Fin Rot?

[karlaz]

My niger trigger has what I think might be fin rot. At first I thought that it was just from a fight, but I don't really see any aggression between it and the other fish in the tank. His tail has lost its fin and its top and bottom fins don't look good. He seems to be eating good, but lays on his side in some algae most of the time, unless I go up to the tank and then he swims around. Breathing seems to be ok.
I have a 58g reef tank. The other fish are a picasso trigger and 2 domino's. I have noticed that the larger domino's fins are looking a little rough and the smaller domino has white under it's gills. The white looks like the skin has changed color, not like something is on it. The picasso looks fine.
Do you think this is fin rot and if so how do you treat it? Thanks!

 

[beth]

What are your water readings, including nitrates and phosphates. What are you feeding the fish? And how often?

 

[karlaz]

I don't have the readings with me, but they were OK. I do remember the nitrates and nitrites and they were 0. I feed them the bio-encapsulted brine, as well as a mixture of fresh seafood that I get and chop up and freeze. I have tried greens but they won't touch them, although both triggers nip at the algae in the tank. I also add liquid vitamins to the food.
They get fed twice a day. Usually first thing in the morning and then at night. I tried just once a day, but that didn't seems to be enough. I have several crabs and snails as well as anenomes who also eat what ever the fish don't get.

 

[beth]

How long has the fin problem been going on? How big is this fish? How long have you had him? Trigger fish can get pretty big, and your tank tank is smallish. Have you really looked at your fish tank [when the fish don't see you] to see if aggression is going on?
Do you have a separate hospital tank? That is the only way to treat him.

 

[karlaz]

I have had him about 4 months and he is about 2 1/2 - 3 inches long. There is also a lot of structure for them to hide in, and they also seem to have their own hang-outs. Yes, I have been able to watch the tank without the fish being aware that I am there. Except at feeding time, they really aren't around each other alot. I am not home during the day, but in the evening and on weekends I do keep an eye on them. I suppose the picasso or domino could be bothering him, but I would think they would do it all the time, so that I would notice it.
I did have a hospital tank set up, but it started leaking about a month ago after the tank got cracked so I had to take it down. Since I hadn't had to use it for illness as the tank has been healthy for so long, I hadn't gotten another set up. Guess that will teach me!
Do you think that they could be picking on each other? Are there other things to look for with fin rot so that I could know for sure?

 

[beth]

Well, if it were a bacterial infection, you could usally id it because the fins a frayed and ragged, rather than pieces bitten off. With your fish, however, it sounds like all his fins are down to the flesh. The only way of really know is isolation.

 

[karlaz]

Thanks for your help, Beth. Do you think that putting him in one of those small containers that you can use in a tank to isolate something would stress it more than leaving it alone?
If it is a bacterial infection, what do you recommend to treat it?

 

[fishkid1000]

It sounds like fungus to me. I am with beth put him in a hospital tank.