Pompano Problems

[arh1]

The Rockport Aquarium has a 15 inch Atlantic pompano that has developed a disease we cannot diagnose. It presents with brown-black spots on the head and fins and scattered lumps on the body. The fish swims in circles, sometimes tilted to one side. Eyes are clear, normal looking, breathing normal, and it feeds when presented with food. The problem has apparently not been transmitted to other scaled fish in the tank. We treated with Melafix/Pimafix and got remission, but it is back. We hate to lose this guy.

Pictures are available. Suggestions will be appreciated.

VVorndam@yahoo.com

[Mr Cob]

Can you post pictures? Also, what is it eating? Is it a species specific tank or community? How many other Pompanos?

Sounds like the lumps are tumors of some sort which I believe are not treatable. Not sure about the spots...what do the bumps look like in color? If they are white and red then they are most likely Aeromonas or Columnaris and can be treated.

I'm just throwing things out there to try to help in some way...I really have no idea what you have. Pics would help so that we can all research.

[arh1]

Thanks for the reply. This is the only pompano in a 1000 gal tank, along with six other gulf fish, snappers, tripletail, sea robin, a toad fish and one giant hermit crab. The standard food is frozen shrimp and Mazuri fish meal gel. See the attached pictures, finally learned how to reduce size.

arh1

[JimD]

Could be some form of metazoan parasite...
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/aquariums/1815

[dmweise]

It just looks like he's getting nipped at to me.

[Mr Cob]

Update...?

[arh1]

The problem subsequently spread to a red snapper (photo) and a mangrove snapper. Two contacts suggested the problem was a bacterial infection secondary to nutritional deficiency. The pomp always looked thin, but the snapper was growing (got most of the food). We were feeding mostly frozen shrimp. We medicated the whole tank with Melafix and started feeding more of other things like Mazuri meal and mullet. Situation seems to have stabilized. Fingers crossed.