My grommie fish

Question
Hi Chris, I have a blue grommie which is about 3.5 yrs old. It is in with 2 angles and a clown loch and 2 clown bottom feeders. The tank has been set up over 5yrs. It is a 55gal. My question is I've noticed over the last couple of days that my grommie has spots which look like the scales are coming off. They look a little "raw" where this is happening. He has about 7 or 8 of these patches. Do you have any idea what this could be?
I did a water change about a week ago and I did 25% exchange.
Thanks so much,
Chris

Answer
Hi Chris;

It sounds like a bacterial infection. He could be getting picked on by other fish and you don't see them and the wounds became infected. Or, it's just infection with no injuries. He really needs to be isolated for treatment with an antibiotic. You can put him in a plastic container that holds at least 5 gallons if you don't have an isolation tank. Put an air stone hooked to an air pump for oxygen, install a heater in it (don't let it touch the sides, use heater holders) and cover the container but put holes for ventilation. You don't want him to jump out or other pets get curious or things to fall in there. Even a 5 gallon clean plastic bucket will do. No filter and no gravel or decorations. They absorb medicines. Change 25% to 50% of the isolation tank water every single day. Without a filter he needs it. Just do it right before each day's addition of medication. The medication will be decayed by the time a day passes so don't worry that you are removing anything useful with the daily water changes. The medicine is added every day over a course of several days for that reason.

To treat him use three things; An antibiotic for fish, aquarium salt and MelaFix. They are all available at most fish stores. Follow the package intructions for dosage. The antibiotic treats the infection itself, and salt helps give back electrolytes that your fish has lost while sick as well as helping to inhibit growth of infectious bacteria so the antibiotic can be more effective. MelaFix helps the skin to regenerate and helps soothe the wounds. It offers help in weakening infectious bacteria too.

I hope he feels better soon...

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins