I have a bonded pair of purple firefish. First one became lethargic and started laying on the bottom. Breathing slow, but appetite suppressed and red gill coloration looking a bit more noticeable through the gill plates. She got better after a few days, started rising to eat. The male, "Tink," was acting normally, but he spent days laying beside the female in very close proximity, bodies touching. After a few days, they separated and now both are laying on the bottom with their flags up straight, responsive if you harass them a lot. They move a short distance and lay back down on the bottom. Neither has eaten for the last 3 days.
As no one else in the tank (80 gallons system) and I have 60 Watts of UV sterilization on it, I am thinking gill flukes were transmitted from one to the other because they lay in such close proximity. What I am wondering is, has anyone else seen this sort of behavior? Can I safely treat the tank with praziquantel/something else? I have no feather dusters, etc. I have zoanthids, snails, pederson's cleaner shrimps and one peacock shrimp and a few Berghia nudis. Should I pull a tank sample and pull the Firefish out to treat them in isolation? How long should I leave them in the treatment tank? I also have a tank (10 gallons) full of phytoplankton I was using, but have no more need for. I could drain and refill and treat them there.
Any other input is very welcome. Thanks ahead of time for your help.
As no one else in the tank (80 gallons system) and I have 60 Watts of UV sterilization on it, I am thinking gill flukes were transmitted from one to the other because they lay in such close proximity. What I am wondering is, has anyone else seen this sort of behavior? Can I safely treat the tank with praziquantel/something else? I have no feather dusters, etc. I have zoanthids, snails, pederson's cleaner shrimps and one peacock shrimp and a few Berghia nudis. Should I pull a tank sample and pull the Firefish out to treat them in isolation? How long should I leave them in the treatment tank? I also have a tank (10 gallons) full of phytoplankton I was using, but have no more need for. I could drain and refill and treat them there.
Any other input is very welcome. Thanks ahead of time for your help.
