Established Bluethroat Trigger suddenly won’t eat and hides

[Andrew Stevens]

Hello everyone,

I have an established male bluethroat trigger that suddenly stopped eating and hides. It’s been a couple of days of this. I noticed that his butthole looks larger than normal, wondering if it’s internal parasites? I haven’t added any new fish for months, just coral.

I don’t have a quarantine tank, considering adding Prazipro and increasing oxygen?

Thanks,

Andrew

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello everyone,

I have an established male bluethroat trigger that suddenly stopped eating and hides. It’s been a couple of days of this. I noticed that his butthole looks larger than normal, wondering if it’s internal parasites? I haven’t added any new fish for months, just coral.

I don’t have a quarantine tank, considering adding Prazipro and increasing oxygen?

Thanks,

Andrew

Please post pics and even video of that area under white light intensity- No blue
Can be constipation, rectal prolapse and other issue but need to confirm with images

 

[Andrew Stevens]

Hello there,

Unfortunately I can’t take a photo under white light right now. I’m on Kessil lights and my wife deleted the WIFI network it was on. I have a newborn and need time to contact Kessil to see if I lost my light schedule.

If it’s ok, I can describe what’s going on. His butt is enlarged and gaping but everything is still on the inside. His butt is white in color.

If this doesn’t work for an explanation, I’m going to do a large water change today and use Prazipro in my reef. The trigger has eaten a little, so I’m thinking of using focus and kanaplex/metro if it’s advised.

Thank you,

Andrew

 

[Andrew Stevens]

I managed to get this photo of the triggerfish’s butt. Any idea what’s going on?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I managed to get this photo of the triggerfish’s butt. Any idea what’s going on?

The not eating is a serious symptom, and it cannot go on too long without a really bad outcome.

I can see the swelling at its anus, but that is most likely NOT due to tapeworms, and those, as well as skin/gill flukes are the only thing that praziquantel really works for.

One common issue in fish is that there are some "normal" gut protozoans that are found in most every fish. These normally do not cause disease (just like our gut bacteria), but in some cases, they build in numbers and can cause disease. One treatment for this is metronidazole in the food at 1% by weight. Trouble is, if the fish isn't eating, that won't work.

How long have you had this trigger?
Can you post a video of it in the tank? (Youtube links work best).

Jay

 

[Andrew Stevens]

Hello Jay,

Sorry for the slow reply. My bluethroat trigger started eating again, I really think a big part of the problem for him was I changed powerhead covers on my MP40’s to a wide flow. He’s always been a sensitive fish (giant baby in fact), but has calmed down since the change in flow.

I looked at him this morning and his anal vent has some redness to it. I’m really thinking about binding metro with focus to his frozen food. It does make me nervous though, considering metro is not reef safe and I absolutely love our inverts.

To answer your questions:

1. We’ve had this trigger for 2 years.
2. I can post a video in a bit. Stay tuned

My only issue is the dosing requirements for the metro in the food. I have a newborn son and staying up with him for most of the night has fried my brain. He’s about 6 inches long, which says 127 to 141 grams in your chart (using your 2 separate trigger references). Should I therefore use 1% which means 1.3-1.4 grams of metro? And is this split over separate feedings or all at one time. Sorry, brain fried.

Thank you,

Andrew

 

[Andrew Stevens]

I’ll post the video tomorrow, I haven’t changed the lights out yet and the video will only have blue light. Thanks

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Hello Jay,

Sorry for the slow reply. My bluethroat trigger started eating again, I really think a big part of the problem for him was I changed powerhead covers on my MP40’s to a wide flow. He’s always been a sensitive fish (giant baby in fact), but has calmed down since the change in flow.

I looked at him this morning and his anal vent has some redness to it. I’m really thinking about binding metro with focus to his frozen food. It does make me nervous though, considering metro is not reef safe and I absolutely love our inverts.

To answer your questions:

1. We’ve had this trigger for 2 years.
2. I can post a video in a bit. Stay tuned

My only issue is the dosing requirements for the metro in the food. I have a newborn son and staying up with him for most of the night has fried my brain. He’s about 6 inches long, which says 127 to 141 grams in your chart (using your 2 separate trigger references). Should I therefore use 1% which means 1.3-1.4 grams of metro? And is this split over separate feedings or all at one time. Sorry, brain fried.

Thank you,

Andrew

Sorry, it wasn’t clear, the weight of the fish is only needed for drugs that are dosed on body weight. Metronidazole can be dosed as a percentage in food - 1% metro by total weight of the food.

 

[Andrew Stevens]

Ahh that makes more sense, thank you!