Can someone identify this illness?
- Thread starter eisaiasjr
- Start date
MrTuskfish
Team RC
I'm not good with pics; but it looks like velvet or brooklynella (my 1st bet). If skin is sloughing off, its brook. If the fish has a velvety look, especially when looking head on, its velvet. Google image some pics, read and you should be able to tell. Both are very deadly, highly contagious, and need to be treated ASAP. These parasites are treated differently, so you really need tp know what your dealing with. It seems to be losing skin and that is a big indication of brooklynella; but do some research and decide. You don't have a lot of time.
MrTuskfish
Team RC
That sounds like velvet (oodinium). Check some of these pics to be as sure as you can:http://www.google.com/search?q=mari...de&cd=2&sqi=2&ved=0CAsQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=64
There are a few rumored alternatives; but I think the only treatment that works (and you can find) is copper. I prefer SeaChem Cupramine and a SeaChem copper test kit. This is very contagious and you'll have to treat ALL fish, not just the one that's showing signs, in a QT. Leave your main tank fishless for at least 6 weeks. The treatment is the same as the copper treatment for ich. Treating this is a PITA, but the only way I know of. QT would have caught this parasite before you put him into your DT....Good luck!
MrTuskfish
Team RC
Do you mean into a tank that has not been exposed to Velvet? If so, sure. Treat the fish with copper, being sure to dose exactly, for 3 weeks. Some sources say 2 weeks, I think. But I always add some time. This is an awful parasite and badly infested fish often don't recover. Its vital to treat all fish that have been exposed. Just don't expose any invert to the copper.
eisaiasjr
New member
I will do that, I will treat my entire fish population for 3 weeks (in a different tank) with copper. I will then transfer my most valued fish to the other tank that I have, leaving my main display empty for 6 weeks.
Best Regards,
Estefano
P.S. What about doing formalin baths every week while under treatment?
Best Regards,
Estefano
P.S. What about doing formalin baths every week while under treatment?
MrTuskfish
Team RC
IMO, not a good idea. Formalin is sometimes used to treat velvet; but I don't think its nearly as effective as copper. With a formalin bath, all you are doing is killing a few of the vulnerable parasites that happen to be on the skin. The parasites under the skin are still there, as are the other stagers of the parasite that are living in the QT until they become free-swimming. Then the copper kills them. Also, Formalin is a powerful drug (formaldehyde) and the fish are getting enough stress from the copper. A Formalin bath added to that would really be pushing an already sick fish. Unfortunately, like I mentioned above, a 100% recovery from a bout of velvet is rare. But quick action with prober copper medication will save most of them. Velvet is a much uglier parasite than ich and (IMO) velvet is often mis-diagnosed as ich and many fish are lost because of the more causal approach many folks take toward ich.
MrTuskfish
Team RC
IMO, you'll have to decide what the fish has and treat for it. I think putting a fish from a copper treated tank to a formalin bath would be far more than the fish could handle; probably kill it. Both are powerful meds. If the fish has velvet, its vital you treat that ASAP. If it had brooklynella; it would either be dead, or losing half its skin by now. Remember to treat all your fish if velvet(or brook) is in the tank.
I don't know how much research you did, but the big symptom of brook that isn't present with velvet is that book infested fish have a tremendous amount of body slime that sloughs off,along with some skin.If this isn't the case; after the info you provided about the skin, I'd bet velvet.
Definitive_Aqua
New member
I would go with acroflavin if your not sure what it is - this treats wide spectrum - not sure what is brand retail but I would opt for API they have pharm grade chemicals and are the least watered down
Copper Sulfate really only is effective at ich and really only at preventing it - there are other meds that are better at curing it faster in my experience.
Copper Sulfate really only is effective at ich and really only at preventing it - there are other meds that are better at curing it faster in my experience.
MrTuskfish
Team RC
I don't have any comment on copper sulfate. However, SeaChem Cupramine (a buffered active copper) is excellent at preventing or curing ich (and oodinium). A lot of published experts are touting Quinine Sulfate as the best cure for ich; there seems to be a lot of info to support it. There are lots of things that will rid a fish of ich....for a while; but I still believe the only real (long-term) cures are copper, hypo, or quinine sulfate. The transfer method has its fans too, but I've never used it.
Definitive_Aqua
New member
QS is a great drug for curing quickly - copper i prefer as just a preventative. CS works well as long as long as its broken down properly (with citric acid) and i can not stress how important it is to pay close attention to your dosage and have a good and by good im talking salifert or a colorimiter to measure it. and never go over .20 ppm! this applies to any copper buffered or not.
