RIP dominant anthias

[mandarin11]

Bad news everyone. Today my dominant male anthias moved on to fish heaven. He wasn't showing any signs of distress until very early this morning when I noticed that he had some pale patches while he slept. When the lights came on a few hours later and everyone else woke up and was swimming around he didn't show. I fed cyclopzeeze like I always do, and still no anthias. I found him perched on the sand behind a rock. He was never much of a swimmer but he was breathing pretty rapidly so I zoomed to the fish store, bought some immunovital to help him out (moving him to a quarantine would have killed him for sure), some garlic to soak the food in, and some live brine to tempt him. I also did a 30% water change (the water wasn't bad, but just in case).

Unfortunately whatever got him kills quick. He looked better after I added the immunovital, but an hour later he moved (flopped cuz he couldn't really swim) and sat on another rock. Two minutes later he was dead. I've never seen something kill this quick. He was moving and then, boom, dead. What's up with that?

I've tried thinking of everything I could. The water quality is fine, he was well fed, no one picked on him, not even the sub-dominant male anthias I have. Absolutely non outward signs of distress except blotchiness not even 12 hours before he went, and rapid breathing about 3 hours before he went. Any ideas?

My other anthias is healthy as a horse. At least there is a silver lining here. My sub-dominant was the bigger of the two. Now that the dominant male is gone I'm hoping that the sub-dominant will resume his conversion into a full fledged dominant male.

Below: RIP buddy


Both anthias together (The one in front is the survivor, who I hope will become my new dominant male)

[Bruce]

Wow that is too bad. That has happened to me one or two times. Its always a terrible feeling. I always think that I missed something but the truth is, sometimes there is nothing you can do about it. For all we know it was some kind of super fish killing virus.

Karma for your loss.

Edit: cant add karma for some reason...will try later

[mandarin11]

Thanks Bruce.

Has any body ever experienced something this quick before? I'm at a loss as to what got him.

[pharmrjohn]

Nothing that quick. I had a small 4 stripe that seemed to have a similar malady. From the sound of it, your little guy might have had a late stage mycobacterium problem (TB). If that was the case, there would have been nothing you could have done at this stage. You have to catch it early. Sorry dude. Karma for you.

[Godbert]

how long had you had him? what are your water params? oh and sorry for the loss, karma

[mandarin11]

I've had both fish for over 2 months. Params are fine:

ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 10 (this was before the 30% water change so lower now)
pH 8.3