Trying to figure out what is wrong with new emperor

[jkeithh1969]

Received the new emperor on Saturday and it's pectoral fin was in pretty bad shape but it also appears to have something else wrong with it (maybe a parasite) I couldn't tell as it really didn't look exactly like any of the disease pictures i found when searching. I attached a pic

[jkeithh1969]

Another pic

[leebca]

Very good photos!!

I am not convinced it is a microbial/parasite concern yet. It does look like a significant injury. The fish should be in quarantine (I hope).

I'd recommend making sure it is getting the proper foods and nutrition, including immune boosters: Fish Immune Boosters

I would also suggest that you provide it some help restoring its mucous coating. Either of these two products have worked well for me and others: Pro Tech Coat Marine and StressGuard. Obtain either and follow the bottle's directions.

Keep the fish quiet and reduce the specific gravity to about 1.018. Obtain and have on hand some antibiotics just in case this is bacterial or if the fish gets infected from this condition. I suggest both Maracyn One for Saltwater fishes and Maracyn Two for Saltwater fishes.

The key now to seeing if it is microbial or physical injury will be the negative change in the condition. Look for any negative change and photograph the fish again.

[jkeithh1969]

I was concerned with that patch of "dot looking" area just to the left of the fin in the picture. It is in quarantine. My old 27 gallon long. I am feeding it several frozen foods (SF brand Angel and Butterfly, SF brand Reef Plankton, and Hikari Mega Marine Algae). I also soak the cube in a drop or two of Zoecon (i always thaw the cubes in some tank water in a cup instead of just throwing the frozen cube in). I think the Zoecon is what got it started eating. Now it eats like a pig.

[leebca]

Remember that Zoecon is a fat supplement, not a vitamin supplement. It isn't so much a particular food that 'gets the fish to eat.' The first time a captive wild fish eats is more like when the fish is ready to eat, it will. You'll find as you read testimonials on different Internet sites how this or that food got a fish to eat. But the fact is, the fish ate when it settled down enough to eat. It's a matter of acclimation and reduced stress, not so much the choice in food. Still, what it takes is a fair choice.

I saw those spots. I'm still not convinced they are living or microbial until you see a negative change in their appearance. The reason I believe this is more an injury than pathogen is the condition of the fin, and the location of the spots in relation to the condition of the fin -- like the fish was hit or scraped in that area.

Read the food label for the ingredients list. Don't go too much by the name of the food. I favor frozen foods over other types of food preparations, but still some of those frozen foods contain mostly mysis or brine shrimp and neither is the best choice for feeding marine fishes. You want foods that contain foods from the sea and whole foods. For this omnivore Angel you want a mix of greens and meaty products.

[jkeithh1969]

The reef plankton only lists Red Calanus plankton as an ingredient.
Angel and Butterfly has brine shrimp, mysis, krill, mussel, squid, spinach, sponge, spirulina, menhaden oil, and then all the vitamin supplements.
Mega Marine algae lists Sea algae, sea urchin, ocen plankton, krill, shrimp, squid, sea worms, spirulina, carrot, algae extract, cod-liver oil and then all of the vitamin supplements. I knew I should not have listened to my LFS guy when he talked me into buying the Zoecon.

[jkeithh1969]

Now I have a poop question. I will attach a pic

[leebca]

You want your fish to have a fat supplement and Zoecon is good for that. But the Zoecon is not a vitamin supplement, so you need to find a vitamin supplement. Have you gone through and read closely: Feeding Marine Fish and Fish Nutrition? That post will explain about the supplements AND the things to look for in the ingredients of prepared foods AND how often what foods are recommended for 21 feedings.

Based upon the ingredients listed, the Angel and Butterflyfish formula isn't that nutritious and really should only be used about 3 or less times for every 21 feedings.

Although the Mega Marine Algae contains the right ingredients (except for the carrots -- not too many marine fishes raiding carrot farms these days, I hear), why call it '. . .Algae' when clearly a significant portion of the formula are meats? This is an okay omnivore diet, but again, not to be used more than about 7 out of 21 feedings. I find the name not matching the ingredient list irritating, and won't buy foods with misleading names (only because I'm stubborn that way )

The fecal matter is not a good sign. Time to be concerned about internal parasites and to do more reading. Read this: Strange Excrement from Fish -or- How to be a Super Pooper Snooper and start the appropriate treatment.

This fish was not in very good shape and is one I would not have picked out of an LFS system. After all your effort and expense, it probably would have been better to get a healthy one from an LFS? This is beginning to show signs of being a mail-order fish that others didn't want.

[jkeithh1969]

I couldn't get either of my LFS to get an emperor angel in for me. The one plus I can say is that I did get my money back for this fish. They were very nice about it.

[jkeithh1969]

I have started a Prazi treatment. I had some on hand as I always have to deworm my discus when I get them in, regardless of them being wild caught or domestically bred.