What could this be on my favorite fish?

[blennybabe]

I have a red lipped blenny. I just got home from camp (im a counselor...) and i noticed a whitish film or something on the right side, right behind his gills. his tail doesnt look good either sort of has small whitish patches. I know this isnt ich, but what could it be? a bacterial infection? i havent ever dealt with fish illness and i dont know what to do. Water conditions are near perfect (everything zero and 5 nitrates) I added a royal gramma about two weeks ago. he was quarantined and is perfectally healthy. the blenny acts normal. I have a cleaner shrimp too and he works over the blenny every day. i dont know what to do! PLease tell me what this is and how i can fix it. This is my favorite fish...
ps, if it helps i will try to get a picture here for you guys. thanks

 

[beth]

It likely is a bacterial infection, but if you can get a pic up, that would be helpful.
Can you remove the fish to a hospital tank?

 

[blennybabe]

It will be very hard to remove him. I have a ton of live rock and he hides really well. Ill try though.
what would i need in the hospital tank? I could run to the store right away and treat him tonight.

 

[beth]

Can you get that pic up?? I'd like to see it.

 

[blennybabe]

Here is the best picture that I could get.

 

[blennybabe]

Here is the best picture that I could get.

 

[beth]

The diseased area looks like it is actually distorting the fish tissue as well, not just white slime, is that so?
I'm going to ask Terry and Ed to look at this this for opinion.

 

[blennybabe]

I think you might be right. I looked closer after the picture was posted and it does indeed look like his skin is dying or something. Please help. I need to save this fish.
thanks

 

[beth]

What about the deteriorated tissue area? It almost looks like it is wasting. But, the antibiotic treatment would be my suggestion as well. M2 mean Maracyn Two for saltwater fish. The dose is DOUBLE for 5 days. Be sure to get for SW fish as this product contain the additional benefits of a Vit B complex. With antibiotics I would recommend that you also do a 2 hour carbon filtration just before the next dose. If you can't do this, then do a 10% water change...or even BOTH. Water quality in these situations is of the utmost importance. Be sure to vacuum up debris off the tank floor daily or as you see debris.
Terry or Ed, what is the brand name product that contains the nitrofurazone? I believe the dose for using this antibiotic is 1x only, is that correct? What is the dose? Remember, no tank lights when using antibiotics [except during feeding]. Offer the fish the best food that you can. I actually use a fresh seafood mix with my fish, with seaweed selects. If you can soak the food in Zoe or Zoecon that would be a plus. If the fish is not eating well, try some live brine, again putting Zoe or Zoecon in the water where the shrimp are contained about an hr before feeding.

 

[blennybabe]

Would original maracyn work? I didnt know which one to use and we had some opened in the back (I work at a pet store). I grabbed 4 tablets that arent expired. I can get more on monday. Can you give me any more advice? wish me luck with catching him. He has a ton of hiding places....

 

[blennybabe]

He looks better and worse. His right side has gotten less white, but it is showing up on the other side too. it looks like the tissue is disrupted somehow. healso is showing some white in his pelvic fins and tail. the spot by his gills looks better, but the fact that it is on both sides now rules out that he simply burned himself or something.
I just caught him. it took about 15 minutes and a lot of sweat. i ended up dissembling the LR. I just picked up the rock he was hiding in and held it over the bucket. I changed about 15 gallons out of the qt (20 gallon) and replaced it with water from the display tank. I also left him in the rock he was hiding in. the lights are off and Im waiting to see what you have to say about the maracyn.
Also, should I start hypo?

 

[blennybabe]

Oh, i forgot to add that he was eating (tryed to lure him into the net) and he was breathing normaly before I chased him around. He changed color when I put him in the bucket while readying the qt. He does this at night. he looks like a leopard.

 

[beth]

What Maracyn are you talking about? Maracyn Two is what is needed, not Marcyn. Wait til the morning to begin hypo...there's been enough disruptions today. Hopefully, Terry will come on a give an opinion.
Remember, Maracyn Two for SW Fish, not freshwater.
A new hospital will be very high maintenance so you will need to check for water quality daily. If you don't have ammonia and nitrite tests, get those as well.

 

[blennybabe]

The tank has already cycled from the LR i cured in it last month. i have had the filter running and the heater on since then. I didnt want to have to re-cycle it when i decided to use it again. I will get the M2 tomorrow. and start doing hypo. ill try to get a picture up tomorrow.

 

[blennybabe]

I started the M2 today. you said to double the dose and the package said to use two tablets the first day and then one for the next four days. does that mean that i should be dosing four right now and two for the next four days? He is still eating. its hard to see how hes doing cause he will only come out under the actinic or just the room lights. the water is so yellow that it is hard to tell if he is looking better.

 

[beth]

What's the status on this?

 

[blennybabe]

He looks much better. i cant get him to hold still long enough for a picture, but there is no more white that i can see. he is swimming and eating well. since i have the lights off, he is alwats camouflaged so its hard to see what the tissue looks like. Hell be done with treatment on friday. Ill post back then and let you know. Thanks for all your help.

 

[beth]

You can turn the lights on long enough to see how he looks Also, don't rush to return the fish to the main tank. He should be completely curred and well for at leat 5-7 days before going back to main tank.
Are you doing hyposalinity?? I would recommend doing that if you can.