However, being internal, it could possibly be an anaerobe, but it shouldn't then be growing outside the fish.

There are some internal fungal infections that can break through the fish's skin (Icthyphonus hoferi), I don't know a treatment for those though.

I would treat with Neoplex or Kanaplex -

Hey jay. Ive been treating with kanaplex as well as anti fungals and copper. Fish seems to be eating fine but looks like this today. Not sure what steps to take next. Thanks for your help!

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Hey jay. Ive been treating with kanaplex as well as anti fungals and copper. Fish seems to be eating fine but looks like this today. Not sure what steps to take next. Thanks for your help!

Well, it still looks like an internal infection that is broaching the skin. There are no anti fungals that work for Icthyophonus.
Kanaplex is as good a choice of antibiotic as you’ll find. I use neomycin more often myself, but that’s just personal bias I suppose. Antibiotics usually take 3 to 5 days to slow an aggressive infection.

 

[NanoNana]

Well, it still looks like an internal infection that is broaching the skin. There are no anti fungals that work for Icthyophonus.
Kanaplex is as good a choice of antibiotic as you’ll find. I use neomycin more often myself, but that’s just personal bias I suppose. Antibiotics usually take 3 to 5 days to slow an aggressive infection.

Jay, is Furunculosis a possibility? I’ve only seen it on trout, koi and salmon but know it can infect marine fish albeit very rarely.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Jay, is Furunculosis a possibility? I’ve only seen it on trout, koi and salmon but know it can infect marine fish albeit very rarely.

Possibly - I’ve never seen it on tropical marine fish though. There may be other aeromonids that attack marine fish, IDK.

Most surface/ external infections of marine fish seem to be Vibrios and maybe Pseudomonas.

The trouble is that this lesion seemed to start internally and then erupted to the skin’s surface. If there are other non-visible internal lesions, it will be difficult to treat this.

 

[NanoNana]

Possibly - I’ve never seen it on tropical marine fish though. There may be other aeromonids that attack marine fish, IDK.

Most surface/ external infections of marine fish seem to be Vibrios and maybe Pseudomonas.

The trouble is that this lesion seemed to start internally and then erupted to the skin’s surface. If there are other non-visible internal lesions, it will be difficult to treat this.

Thank you so much for responding, Jay. I haven’t seen it in marine fish but had read that it has occurred.
I do human medicine and treat livestock and avian species frequently but am very out of my depth (pardon the pun) on fish illnesses.
This mass on the wrasse is different from most things I’ve seen on a fish and is therefore interesting to me. Being on the head, it also made me wonder if it could be a foreign body that has caused an abscess.
I do hope the fish does well.