An unreachable itch or ich?

[travis32]

Well, I've always heard it said "Fish scratching" may be symptoms of ich.

I have had a Powder Brown Tang (PBT) since Wednesday night (the 16th.)

It's in a 30 gallon QT. Yes, too small, but it's going in a 125g, and I'm using LR for bio filtration, and an air stone for oxygenation. The airstone is in a HOB filter, to allow the bubbles to be diffused through a carbon filter before they enter the tank. This 30 gallon has held up to 3 fish at once for 8 weeks, with no repercussions, other than steady WC schedule (weekly).

So, The question. I just noticed today that the PBT was scratching 2 or 3 times in a row. Scratching his side against a rock.

I don't plan to move him for 3 -4 weeks. But, I want to know if the scratching is a pretty strong indicator of ich? If it is, I want to implement Hypo ASAP, so that he can be moved to a better more size appropriate tank and be happier.

I don't want to wait 2 weeks find out the white spots show up, then force him to be in that tank for another 4 weeks. I was going to do observation only, but, given that he's scratching I my just implement hypo now as a proactive precautionary measure.

Thoughts?

 

[roktsintst]

Usually scratching is an implication of some sort of parasite. I highly recommend treating all fish for flukes due to the amount of fish showing up with flukes. Prazipro is used most frequently and I recommend a treatment followed by a week off then another treatment to make sure you got them.

In addition to flukes, ich is quite possible. I've done both hypo and copper and I personally prefer copper. I would definilty suggest some meds or at the least a very long observation period. Be aware that ich can sit dormant for quite some time and not pop up until the fish is stressed out (ie when you put him in the display w/ other fish!)

Just my opinion and good luck!

 

[AuroraDrvr]

Treat for flukes (API General Cure or PraziPro) and observe if the scratching continues, or if the fish develops visible cysts, then treat for Ich.

 

[travis32]

I've never treated for flukes. So, is the medication toxic to live rock? Obviously no corals in the tank, I have 1 snail in the tank..... (he's just the resident cleaner when no fish in the tank. lol)

As in, is it like copper, I can never use the live rock again? or it's just toxic to corals?

I'll look it up. Just curious. I prefer treating with meds since it should be quicker and easier than hypo... I assume you can't hypo and use meds at the same time?

Thanks for the reccomendation on flukes. I never thought of that... No visible symptoms of ich in the QT, but it's only been 3 days... I want his time in the 30 gallon as little as possible, but, I would think the stress of a small tank would bring about ich cysts.... heh.

 

[AuroraDrvr]

PraziPro is reef safe. May kill some worms, but shouldn't affect anything else. I treated a reef with it once and only lost some feather dusters.

 

[travis32]

I talked to a couple people, including the fish store I bought the tang from. The fish store manager said "I definately would quarantine the tang. It would get ich just from the stress of going into the main tank."

heh.. well, if all that I've read is true. A fish doesn't just get ich from stress, unless ich is present to infect the fish.. So, I interpretted that as "it most likely got ich while in our tanks. " ....

So, I started hypo treatment tonight. It's not truely hypo yet, I'll officially begin the 4 week timer tomorrow night once it hits 1.008-1.009 on my refrac.. Arg. Poor fish is going to be cramped for 5 weeks.

But, at least I'lll eliminate ich as a possible infectant.

If after 4 weeks, it's still itching, then, either I failed miserably at attaining and maintaining hypo or it's not ich.

Here's to the health of this beautiful fish for the next 5 weeks, in a very cramped space!