Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Dear Bob,
I really appreciate your help and your super fast response in my last two letters. Talking about disease started me to think about the flame angelfish sold in Hong Kong or all the other marine fish sold here for that matter.
Unfortunately, it is quite fair to say that the marine fish trade in HK is appalling to say the least. It is run by a mere 20 or so shops in whole of HK. Traders are ignorant about their profession and they couldn't care less about the welfare of their merchandise - fish. Every poor little fish that are in their tanks or bags to be sold are either diseased or dying in front of your eyes. The fresh arrivals will become infected with whatever is in their tanks. Nobody seems to care, not even the buyers, and the business carries on as if there is nothing wrong with this situation.
It is a rare sight to see a healthy fish with vibrant colours still living in the tank after 2 weeks in the shop. So, it was a rare chance that I found this beautiful Flame Angel in apparent 'perfect health'. (Apparently it had arrived 24 hours earlier.) It had all the qualities you have described in your website about what a healthy fish would look like. Most importantly, the batch she was with did look quite healthy too. Anyway, she developed a whitish appearance to her mouth after about 4 weeks in my tank. (Sorry I didn't mention this to you earlier.) It appeared to have come from her over-grazing and over-pecking at the live rocks (if that is ever possible). I monitored her condition closely, and it did not get any worse but I can still see the whitish appearance around her lips. It does not seem to bother her, and there is no spreading of this whitishness.
I did check through the disease section quite carefully, but nothing seems to match her condition. It could be a bacterial infection of some kind, but nothing drastic like the Ick or Oodinium, Cotton mouth etc. She has been with me for 8 weeks now, and she is becoming little bolder, and slightly more aggressive in pecking at the live rocks. (I hope she is finding something to eat.) She is still moving around the tank normally with no apparent illness or poisoning except that she seems a lot thinner than when I first got her. (If I let her go will she survive in the Pacific Ocean? What would you do if you were in my situation?)
Thank you again. Sorry for such a long letter.
Kelvin Chu
Hong Kong
Hi Kevin,
Was just corresponding with someone who recently visited Hong Kong and said the same thing about the conditions in the local shops. In fact, I've been there three times a while back and the conditions were the same! In fact, there were bags of fish hanging from ropes strung along the fronts of shops or along the edges of the street!
I wish you had noted this condition in your previous letters, as this white fungus-like growth on the mouth is probably Lymphocystis. A quite new remedy discussed in my forthcoming book the "Marine Fish Health Handbook" is a test where a certain amount of a food-grade hydrogen peroxide solution at a 35% concentration was used to control undesirable algae, (with a good deal of success). It just happened to cure a Koran Angel of Lymphocystis. Nevertheless, Lymphocystis usually goes away without any special treatments and is generally not harmful unless it clogs the gills or mouth areas. I'm encouraged that the fish is acting somewhat normal.
There is a product called Melafix, an Aquarium Pharmaceuticals product, which is made from an extract of the Melaleuca tree, which has holistic antibacterial properties. If the problem is bacteria caused, this product can be used as directed even in aquaria with inverts. However, if the fish is experiencing Mycobacteriosis (Tuberculosis/Wasting Away Disease), which does cause the wasting away symptom, its one of the few fish diseases that can be contracted by humans. In humans, if the bacteria should enter a cut or wound, a lesion may develop, particularly in those individuals who are either immuno-compromised or depressed, or whose resistance has been lowered for some other reason. This open sore will not heal and can remain for long periods of time no matter what treatment is applied to it. Therefore, if you as a fish keeper should notice a cut that does not heal or worsens after a week, consider going to the doctor. Suggest to your doctor that you have marine fish and you suspect Mycobacteriosis could be the problem.
Furthermore, if your fish begins to lose body mass and becomes emaciated, with a characteristic bulge on its lateral areas just behind the pectoral fins, then I'm sure this is the problem. And if this problem 'does' developed, the entire tank will have to disinfected and all its life destroyed.
And as for putting the fish back in the ocean, do not do that! For now, see where it goes in your aquarium, and in the meantime, be watchful for any signs of wasting away disease. You're in a wait and see situation. I would also try some medicated flake food, especially one containing Spirulina if it can be found in your area.
Hope this helps,
Bob
