Fish Plague

[CoryDude]

It's been a bad week to be a fish in my tank. So far I've lost a kole tang (two actually), a flame hawk, and today my beloved yellow blenny. All showed the same symptoms; labored breathing, loss of color, slime coat coming off their bodies, not eating, and very lethargic.

All except for the blenny went down within 1-2 days of showing the above symptoms. So far, the solar fairy, watchman goby, and fiji damsel show none of the above signs and are eating heartily. Of course I won't be adding any new fish for at least a couple of months.

From what I've been reading this week, it seems like there is some kind of bacterial infection that's causing this. The last fish I introduced was the fiji damsel and that was two weeks ago.

Does anyone have any similar experience or insight into something like this? Of course, I should be using a qt tank, but I didn't. Would a UV sterlizer be something beneficial that I should add to the filtration system. Thanks for any idea and info!

[Europhyllia]

Are you going to Lorraine's Open House? I can bring StressGuard and ParaGuard for you to try (just give it back to me the next time are TOTM-ing.
If not you might want to pick some up at AD...

[CoryDude]

Yeah, I had a bottle that I got from my last Hiatt order that they threw in for free. The only problem is that everytime I add it to the tank, the skimmer goes crazy for 2-3 days.

I'm really curious about using a UV sterlizer. Maybe I should start a new thread about that.

[Europhyllia]

read up on flow rates if you are going to use a sterilizer. Different flow rates affect different things.

What a sucky week!

[Troy Valentine]

Yup, thats a pretty crummy week Cory:(

I've got the 60 corner available, if you would like me to house your fish while you get this worked out.

[CoryDude]

As usual Troy, you floor me with your kindness.

Of the 3 that are left, none of them show any signs or problems. Very active, and nipping at everything in the tank. I've been feeding a little extra with the foods fortified with vitimin C. At this point, I'll just keep my fingers crossed and keep up with regular water changes. Like us, I think a clean environment and good eating can keep them healthy.

[BSJF]

Sorry to hear about this Cory. I hate losing fish.

You might consider a large WC. Also, I think my fish do better with the UV Sterilizer. I also strongly believe in beefing up the nutrition like you are doing. I would expand that beyond Vitamin C. VitaChem, Zoe and/or garlic guard are my favorites. I have also had good luck adding Marine Max (Texas Tropical had it in stock when I was there last). What you describe is very similar to how Bluespots often perish. By the time they are sick, it is too late.

[Richard]

A UV won't help bacterial infections but I don't think it's a bacterial infection. Most all the bacterial infections are caused by opportunistic pathogens. Meaning they really don't affect fish until they are stressed heavily (i.e. shipping, bad water quality, etc.). So it doesn't make sense that your fish would succumb so quickly to a bacterial infection. My "guess" from what you described would be uronema or brooklynella. Here's some info...
http://www.ultimatereef.com/articles/brooklynella/

A uv wouldn't hurt but I would also do freshwater baths on any fish you have left that look "iffy". Just don't wait till the last second to do a fw bath because once the fish is too far gone it won't survive the bath. I used to give all new fish a 10-15 minute fw bath before they went in the tank. Great way to keep the really nasty bugs out of your system.

[CoryDude]

Brooklynella was my first guess, but I thought it was a clownfish only disease. The labored breathing and the quickness of the decline was very similar to when I lost an ocellaris pair. I did a fw water dip on the blenny, but as you said Richard, it was way too late by then. Thanks for advice dude.

[ramsey]

Brooklynella was my first guess, but I thought it was a clownfish only disease. The labored breathing and the quickness of the decline was very similar to when I lost an ocellaris pair. I did a fw water dip on the blenny, but as you said Richard, it was way too late by then. Thanks for advice dude.

Pretty sure this is what I lost my clown to a few weeks ago. Came on quick and took him out quick. A very sad day. Sorry for your losses.