help! pearlscale butterfly fish rubbing on liverock/sand?

[mylifeismyown66]

I got a pearlscale sunday. Yesterday I noticed it was missing a little of its color around its head and realized it keeps rubbing against my liverock and the sand, but I dont see anything that looks like ich. Does anyone know what is wrong? Should I medicate with something? Maybe a cleaner shrimp will help?

[mylifeismyown66]

also a note, I just put in a cleaner shrimp and instantly the butterfly is hovering on it nonstop.

[leebca]

Unfortunately, cleaner shrimp and cleaner fishes don't 'cure' marine fish of parasites that bloom in the aquarium.

The instinct of the fish to seek help is what you're witnessing. Based upon what you've indicated, there was no quarantine of this fish. Is it eating? Was it eating in your aquarium? Was it eating before you acquired it, do you know?

There is obviously at least a gill irritant at work. It can be Marine Ich, a chemical burn (water quality issue), damage from acclimation, and about a few dozen others.

These Butterflyfishes aren't exactly the toughest of their family and I suspect with all the stress now on the fish, it will likely not make it unless you can 'accidentally' treat the fish.

Since the quarantine step was missed, along with the FW dip, that is what I would do. I would move the fish to a hospital/quarantine tank. Being alone right now is what's best for that fish. On the way to the QT the fish should be given a FW dip according to this procedure: Freshwater Dip for Marine Fishes EXCEPT shorten the time in the bath to 10 minutes max.

[mylifeismyown66]

I had them show me that it ate at the store, and I have seen it eating here. It looked perfectly fine at the store too, I just noticed the rubbing 2 days ago. I have been testing my water quality daily and all of my levels have been fine. I didnt quarantine the fish because the fish in my tank are still the hearty test molly and damsel that I used in the earlier stages of my tank. I am going to try a fresh dip today.