Sick Rabbitfish?

k9BOLX · 02-15-2007, 07:36 AM

I bought this rabbitfish yesterday, i didnt notice in the store but when I got him back home his eyes were really cloudy. I read that this could simply be due to diet, and it would clear up. However this morning, his has white specs on his fins!!! I sure hope this isnt ICK. My madarin sometimes gets white specs that his slime coat picks up from the rock. I have attached a picture and woudl be greatful for any help. I feel sick as I didnt quarantine this guy because again i read they were hardy and very diesease resistant, and because of their slime coat. He seems well otherwise. He is trying to buddy up with my naso and yellow tangs. He eating flake and mysis, although he hasnt partaken in the veggie clip yet.
One other point. He has started to scoop air at the surface, ive not seen any fish do this before. Seems like lack of O2 but every other fish seems fine. I have a euro-reef skimmer that is fed fresh air from outside, so i dont think I have low O2 (although ive never measured it) all other params normal (nitrate=0, nitrite=0, total Am=.1ppm, pH=8.19, temp=steady 78, salinity=1.025)
thanks everyone.

amcarrig · 02-15-2007, 07:57 AM

The eye looks normal to me for your rabbitfish. Is the eye cloudy or does it have more of an iridescent look to it?

k9BOLX · 02-15-2007, 08:14 AM

amcarrig, it seems cloudy. unlike any of my other fish. would you be worried about the white dots??
Do you still have your rabbitfish? does he have cloudy eyes?
I was surprised that one of my sebae clowns took a chunk out of his tail!!!!
she is a big bully also grabs my mandarin occasionally.

k9BOLX · 02-15-2007, 08:18 AM

here is another picture

amcarrig · 02-15-2007, 08:32 AM

I have the same rabbitfish that you do and it's eyes look exactly the same as yours. The eyes are not "cloudy" but they do have a slight incandescent coating on them, if that makes any sense? As far as I know, it's perfectly normal for a rabbitfish's eye to look like that. I've had the fish for about 3 months and it's healthy as a horse. It's also normal for a fish to sometimes get a few spots when it's introduced to a tank. Unless the fish becomes completely covered with spots, I wouldn't concern myself with it too much.

k9BOLX · 02-15-2007, 08:37 AM

i have a couple of spare tanks, do you think i should take him out or would that just keep the stress going? or just keep an eye on him.
thanks

amcarrig · 02-15-2007, 08:38 AM

Pulling the fish out now will only stress it out more so I would leave it in the tank and keep an eye on it

Breed · 02-15-2007, 02:57 PM

In some initial stages after transportation and when the fish is adjusting to captive life, they can be covered in white spots due to the stress. I have seen shipments of fish from the Carribean come to Australia and the French Angels and Cuban Hogfish have had white spots and stuff over them, however I closely watched it shed off over a few days to a week. It is only due to stress from shipments/etc IMO but i would watch it closely.

k9BOLX · 02-15-2007, 06:37 PM

anybody got any ideas on the air scooping??

k9BOLX · 02-16-2007, 07:02 AM

amcarrig, looks like this guy is a Siganus virgatus. Which is funny because i thought i was buying a Siganus magnificus, and that he was a juvenile.