Potential Disease on Chromis? (1 Viewer)

[mbauma]

Hi Guys, any idea what this might be? It appeared on 3 of my chromis and I've lost 2.

Or, are they beating each other up and these are fighting scars?

Thanks,

Michael

 

[Nickz]

That looks more like wounds, a disease should show signs(white area or something) before the scales/skin go missing. Or possibly wounded and then infection set in?

 

[ChristopherKriens]

That is most likely Uronema marinum. It's extremely common in Chromis. It usually starts as a faint vertical red sore somewhere between the pectoral and caudal fin and develops into a open wound. There are some treatments, Formalin has worked best for me as a preventative but can't be used at that stage. It is fairly contagious, but not all fish seem to be susceptible; mostly planktivores.

 

[mbauma]

That is most likely Uronema marinum. It's extremely common in Chromis. It usually starts as a faint vertical red sore somewhere between the pectoral and caudal fin and develops into a open wound. There are some treatments, Formalin has worked best for me as a preventative but can't be used at that stage. It is fairly contagious, but not all fish seem to be susceptible; mostly planktivores.

Ok, thank you very much. I have 3 healthy chromis left, plus this guy. Maybe I should catch him and take him out? Is it harmful to wrasse, tangs, anthias or cardinals?

 

[ChristopherKriens]

Ok, thank you very much. I have 3 healthy chromis left, plus this guy. Maybe I should catch him and take him out? Is it harmful to wrasse, tangs, anthias or cardinals?

The guy in the photo won't make it. If you have a hospital or quarantine you can set up, you could try and catch any sick ones and isolate them. I have seen anthias get it, but tangs and wrasses are probably fine. If your other fish are healthy and have been in your system awhile, then you probably don't have anything to worry about; it's very opportunistic and most of the time a healthy fish won't be effected at all.

 

[mbauma]

THanks, everyone else looks fine. I took out one who was dying and the last one who had symptoms died overnight and took out the body this morning. Everyone else looks great including the 3 remaining chromis.

 

[mbauma]

That is most likely Uronema marinum. It's extremely common in Chromis. It usually starts as a faint vertical red sore somewhere between the pectoral and caudal fin and develops into a open wound. There are some treatments, Formalin has worked best for me as a preventative but can't be used at that stage. It is fairly contagious, but not all fish seem to be susceptible; mostly planktivores.

It just took out one of my cardinals I think

Hopefully, it ends there and doesn't wipe me out.

 

[mbauma]

That is most likely Uronema marinum. It's extremely common in Chromis. It usually starts as a faint vertical red sore somewhere between the pectoral and caudal fin and develops into a open wound. There are some treatments, Formalin has worked best for me as a preventative but can't be used at that stage. It is fairly contagious, but not all fish seem to be susceptible; mostly planktivores.

So I have 1 chromis left and it took out 2 of my cardinals as well. My anthias and tangs all seem fine, as does my leapard wrasse. Is there any risk long term, or introducing new fish?

 

[lynn52]

Unfortunately the Uronema parasite does not require a fish host to survive the way velvet or ich parasites do, so it is very difficult to rid your system of it once it is in there. The fish can be treated but the parasite remains in the tank.

 

[mbauma]

I just lost my leapard wrasse today. Am i totally screwed and am I at risk of losing everything?

 

[mbauma]

So after posting to RC, it appears I basically have to tear down my tank, completely sanitize it, get rid of my sand, rock, corals and inverts.

Treat the fish with Phosphate or formulin and start over with all new rock, sand etc. Man, this sucks, I just spent close to 3k on new lights, sump and rock and now I'm going to lose everything. I hate killing fish.
:help:

 

[ChristopherKriens]

Is it possible that it's something else or are you observing the same red sores on these other fish?

 

[mbauma]

The 5 chromis and 2 cardinals I lost all had the same red wounds. The last one died 2 to 3 weeks ago and nothing has died since until my leapard wrasse yesterday. The wrasse did not have any visible symptoms at all.

The rest of my fish all look great and are eating and swimming fine.