Imperator Juvenile problem

[Sandy]

Have had my Imperator in hypo salinity of 1.009 for 6 weeks. He had flukes bad when I received him MO and developed ick along with that. He was doing fine in the hypo was eating great, has increased in size and now I started to slowly increase the salinity over a 2 week period it is now only 1.022 and has a way to go to take it up to 1.024/025 before I can release him in his new home. I noted earlier this week that when the salinity reached 1.019 that he started having rapid gill movement, He is swimming very fast in place, visualize jogging in place, but he gets to where he wants to go. Almost reminds me of a pecula swimming except very fast. I can't really explain it. I have watched for white stringy stuff in his bowel movements indicating internal parasites but he doesn't have anything. Could this be from the hypo and am I increasing salinity to fast on him. Does this indicate a swimming disorder? I am totally at a loss on this. Seems like I have had him forever in the hospital tank.

I have excellent water quality on this tank as I am monitoring it constantly.

Running carbon in a canister filter changed weekly, sponge biofilter (taken out of my 155's refugium) hooked up to an airstone, maxijet pointed towards the surface. 30 gal tank. RO/DI water used. Changed 5 gals weekly same temp etc just to clean up any waste on the bare tank bottom.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Should I do a run of anitibiotics???????????

I definately don't want to do a freshwater dip on this Angel to see if he still has flukes since he had been at 1.009 for six weeks. That surely would have taken care of any residual flukes or ick wouldn't it? I tried that when I first got him and he developed ick from it. I use a refractometer for salinity and calibrate it once a month to make sure its right on.


Thanks ahead,
Sandy

[Spanky]

Sandy, two quick things come to mind.

How's your alk in that tank? Since you're mixing up fresh for water changes it should be fine, just checking.

Also, a lot of small angels have that "wiggle waggle" thing going on because they are cleaners at a small size.

Since you've taken two weeks to bring him up to 19, I think you're right on the money with that and it sounds like you have plenty of circulation too.

Other than these things, I'm at a loss.
Jerel

[OodleyBoodely]

Might parasites still be a problem? I don't know just how sensitive young angels are to medications, but, I had real good success treating my new fish in quarantine with a malachite green/formalin mix med. It would be suitable for treating most external parasites.

[Sandy]

Jerel, Alk is 9 dkh, still at a loss on him. He is eating well, will give him a few more days to see if he adjust, or maybe start reducing salinity again and take it up at an even slower rate.

Oodley, Don't know if a strong med would hurt him, he seems pretty sensitive to any abrupt changes. Wouldn't the 1.009 salinity for 6 weeks have done any parasites in?

Thanks for replying to me.

Regards,
Sandy

[Spanky]

Sandy,

I know our Pomacanthus are all cleaners and do that wiggle-waggle thing when they are small. I don't know about Emperor's though.

If anything I wouldn't move his salinity any more and just stay where you are for a while.

Being small they have fast metabolisms, you're feeding him several times a day, right?

Jerel

[Sandy]

Jerel,

Feeding him twice a day morning and night. I work in between away from home. Do have some macro algae in there for him to munch on along with Spirulina Nibblers.

Sandy