What the heck happened to my trigger?

[seanoman]

The area does not look raised really, other than the flaking skin (or what looks like skin). It doesn't look bumpy really, just more flaky and the discolored area isn't bumpy. It might be an infection caused from a wound, 4 or 5 days ago, we noticed that it had a little scrape in it's nose, so we night be getting somewhere here.

As for food...what haven't we tried. So far, we have tried frozen mysis, krill, and brine shrimp. Also, we have tried clams on a half shell, formula 2 flake, nori and cyclopeeze. We have been soaking the frozen food in garlic as well. I have been dosing the tank with Vitamin C too to try and give the fish a boost. I'm kinda at my wits end with this fish, something should be appealing to eat by now you'd think.
I will try to get better pics when I get home but the location of the tank that it's in, makes it awkward to get a good shot. I also have 2 different threads going on RC right now, but no one on there seems to be much help yet.

[michika]

Your description is very good. I'm leaning towards infection, and maybe you want to treat with an antibiotic. Certain fungal infections on fish tend to me more raised and fluffy in appearance which isn't what you are describing in the least.

Do you know what the previous owner fed it? If I were you I'd add in that extra airstone, and probably start treatment with an antibiotic. In the mean time I'd maybe try clams on the half shell, nori on stick (my triggers in the past loved this), maybe live ghost shrimp. Its also possible that the fish just isn't hungry because of the infection.

Your doing all the right things, and I really hope this pulls through for you.

This is from liveaquaria about fungal infections in marine fish; "Most fungal infections have a characteristic white fluffy appearance and are commonly known as 'cotton wool disease.' As the fungal infections worsen, they may take on a gray or even red appearance." Since this only happened in about a week I'm doubting its fungal. (link)

[seanoman]

thanks for the encouragement michika! It does sound like an infection more and more now. Is there a particular type of antibiotic that would be best for treating it? I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that it's still ok when we get home and we can start treating it. I will keep trying with the clams and nori like you suggested and add an airstone and see how it goes. Also, the fish is currently being housed in our salt water mixing tank, which is a 75 gallon tank but is only about half full right now. I have an empty 10 gallon that I could quickly set up, would that be horribly small for it? I don't really want to contaminate that tank if I don't have too.

[muck]

Ive gotten stubborn Triggers to eat by dangling a silverside on fishing line in the tank. Poke a hole in the body just above the tail and tread the fish line through and dangle in the tank just like Nori. Worth a try...

[VFX]

Sean I have some Paraguard at home if you want to come over & get it.

I'll be around after 7.30pm

Maybe combine it with some antibiotic treatments & see if things get better.

.

[seanoman]

michika- the trigger's a little more active now that it's in a quiet tank but it doesn't swim around too much, it kinda just stays in one area of the tank, but it's not hiding. Do you think that it would be possible to treat it in that tank and then do a REALLY thorough clean of it after the treatment is done? I'd still be a little leary about doing it though.

muck-thanks for the tip, I will try the clams again first and if all else fails will try the silverside idea.

VFX- thanks for the offer, but I think I will just go and quickly pick some up after work so at least I have it on hand.

[seanoman]

got home from work, and there's good news and bad news. The good news is that it's still alive and the bad news is that it doesn't look any better. I plugged an airstone in right away and we are off to get some meds for it and some fresh clams to hopefully entice it....wish me luck!

Has anyone ever used a large rubbermaid container as a QT tank?? We have a pretty big one at home that I was thinking of using...do you think that this'll work?

[michika]

Glad your trigger is still around and swimming!

I'd worry that moving your trigger to the rubbermaid would be stressful to the trigger, but other then that I don't have any objections. I use a large rubbermaid as a sump right now and its done me well for some time.

[VFX]

I mix my new salt water in a Rubbermaid... should be fine but like Catherine says, moving him may be extra stress he doesn't need right now.

Good luck with him.

Hope he makes it.

.