Emergency! PLEASE help me with my Bluespot Jawfish!

corrado007 · 04-23-2008, 08:35 PM

I just got home and found my BlueSpot Jawfish just outside of his burrow. He is breathing heavily and perched in the V of a rock. He appears to have what looks like a bunch of bristle worm bristles all over his head. They are translucent ~1/16" long needle looking things. You can see what I'm talking about in the picture below. He's been in my tank since Friday the 18th and has been fine until now. He also ate a ton of pellets on Sunday the 20th.

Do these look like bristle worm bristles to anyone else? Has anyone ever heard of such a thing as a bristle worm attack or accidental encounter with a fish?
If so, should I try to remove him and remove the bristles with tweezers?

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

Also, here's a video of the labored breathing

tims · 04-23-2008, 08:41 PM

i woudl set up a QT tank.
as far as what they are, i have no idea.
what are the parameters of the tank now? the breathing could be a few different things

corrado007 · 04-23-2008, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tims

i woudl set up a QT tank.
as far as what they are, i have no idea.
what are the parameters of the tank now? the breathing could be a few different things

A QT tank would be a good idea, I know it's bad that I don't have one and we'll skip the excuses for now. I have an empty 10 gal tank in the garage, if I throw a heater and a power head in there with water from my 90gal will that suffice? I also have a very small filter that I could add but what about beneficial bacteria? Is there a way to set up a QT on such short notice?
Thanks

tims · 04-23-2008, 08:48 PM

yes and no,
if something is off withthe 90 gallons water that will not help. but if you can make some fresh adn maybe some of the 90's that should due. But check the parameters onthe 90's water first. try to keepthe QT tank as close ot temp withthe 90 if you can.

corrado007 · 04-23-2008, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tims

yes and no,
if something is off withthe 90 gallons water that will not help. but if you can make some fresh adn maybe some of the 90's that should due. But check the parameters onthe 90's water first. try to keepthe QT tank as close ot temp withthe 90 if you can.

I will check the parameters but my guess is that everything is fine there. All of my other fish and corals are doing wonderfully, no signs of any issues.

I'm almost positive this is due to a tangle with a bristle worm.

Thanks.

corrado007 · 04-23-2008, 09:26 PM

Thank you for your help but I'm afraid he didn't make it.

JY13131 · 04-23-2008, 09:31 PM

Oh that is so sad!

Do they tangle with bristle worms??

corrado007 · 04-23-2008, 09:51 PM

It is sad. I'm not sure that they do typically mess with them. If it wasn't a bristle worm it may have been a fungal infection as someone on another forum suggested but I don't think a fungal infection would have affected him quite so quickly. I'm really not sure.

dobejazz · 04-23-2008, 09:59 PM

I'm so sorry for your loss

tims · 04-24-2008, 05:29 AM

ouch, sorry to read the ending this morning.

VWD · 04-24-2008, 06:56 AM

Sorry to hear you lost Him

Loverotties · 04-24-2008, 07:06 AM

So sorry!

carnavor · 05-11-2008, 06:28 PM

bluespot jawfish do not do well in captivity, and almost all die of bacterial infection.

islandgirl · 05-12-2008, 12:14 AM

Jawfish do not usually die of bacterial infection. Due to their thick slime coat, burrowing habits, and shedding of slime coat(and all unwelcomed guests attached) when stressed, most diseases are prevented. But, if your fish was infected, my best guess would be marine velvet. There is a variation of it that looks something like what is on the jawfish. This parasite can be treated with copper, but because Jawfish are sensitive to this metal, the medication can be no more that 0.15 parts copper. I am very sorry about your fish.