Advice needed with my blue throat trigger

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skatin707

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 11, 2013
192
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Delaware
It appears he has parasites affecting his port side pectoral fin, this began sometime in the last 24 - 36 hours. I've never had to deal with disease, so I'm coming for guidance. He is extremely healthy, eats like a monster, swims in front of my powerhead for exercise, and never shies away from my hands. That being said, I want to treat him so he retains his lovely behavior.

My LFS has given me some Kent Marine Expert Series Rx P - Parasite treatment for marine fish and inverts. I would rather use the dip method to avoid harming my starfish (as described on the back of the bottle).

What is your advice? Is the dip method safe? Will this hurt the fish at all? Will this medication help him?

I probably seem nuts, but I love this fish. I'm moving to Hawaii later this year and he is coming with me...not kidding.

Here was my best attempt at a photo:

20130331_164250_zps757d5918.jpg


Just finished a water test:
- Ammonia - 0
- Nitrites - 0
- Nitrates - 0
- PH -8.2
- Salinity -1.024
- Temperature -77.4 F
 
Forgot to add, and it wont let me edit again for some reason.

90 gal tank
Tank mates are:
Foxface Lo
Coral Beauty
Black/White ocellaris clowns (2x)
Ocellaris clowns (2x)
Lawnmower/Algae blenny
Misc snails/crabs

Recent changes or additions?

Started supplementing my tank with seachem calcium and trace elements to prepare for coral expansion.
Addition of Algae blenny last week, fortunately the algae blenny isn't showing signs of illness.
 
Try the freshwater bath, use a black bucket it lowers the stress the fish suffers and it also allows visible determination as to whether anything has actually dropped off your trigger. Let me know how he goes.
 
I wish I had seen this earlier. I'm going to try this later today. My tank has changed a bit. The stock list includes:

Blue throat stil
Niger trigger
Harlequin Tusk (had a DOA from the LFS, new one coming in Tuesday)
Foxface
Coral Beauty
Algae Blenny
Blue spot jawfish
Gold sleeper head goby

Recent changes?

Changed from reef crystals (orange container) to the purple container. I have used mayge 10 gallons worth, but the fish did act different. I plan on switching back to the reef crystals immediately. LFS has them for the same price.

I am going to try a freshwater bath for both triggers. My growing concern is possible ich. I've removed most inverts from the tank, but the medicine I have is "invert safe". No corals or anemones, though.

I'll attempt each treatment with time between to reduce stress and possible damage to their immune system.

I just want to help this guy, and now the niger is looking rough. Could be tank debris as both are, otherwise, acting normal.
 
Hey mate, I am from Australia what roughly does the tanks dimensions work out to? Inch's and feet are fine. Triggers are generally hardy and the fact you are battling problems is concerning. Maybe, slow down the stocking. Even try another LFS. Regardless of the outcome best thing to do is build a profile with your LFS, that way the more experienced staff know you and understand your tank. If the aquarium is half decent they should be able to remember your name, tank size, type (reef, fish only, predator), they should know what they've sold you. If they can't do that, try only speaking to the manager or owner (usually the most knowledgable). I have worked in Aquariums in Australia for over 4 1/2 years and I also try my best to remember regulars names, and tanks what I have sold them and always get an update on new tank mates etc. That's the only way to keep a happy relationship between clients. It also allows a build up of trust. My advice would be, slow down stocking, allow everything to settle in. A predator tank, is always going to end badly if you don't allow natural behaviour to take place, i.e. territory being established. If you don't allow for that, fish become stressed. White spot is a result of stress. Your triggers are naturally going to want a territory. Along with your Harlequin tusk. find out where they caught the harlequin if you can. Australian one's are extremely hardy. But also increased aggression is noticed. I am worried for some of your smaller fish when your larger predators get bigger. The Niger Trigger, although regarded as reef safe, can be nasty to smaller fish as it ages, along with the blue throat. Just remember reef safe, coral safe, and smaller fish safe are all factors. An example would be, in my reef tank, I have a fuzzy dwarf lion fish who is approximately the size of 50 cent coin here in Australia. He is 100% coral safe, atm he is 100% invert safe, (until he gets bigger where he will be 100% invert destructive) and atm he is also 100% small fish safe (basically because he is tiny) however, he doesn't have tank mates that are ever going to be small enough to fit into his mouth. This is the same concept for your blue throat trigger. Whether you have coral or not, he wont touch it, inverts he can (I have seen it with my own eyes a pair of coral banded shrimp destroyed in seconds), smaller fish (he can, I have seen another blue throat, create a grave yard in a 6x2x2 fish tank). These things all come down to fish personality. Its the same concept with dwarf angels, some are regarded as reef safe with caution. Flame angels get a bad name, along with bi colour, yet coral beauty seem to be regarded as reef safe. I have seen all three live in reefs and all 3 destroy them. I am worried that something in your tank is stressing your new arrivals. I don't mean to give you a lecture, I am just trying to help you. I assume you know what your doing, your selection of tank mates is ok, I wouldn't say don't do it, after all, everyone tells me not to put dwarf lions in my reef and I ignore them. I am a strong believer in pushing the boundaries for aquariums, I just think it should be done in a responsible manner. If you would rather I don't comment on your post I will leave it at that. I hope my advice helps you out :)
 
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