[8inthechase]

About three weeks ago we purchased a Racoon Butterfly. Over the last week I had noticed very small white dots on him when I turned the light on in the morning and he would periodicaly brush up on the rocks. After a little while the spots would be gone. Yesterday I introduced a cleaner shrimp. Now today he was very shy towards everyone and as the day went on he would float verticaly head towards the top in the middle of the tank. In the last hour he drasticaly went down hill and died. I don't understand what happended to him could somebody please help me so I don't make the same misstake again.

[zhenya]

It is hard to say why exactly he died, however, small white dots on the fish usually related to the presence of the parasite, Cryptocaryion irritans ( Marine Ich). During the time when you had him in your tank was fish eating at all?
On how to properly select healthy fish for your aquarium check this article by Steven Pro
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-02/ft/index.php
And this are two articles about Marine Ich by the same author:
Part1: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-08/sp/index.php

Part2: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...ture/index.php

[8inthechase]

Yes, he was eating, very good up until today

[Poseidon]

UFD.

Unexplained Fish Death

I think it happens to all of us, I lost my Threadfin (Auriga) Butterfly last week, it was eating well, swimming around great, had no visible parasites or lesions. I just chalk it up to UFD!

[acer]

I have lost two copperbanded for no apparent reason. The last one was eating atips too. Darn it!! Both lasted 4-6 weeks. 3 weeks in isolation for no reason as neither died from any observible parasite. Will perform atopsy ( microscopic exam) tomarrow. Begining to wonder if it is chemical catch techniques.

[rayjay]

Over the years, I have found butterflys to be extremely susceptible to gill parasites that eventually coat the gills and the fish suffocates.
The only thing I really notice that is consistant with the affected fish is the "head shaking" like the fish is trying to shake something off the head.
If not treated with copper in time, the fish usually doesn't recover.
Hyposalinity does not work with whatever the parasite is.