Sick Royal Gramma - need help

[5xevy]

He has been trying to scratch his itch on a piece of live rock.

Ahhh, I didn't realize he was scratching himself. It still could be bacterial or fungal, but with the scratching, the spot on him, and the fact that it's a new fish, it could be ich.

I would go with what Drobes said. It's hard to recommend something when it's not fully known what it is. Can you get pictures of his white spot?

People believe the garlic's useful because it attracts a lot of fish to eat and continue eating while also boosting their immune system to help fight off certain diseases more easily.

If it is ich then I definitely can't recommend treating your main tank. A separate set-up will allow you to dose medicine and use hyposalinity if you choose, without affecting your inverts.

If it is bacterial/fungal, I would still recommend the Melafix- preferably in another set-up, but it's still okay for your main tank and will not harm your inverts.

http://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=472

There are a lot of threads on here where others have used Melafix with success (including myself).

I'm worried it might be ich though, which would be a completely different course of action.

Either way, I would still feed with garlic/extract, even on a normal basis. Can you describe the spot if you can't get a picture?

 

[Catpicklesdog]

Another way to try and catch him is to put some food in a bag in the water and see if he swims in.

I take no credit for this piece advice I learnt it from Germanman!!!:read:

 

[DarthFred6996]

What about Maracyn Two?

 

[Catpicklesdog]

What about Maracyn Two?

I've not heard of it/used it but don't know if this is any help on identifying the problem http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103492

Again I take no credit 5xevy posted this info (I do alot of reading):read:

 

[musho3210]

I have a question that could turn into an answer, wouldnt a UVS kill the ich while not harming the corals and stuff? If it can then a UVS would be the answer to your problem.

 

[drobes]

Proper doses of UV from a sterelizer will kill the parasite in its water bourne form. But will not rid ich that has already contaminated a fish host.

 

[musho3210]

does freshwater ich and saltwater ich work similarly, like attach to host, detatch, stick to gravel, burst with thousand new ones, then attach back to a host?

 

[drobes]

generally yes, marine ich can survive 2-3 weeks without a fish host.

 

[5xevy]

UVs are a somewhat controversial subject in this hobby. Some people swear by them while others think they kill TOO much ("good" bacteria, copepods, etc.). A lot depends on the size and gph of the unit.

As far as ich is concerned, it can only kill them during the free-swimming stage as I think someone above pointed out. There is no guarantee that it will kill all of it and is not considered a true cure for ich. Again, a lot depends on the kind and size of the brand one has. Also, some people leave it on all the time and some people turn it on intermittently if they see symptoms of ich. Some leave it on nights and turn it off in the day. Others refuse to have one at all. Some people think it improves their water quality and purchase one for that specific reason.

There's a lot of information out there on them. Personally, I have one on each of my larger SW tanks and one on my freshwater tank...and I leave them on 24/7 (considering changing that though, not sure yet ).

 

[musho3210]

im againts 24/7 UVS use, maybe use only during algae blooms and/or free swimming diseases but i agree about killing too much stuff. Its actually good to have a tiny tiny tiny tiny bit of bad stuff to help make the fishes immune system stronger by keeping it at work. I think in fighting diseases a slow filter rate is best.