Uronema
Uronema marinum
Critical severity ⚠️ Contagious
an aggressive marine parasite causing red sores and sudden deaths, worse in high-nutrient tanks
Symptoms
Catching illness early gives the best chance of recovery, so check your fish daily. Red sores, bloody patches, rapid breathing, skin lesions and sudden death in marine fish, often in chromis and anthias. Act promptly if you see several signs together.
Causes
A marine ciliate that thrives in tanks with high nutrients/nitrate and attacks stressed or weakened fish, spreading quickly. The underlying trigger is almost always stress, poor water quality or a newly introduced animal.
Treatment
Treat in quarantine with formalin or appropriate medication and improve water quality; it is aggressive and often fatal, so prevention and early treatment matter most.
While treating, increase aeration, remove activated carbon from the filter, finish the full course even after symptoms fade, and keep the water immaculate. Marine treatments belong in a separate quarantine tank, never the reef.
Prevention
Quarantine new fish, keep nitrate low and water pristine, and reduce stress to prevent this aggressive marine parasite. The golden rules: quarantine new arrivals, never overstock or overfeed, avoid sudden swings, and keep up regular water changes.
FAQ
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This information is general guidance, not veterinary advice. Consult an aquatic vet for serious cases.