Fairy/Flasher Wrasse Sick?

[Falco]

I have a Carpenter's Flasher and a Pink Margin Fairy wrasse currently in QT for about 5 weeks and just recently they started to look sick and act strange.

They both started to get some white patches are their bodies and fins that looks like the scales are milking up. The Pink Margin has not been using his tail fins to swim around and both have been in hiding for most of the day.

The pink margin also has a problem with its mouth as it looks like it was rubbing up against the glass and worn away its upper lip

It was eating up until today when it wouldn't touch any mysis.

I was only able to take a pick of the pink margin and it really doesn't show any of the milky patches I am taking about but it does show his lip.

What could be wrong with these guys and what can I do to help them?? the pink margin has been breathing heavy as well so I did a water change tonight and made sure the water was in check.

Thanks for any help!

 

[prattreef]

Really hard to tell from the pics, but the white blotches could be a fungus which could also account for the mouth erosion. it also looks like the tail is ripped up... are there any other fish in the tank that might be beating them up? That could explain the marks and blotches too. 5 weeks in QT seems long to me any reaon why?

Perhaps Marrone or Heurefan can chime in here.

Randy

 

[Falco]

Really hard to tell from the pics, but the white blotches could be a fungus which could also account for the mouth erosion. it also looks like the tail is ripped up... are there any other fish in the tank that might be beating them up? That could explain the marks and blotches too. 5 weeks in QT seems long to me any reaon why?

Perhaps Marrone or Heurefan can chime in here.

Randy

Thanks Randy. I normally QT one or two fish at a time but this time I had these 2 guys, a red sea sailfin tang and a hectors goby. They were all getting along great but the past 4 or 5 days I have noticed a change in behavior. The sailfin and the hectors looked great so I moved them over to the display earlier today so just the wrasses are left. Maybe the sailfin was getting a little aggressive in the small tank after 5 weeks and started picking on them?

I usually QT for 4 weeks to see if any breakouts happen but this time was 5 because I just haven't had the time to transfer them to the display.

The only disease I have delt with in the past has been ich but I was thinking this could be a fungus or even maybe Marine Velvet but I haven't seen them first hand so I don't know for sure

Its hard to get a photo of these guys and even harder for the white stuff to show up :frown:

-Chris

 

[heuerfan]

So sorry Chris, doesn't sound good man. Maybe they were bad fish to begin with, or maybe there is a problem with your QT tank?

You should ask the two leading experts on Fairy Wrasses, H.Tanaka and Bronco at Reef Central. I hope they can help you save them.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=7505728#post7505728

 

[Falco]

So sorry Chris, doesn't sound good man. Maybe they were bad fish to begin with, or maybe there is a problem with your QT tank?

You should ask the two leading experts on Fairy Wrasses, H.Tanaka and Bronco at Reef Central. I hope they can help you save them.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=7505728#post7505728

Thanks Steven. I posted over on RC (bigdee65) but not in that thread. I might repost in there and see what I get. I am not sure what could have caused this but the tang and goby looked great so I moved them to the display.

For these guys to get sick so far into the QT process its kinda strange, I hope I can get them to pull through. I'm just not sure what to treat with to do so

-Chris

 

[heuerfan]

Chris, just send H.Tanaka a PM directly. He is quick to reply and very informative.

5 weeks is a long time, i'm thinking something wrong with the QT tank, you should test the parameters just in case. I'm sure they are fine but really can't figure this one out. Unless the wrasses were bad to begin with, but why did it take 5 weeks to come about?

 

[House of Laughter]

Chris,

Ahot in the dark and a wierd request, but do you have a grounding probe in the tank? electricity make fish "swim for their lives" and sometimes run up and down the glass (creating the mouth problems).

Just a thought, I am no expert, but thought I'd shoot that out there.

How is the Salon?

House

 

[Falco]

Thanks guys.

Steve - I sent H.Tanaka a PM, I will let you know what he comes back with.

House, I don't have a grounding probe on the tank but I will pick one up and get it on their asap. That might be an issue but for 1 of 4 fish to be rubbing up and down on the glass its kinda strange.

As for the Salon (aka Solar wrasse) he is going amazing in my display. Colors haven't faded a bit and he is hanging out with my Lyretail Anthias like he is part of the gang. He is always on the move and eats everything I put in the tank. He was a great addition, thanks!!

-Chris

 

[Falco]

Update:

I lost the Pink Margin Fairy Wrasse today

The Carpenter's is showing signs of the white crap which I think is velvet but its really hard for me to diagnose. I am not sure what meds would be a good idea to add but I was thinking of copper if he starts to look worse.

-Chris

 

[NYReef]

I put a deposit on a Scott's fairy wrasse at a local shop and I needed a couple of days as I was going away. Lucky for me I did because the wrasse had the exact same symptoms you describe, milky white patches and heavy breathing. The fish had gone from a beautiful active fish to lying on the bottom with faded colors and white film. None of the stores other fish had these symptoms, the tanks are all on a central system. The owner thought is was a parasite that took the opportunity as stress of transport weakened the fish.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Sorry about the loss of the Margin fairy.

 

[heuerfan]

So sorry Chris, it was a very nice fish. Don't worry you will find another one, in fact there are two available here.
http://www.phishybusiness.com/fish.php?offset=18

 

[Falco]

Thanks guys

I am hoping to get my Carpenters to pull through and then I will be getting my Labouti and Potter wrasses:bagfish:

Steven - I might get another Pink Margin down the road as they are such awsome looking fish!

-Chris

 

[loismustdie]

looks like velvet. Around the gills and mouth are usually first effected. Next are the fins then it covers the body. I have the NSF velvet meds, but I'm in Brooklyn, you're in Westchester and personally, I don't think this stuff is anywhere near worth what the price tag comands.

 

[Falco]

looks like velvet. Around the gills and mouth are usually first effected. Next are the fins then it covers the body. I have the NSF velvet meds, but I'm in Brooklyn, you're in Westchester and personally, I don't think this stuff is anywhere near worth what the price tag comands.

Thanks! I have done some research and it turns out that copper is one of the best bets for velvet so I am going to treat the QT with copper. Only problem is I am leaving Thursday morning for vacation so I am going to leave the tank as is right now and hope he can last until Sunday so I can start the copper.

-Chris