Just had to vent.
My unicorn has always been the Achilles tang, after trying one years back and sadly losing it during the QT process, I put my hopes into obtaining one later on in life and 2 weeks ago I finally did.
I got a gorgeous specimen, 8", fat and full of character/life.
A couple days into QT he started showing flukes and other some other parasite. This was not Ich....I treated with prazipro hoping the other parasite would be helped flukes were taken care of but the other parasite....white in color, various shapes....was still taking over his body. I watched one spot on his side grow in shape from tiny to large in the course of 1 day.
The parasite appeared to be eating his flesh, so after countless hours I went through the method of a methylene blue freshwater dip. Could it be a fungal infection instead of a parasite? Possibly...
Anyway, it was spreading fast, and he had stopped eating...I figured if I'm going to FW Dip, now while he still has some energy (swimming slowly) is the time.
Carefully adjusted PH, temp 2 degrees warmer than the display, aerated the RO/DI water for 40 minutes prior.
He was a champ and swam around the whole time in his freshwater dip. I then put him back into the QT and all seemed well. QT was 80Gal, power heads, hiding spots, etc.
This morning, I find my buddy has passed.
I've done numerous freshwater dips in the past with my Chevron, Regal, etc etc....So I made sure it was aerated, temp, PH, less meth blue than more, only 10 mins in the bath and he was totally chill and fine the whole time.
QT tank was set up specifically for this guy, everything maintained, water parameters were where you want them. RO/DI water, etc.
Parameters between the QT and Dip, identical (or close enough too)
I can't help but be totally bummed out and depressed all day now. I know, I know, he was at the LFS, I gave it all I could and strictly monitored him.
I'm gonna miss the 15 minutes making Nori sandwichs just for him with LFS/Flake, Garlic and omega 3 supplements in it...
After examination of his body, the location of the parasites the flesh is eaten away in cuts, kind of like small gouges/rips everywhere. It only chose his face and lateral line at first, I'll go through the dip fluid later today, see if I can snag one of them. Maybe it was infection on the cuts from the flukes?
In the end, I sit contemplating....what if I just waited it out? I keep thinking my decision to FW dip being the catalyst for him dying.
The only fish, I've ever lost were the Achilles. (minus anthias turning savage on each other)
Now I sit questioning my hobby, hating myself and wondering what I could have done differently and if I should have refrained from dipping him.
I always read "if they die due to a properly done FW dip, then they weren't going to make it anyway"....
Unfortunately, it doesn't make me feel better.
Even as I sit looking at my 180 bowfront, seeing the fat regal,chevron, foxface and everyone else ripping around all content...this one loss hits me so hard....
Anyone else have these feelings?
bleeeehhhhhhhhhhhh
:sad2:
My unicorn has always been the Achilles tang, after trying one years back and sadly losing it during the QT process, I put my hopes into obtaining one later on in life and 2 weeks ago I finally did.
I got a gorgeous specimen, 8", fat and full of character/life.
A couple days into QT he started showing flukes and other some other parasite. This was not Ich....I treated with prazipro hoping the other parasite would be helped flukes were taken care of but the other parasite....white in color, various shapes....was still taking over his body. I watched one spot on his side grow in shape from tiny to large in the course of 1 day.
The parasite appeared to be eating his flesh, so after countless hours I went through the method of a methylene blue freshwater dip. Could it be a fungal infection instead of a parasite? Possibly...
Anyway, it was spreading fast, and he had stopped eating...I figured if I'm going to FW Dip, now while he still has some energy (swimming slowly) is the time.
Carefully adjusted PH, temp 2 degrees warmer than the display, aerated the RO/DI water for 40 minutes prior.
He was a champ and swam around the whole time in his freshwater dip. I then put him back into the QT and all seemed well. QT was 80Gal, power heads, hiding spots, etc.
This morning, I find my buddy has passed.
I've done numerous freshwater dips in the past with my Chevron, Regal, etc etc....So I made sure it was aerated, temp, PH, less meth blue than more, only 10 mins in the bath and he was totally chill and fine the whole time.
QT tank was set up specifically for this guy, everything maintained, water parameters were where you want them. RO/DI water, etc.
Parameters between the QT and Dip, identical (or close enough too)
I can't help but be totally bummed out and depressed all day now. I know, I know, he was at the LFS, I gave it all I could and strictly monitored him.
I'm gonna miss the 15 minutes making Nori sandwichs just for him with LFS/Flake, Garlic and omega 3 supplements in it...
After examination of his body, the location of the parasites the flesh is eaten away in cuts, kind of like small gouges/rips everywhere. It only chose his face and lateral line at first, I'll go through the dip fluid later today, see if I can snag one of them. Maybe it was infection on the cuts from the flukes?
In the end, I sit contemplating....what if I just waited it out? I keep thinking my decision to FW dip being the catalyst for him dying.
The only fish, I've ever lost were the Achilles. (minus anthias turning savage on each other)
Now I sit questioning my hobby, hating myself and wondering what I could have done differently and if I should have refrained from dipping him.
I always read "if they die due to a properly done FW dip, then they weren't going to make it anyway"....
Unfortunately, it doesn't make me feel better.
Even as I sit looking at my 180 bowfront, seeing the fat regal,chevron, foxface and everyone else ripping around all content...this one loss hits me so hard....
Anyone else have these feelings?
bleeeehhhhhhhhhhhh
:sad2:
