Potters Angel help!

I am trying something that in the long run I probably shouldn't try but I want a challenge. Not sure if it will work out for 2 reasons.

First the story.

I had 2 RBTA's since my one had split week before last. I was intending on getting rid of the initial Nem. So today I decided to round up all my unwanted's and head to the LFS for trade in. Upon arrival the owner told me that he didn't really want the Nems as he had 2 already. I didn't want to bring them back home. So we were talking a bit and he walked over to a tank with the Potters Angel in it. The Angel was struggleing from being picked on by a large Naso Tang. So the owner proceeded to catch the fish to place it in another tank. I saw the fish was battered pretty badly and asked how much, he said not for sale due to condition. I said how bout we do a strait across trade for the nems, he said deal plus threw in a Fairy Wrasse!!!

So I bring this Angel home knowing it might not make it and even if it does it might not be a good choice for my reef tank. But like I said I like a challenge.

So here I sit with a fish with almost no tail left. I have placed him in my 12g quarantine tank with very little flow in it. All I have in there for flow is 2 Koralia Nano's. I am wondering if I should reduce the flow even more? The fish is really having troubles swimming. Other than most of his tail missing he looks really healthy, and fat. I am thinking of getting a air pump going in there for water circulation and removing the Koralia's? I acclimated the fish in Bio Coat Marine by Marineland Labs, supposed to help with the slime coat.

Any other suggestions on what I can do?

Horrible pic but you can see the tail missing.

rot will be the worst case, iodine or pharmaceuticals?,its just ripe for infection

All I have is the Bio Coat Marine, Melafix, and some TLF ReVive Coral Cleaner. Would any of these 3 work?

melafix? 50/50 chance, uh reduce salinity? raise temperature?

I disagree Steve, lower the temp, don't raise it.Bacterial infections are the reason I have to keep my seahorses at low temps. It's weird though, don't you raise the temp to prevent infection in freshwater?

my understanding was to raise temps to increase the metabolic rate and get the immune system pumping, I think the infections ponies get are usually non injury related? you could well be right Blake (thats why I put a ? mark at the end lol)

Well I just turned the powerheads off because the fish is lying on the bottom of the tank breathing very heavily from trying to swim to much.

ugh, black out the tank and let it rest a while?

worth a try

They are my favorite fish in the Ocean

I would not cause it additional stress.. If it is accepting food, feed it. It is most likely missing its tail b/c it was eaten off by the naso not due to some bacterial or other disease... (Hense why they wanted it out of that tank...)

If you are willing, spend 30 bucks, get some garlic, Vit C, some garlic and some vita chem add it all to the food and let it soak, and feed as much as it will eat and I am pretty sure it will start to do a turn around

Other thing we use at the store is Prozi-pro and it seems to be a lot less stress than a lot of all the other treatments. We just do a 5 minute dip in Freshwater and a cap full of the prozipro. Just adjust the pH and temp and if it seems to be overstressed just take it out prematurely. (I have noticed that the dwarf angels don't take to medications as well as other fish like tangs so I would be more conservative on the med side and try to do it through food )

Either way, good luck and keep us updated! I love potters angels! poor little fishy.

why do people try angels lol, always a problem

Originally Posted by high tide

my understanding was to raise temps to increase the metabolic rate and get the immune system pumping, I think the infections ponies get are usually non injury related? you could well be right Blake (thats why I put a ? mark at the end lol)

That makes sense Steve. I'm not too sure either...

Yeah I almost didn't do it but the Potters are so nice looking.

Ok Skinz
This will work mate

Get some betadine and a cotton bud , put the bud into the betadine , then get the fish into a net, out of the of the water , and paste it onto the tail ONLY "or the infected area, do not get any of it in it's eyes.

I agree with darkening the tank, add lots of hidey holes for it too.

Don't these guys have pretty difficult diets (sponge, cnidarians, etc)?

if you can't find Betadine HERE is a list of all Povidone-Iodines lolPovidone-Iodine drugs and health products

Thanks guys, I just looked and I don't think it will make it through the night.

At least you gave him a chance.

so? whats going on now?

How is it this morning? If it still around just leave it be all day. Keep the tank blacked out and just feed it.