Sick Trigger (Xanthichthys auromarginatus) – 01/17/07
Greetings,
<<Hello!>>
First, I want to thank you for the work your doing helping us make insightful decisions.
<<Most welcome...truly a pleasure to share>>
I have a Blue Jaw Trigger, Xanthichthys auromarginatus,
<<Me too!>>
that has not been well for two weeks; it is very immobile, propping himself up on or over something continually.
<<Hmm, it's not unusual for this fish to occasionally stop roaming/peer out at the world from its favorite cave...but it shouldn't be lying around all the time>>
He has been eating, but only when fed directly and does not seek food.
<<Mmm, should be active/interested at feeding time>>
A couple of days ago he began spitting back out the large plankton, so I made a batch of food in the blender of: shrimp, oyster, clam, Selco, formula II, and daphnia; it is eating, but again only when basting directly toward his mouth.  The fish’s colour is about a six out of ten; there is yellow outlining the tips of the fins with a dark band on the body at the fin's base.
<<The yellow margin on the fins is naturally occurring on a male X. auromarginatus...but the dark band is possibly a sign if distress>>
Its distinctive dots and blue jaw are still clear.
<<Good>>
I QT’d the fish.  He was housed with a Sebae and its GSM since May (8 months).  The tank is too small; it is a 70-gal bow front and has four feet in front and back of the rockwork to swim with two or three nice caves underneath in which he'd sleep.  Many sites put the limits for this fish at 75 gal, and I knew Bob recommends at least 100 gal.
<<Yes...or larger>>
Occasionally needing to keep the money maker happy I ordered the fish.  There are no signs of trauma, or tumor.  Are these symptoms of small tank syndrome or something recognizable/treatable?
<<If the fish has not suffered some physical trauma, then this sounds to me like an internal protozoan infection (lethargy is a telling symptom here).  These are difficult to treat, and often by the time the symptoms manifest it is too late.  The fact the fish is still eating is a good sign and I suggest you try some foods post-haste made for treating internal parasites (New Life Spectrum has such a food).>>
My wife is a veterinarian having many medications/antibiotics available.
<<Then perhaps try soaking some thawed frozen food (mysis shrimp, chopped krill) with Metronidazole.  See here for information on dosages, cautions, etc. : http://www.wetwebmedia.com/metranidazole.htm >>
Lastly, I’ve read to moderate length about hyposalinity, and while probably not a cure, will reducing salinity ease fishes’ metabolic demands?
<<Though it can be of use in some situations (dips/baths), I am not a fan of long-term hyposalinity for the “stress” it places upon the fishes.  They have evolved to live within certain saline parameters, changing those parameters requires them to make adjustments/work harder to maintain their osmotic balance >>
I maintain a salinity of 35ppt.
<<Excellent...do keep it there>>
Thank you,
Robert
<<Good luck Robert...and please let me know how the treatment goes.  Eric Russell>>

Trigger Update... lost Sargassum  -11/27/2007
Good evening Bob & Crew,
<Mike>
Snowing here now, so feel good if you're diving in Hawaii,
<Was ayer... very nice... about 82F., clear... Neener, neener, neeeener>
or anyplace warm.
Alas, the Sargassum did not make it. Man, that's a few this year! Up until now I could have said that either another fish killed them, or I did, but I "think" this one was different. I could say I lost him, but in hind sight, I'm not sure I ever really had him. He was already slightly pinched in at the LFS, so I watched him for over a week. He was still active, alert, eating and seemed stable enough (although still pinched). I thought I would just have to fatten him up at home. No such luck and another lesson learned - "Buy ones that are already fat"!! (hmmm... where have I read that before?)
R.I.P. Sergeant Gas-em, and my nine year old son is no longer impressed with my skills.
<A hard, but necessary lesson>
After many hours (and hours... and hours - before, during and after) of reading WWM articles and FAQ's, at least this time I can't come up with a list of "would have, could have and should have" things that I missed (other than buying a fish that was thin, of course - everyone wants to be Mother Theresa in this hobby it seems- even guys).
<Mmm, yes. And we are neither infallible, nor immortal either>
The only thing I could come up with at all was if I had, perhaps, treated for the "possibility" of an internal parasite while in QT. I've often read that you should not medicate when you are not certain what you are trying to treat.
<Both approaches have adherents. There are VERY large facilities that treat prophylactically...>
There was no sign of weight loss while in QT and when he started to go south on me in the display tank, he went down in a hurry. By the time I really knew there was something wrong, I would have needed some dynamite and a crowbar to get him out of a hole in a rock at the bottom of the tank. I did manage to get him out the next day when he was lying on the substrate (when I e-mailed you - thank you for your response) but he was gone by the next morning. Is there such a thing as treating for internal parasites during QT "just in case"?
<Yes>
Is this ever a preventive measure?
<Yes>
Other than a freshwater dip, is there anything else that could be / should be considered as routine during the QT stage?
<Some folks use anti-protozoals prophylactically... some add Vermifuges... there are other protocols... but I'd rather not post them in this public address... for "fear" of encouraging others too much/inadvertently in pursuing such...>
Another reason I'm asking is I have a beautiful 2" Flame Angel (brilliant colour and not at all thin or with any signs of problems) in one QT tank with LR and sand - and another really beautiful specimen of a Copperband Butterfly (not quite 4" - spotless and as smooth as silk - alert and active) in another tank with LR and sand (after I read hours of material on the challenges of keeping this particular Butterfly prior to purchasing - I actually added a rock with Aiptasia on it to his QT tank as an experiment - now how crazy does that one sound?
<Not at all... are food for this species... used often enough as "chemical filters"...>
- another experiment of mine like QTing some fish with a cleaner shrimp to help distress them - hey, that one seemed to work - we'll see about this one). Just wanted to know if there is anything else I should / could be doing for these fish while in QT? I'd try soft music if I thought it would help.
<Might... at least calm you>
One last point, if I may. The Flame was a bit of a no-brainer choice in fish (mind you, only a no-brainer because I have your book and burn the midnight oil on WWM), but the amount of information available on your site regarding selection, compatibility, behaviour, disease, the feeding challenges etc., etc., "specific" to a Copperband Butterfly was phenomenal (forgive me but I have to admit to liking Anthony's trick of feeding the clam and then stuffing the empty shell after with prepared food the best - that is a great trick).
<Is an oldie, but goodie... Pre-dates Antoine, myself even!>
I have yet to find another resource (and I do look) that comes even close to what WWM has to offer. You just can't buy that volume of information on a single type of fish (well... you could read WWM and then donate through Amazon I suppose - ok, ok I'll make another donation - I'm probably due again anyway).
<Heeee! Thanks>
Just in case you need any more reminders that you are all doing wonders for this hobby, I originally just wanted a small freshwater tank with a few floaters and a couple of bubbles - then I read Bob's book and found WWM - and now I'm up to four established tanks (including QT) with Tangs, Angels, Puffers, Clowns, Hawks, Butterflies, Corals, and a host of other living things that I have to check my notes just to remember their names, not to mention enough equipment to land one of my tanks on the moon. I have referred quite a few people to your site and they are equally impressed - and strangely enough, some of their tanks are getting bigger too?!
<Madness, madness, I call it madness...>
It's not always easy (or successful), but it's always worth it - and you all help a great deal.
Thanks again, eh.
<Thanks again... you hoser!>
Mike from Canada
<BobF, in Kona>