HELP PLEASE sick fairy wrasse

[moksha]

My Scotts fairy has lost its color and is not eating. hes been hanging in there for about 3 days now, laying at the bottom, in an upright position. He seems aware of what is going on, but he hasn't eaten in 3 days His fins are somewhat torn, but it doesnt look to be caused by abuse, even though my angel sometimes chases him. I am not sure what fin-rot is, but could this be it and if so, what can i use to treat? I have a cleaner shrimp, a few hermit crabs and a damsel and clown in a 75 gallon. All my readings for ammonia nitrite and nitrate are fine, my salinity was a bit high, but I diluted it to 1.022 over a few hours time, it was at 1.025. Was that too fast?
Thanks in advance, I'd hate to lose an 80.00 fish, and he is one of my favorites.

 

[moksha]

Thanks for the advice Terry, here is a little more info. I performed a 15 gallon change in a 75 gallon tank. Around that same timeframe, I fed them silversides for the first time, my wrasse was the only one to eat one, the food seemed kinda big, could he be constipated? Anyways, he seemed fine the day after the water-change, but the following 2 days he was hiding in his hideout, normally he stays near the top of the tank. That brought me to the day I wrote this original post. That was 2 days ago. He now has his color back, but continues to stay near the bottom, not eating. Now that I think about it, this is the first time I used this new tupperware 30 gallon container, before I had kept separate 5 gallon buckets. I washed the container thoroughly before I mixed the water. Could that have anything to do with it? My other fish and clean up crew are fine, he is the only one ill. He is quite a fighter, its been a few days since he's been sick.
Please help!!

 

[moksha]

Thanks Terry,
I started using Melafix the other day. He's got his color back, but still not active or eating. I am hoping he can pull out of it, I didnt think he would last this long to be honest. This guy is a fighter, and I need to make sure I can do everything I can to give him the best shot of survival. I am using Melafix based off advise from the LFS, it looks like it treats his symptoms, torn fins. Is there anything I can do to entice him to eat? I am worried he will just waste away, which is sad.
Thanks!

 

[gobylover]

If I were you I would do a search on Melafix.I bought it and was warned.I had already given a dose,and the next morning,my Hawk fish was dead.He was perfectly fine the day before.I used it to treat my scooter blenny and betta for tatered fins and a wound.My hermit crab got ahold of them.After the advice of a few people here,I went a different aproach and used Stress coat.It did the job well for the open wound.My betta has had tattered fins since,but they have healed well on there own.Just a word of heed before you end up with a loss.

 

[moksha]

Well,
I bought a 10 gal QT tank and added copper on the advise from the LFS, which I am not sure if that is good or bad.
Terry,
Now that he is in QT, what would you suggest? He has his color back but is still not even interested in food, and just stays in the corner. I've added copper already, and need to buy a copper test kit to measure what i have in there. Any other suggestions?
A FW dip may help?

 

[moksha]

Terry,
It isn't like that at all, I should know better than to trust a LFS over sharks on this board. I didn't get the indication that you really recommended a FW dip, you mentioned it may help to dislodge stuck food, but I didnt get the idea it was vital to do that, I don't know if that is the problem or not. What if it has nothing to do with stuck food, I was unsure of any stress or damage it would cause this sick fish. I really need guidance from this board, you see what I have at the LFS(bad advice). I will use the Maracyn-Two at the double dose per your advise, should I remove the copper first?

 

[moksha]

Can anyone help? Terry? Sorry if I made you upset by not following your advise, but I still need help. Think of the fish if you are not willing to help me out.

 

[moksha]

Terry,
Got it. I have started lowering the salinity, it is now around 1.016, I will complete the drop to 1.009 today(2 days). After this happens, what do I do? Should i keep it at 1.009 until i am finished treating with Marycn 2, then put him back into the main tank. would that cause any type of shock, or should I gradually increase back to the proper salinity?
By the way, the initial drop in salinity seems to have helped already, he is more active, but not eating, at least not while I have watched.

 

[moksha]

I tried to do the FW dip, but was unable to get the PH right, so I was unable to. I am going to try again today, i'll let you know. I've been adding a small amount of Stresscoat daily, but that is about it as far as vitamins go. should I start adding Zoe immediately? I'll go ahead and purchase some and wait on your response. Should i continue to treat with Maracyn 2 at the double dose, or back to the normal dose?
I really do appreciate your help on this, it is frustrating to see my most expensive fish ill, but he sure is a fighter, this all started around Sept 5th or so.

 

[moksha]

I did the dip yesterday, kept him in there for about 3.5 minutes then i put him back in the Q tank. It seems to have helped, but now this morning he looks kinda of patchy, it's like his color is faded only in certain areas around his head. The salinity is now at 1.009. I've been trying to feed him daily, and trying to remove all the uneaten(which is all of it) food particles out, and also been doing daily 50% water changes. I am kinda worried about a recycle, i did put some bio balls into the Q tank for bacteria, but was it enough? I did put some Zoe in there also for vitamins. Any thing else I can do?

 

[moksha]

The fish did not deficate while in the FW dip, but he acted as previously described by others as a fish that was getting relief from whatever it is making him sick. I was wondering if I should do another dip, and what is the max time allowed, should I give him 5 minutes or so next time? I haven't tried live foods yet because he seems so disinterested in everything. It does look like he maybe coming around, I saw him swimming around the tank earlier this evening, but it seems his equilibrium is still off a bit. He's not breathing rapidly,(never was this whole time of being ill), which is good(I think). I think I will try live foods tomorrow, the Zoe should hopefully give him some vitamin intake, as should the M2. I'll keep you posted! I am gonna ask a question in a new post, is it safe to use both marycn and marycn 2 at the same time?
Thanks again

 

[moksha]

Terry,
He is starting to look semi-healthy now, even though he won't eat still. It looks like he wants to stay on the bottom of the tank, but if he stays still, he rises, he is contantly trying to just stay on the bottom. Is this a sign for further alarm, some sort of boyancy issue? It is also day 5 of the M2 treatment, what should I do? retreat after a water change?
Thanks!

 

[moksha]

Did I stump you Terry? The fish is still alive, he is so strong willed it is unbelievable. I am using Marcyn now to see if that does anything to help. I still have hyposalinity working, 1.009. Is there anything else I can try?

 

[moksha]

It's a sad day, I had to end my buddy's misery. I came home the other day from school on Saturday, and he was upside down, not able to get his equilibrium. He tried swimming, but was doing that upside-down. I tried yet another FW dip(third) and it didn't seem to do anything, so my only option was to put him in the freezer. He never took a crap during the dip, but I think he did in the Q tank. It was sad, I wish I knew what happened to him. I can say it was a good learning experience, too bad it cost me 80 bucks for the fish and about that in meds. Thanks for the help Terry, but I think him not eating was ultimately his demise.