Royal Gramma is acting funny

[adam12]

My Royal Gramma is acting sick. she's sticking below a live rock that she usually doesnt pay any attention to. Everything else in the tank is fine. its a ten gallon "beginners" tank. all the test check out ok.

on a side note, all the fish develop little white spots at nite. but they always go away by morning after i turn the light off.

is there anything about the royal gramma that is different? the clown fish is fine and the starfish seesm ok. what could be the problem?

[winnona15]

it may be a nocturnal form of ich. try mixing in some ginger in with its food and it should be fine

[winnona15]

just guessing on the nocturnal ich.

[jman785]

It does sound like a case of Ich. If you do a search for Ich treatment here on the forums, you'll find some valuable information. Besure to be careful with copper based medications when treating for Ich, as copper is harmful to inverts.

[NaH2O]

adam - do the "white spots" come after the lights are out? Do they resemble a parasite at all and how many per fish would you guess? If the lights come on, does the "white spot" (potential parasite) jump off? Pills, Parasites, Predators: Isopods in the Reef Aquarium (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-05/rs/index.htm). Take a look at the pics in the article - I don't think these are that prevalant, but it is something to rule out. Any chance of catching a pic of the fish with the white spot?

[adam12]

i might can get that pic. one sec

[adam12]

lets see about that pic here. hmm.. the filesize is too big..

[adam12]

lets try this one.

check out the spots around the face and eyes.

also, she appeared to cough when i was taking the picture. and she wont move from that spot unless bothered.

[NaH2O]

Good pic. Do you have a quarantine/hospital tank or rubbermaid tub/other container to treat the fish in?

Here is a five part series on Ich. You may find the information helpful.

News from the Warfront with Cryptocaryon irritans (http://www.marineaquariumadvice.com/aquarium_fish_1.html) - Part 1 of 5
News from the Warfront with Cryptocaryon irritans (http://www.marineaquariumadvice.com/aquarium_fish_2.html) - Part 2 of 5
News from the Warfront with Cryptocaryon irritans (http://www.marineaquariumadvice.com/aquarium_fish_3.html) - Part 3 of 5
News from the Warfront with Cryptocaryon irritans (http://www.marineaquariumadvice.com/aquarium_fish_4.html) - Part 4 of 5
News from the Warfront with Cryptocaryon irritans (http://www.marineaquariumadvice.com/aquarium_fish_5.html) - Part 5 of 5

Here are a couple of other articles:

Treatment of Choice (http://www.marineaquariumadvice.com/Treatment-of-Choice.htm) - Part 1
Treatment of Choice (http://www.marineaquariumadvice.com/Treatment-of-Choice-2.htm) - Part 2

[Doctor_Reef]

Good articles...!!

[adam12]

:(

[Sugar Magnolia]

:(
Uh oh...does that mean the gramma is no more?

[adam12]

:rip:

[adam12]

We got the ich off with a freshwater dip. The gramma didnt come around after about a day. then the ich (bacteria or whatver) returned and she died that nite.

i think i should stick to corals until the tank is aged.

[Sugar Magnolia]

That is a wise idea. It takes at least a month for all the ich eggs, larvae and adult parasites to die off in the tank as long as there is no fish for them to feed on.

Sorry about your loss. :(