cherub angel help

[dohc97]

I have a pair of cherub angels that i just recently bought. Today when i got home i noticed that they seem to be breathing a bit harder and the color on one of them seems to be fading in patches. That same one also has tattered fins. I have never dealt with disease in marine fish and im wondering if anyone has ideas? im sorry but pictures are almost next to impossible since they dont stop moving. I would not like them to die on me as they are my favorite fish. any and all help is appreciated.

 

[Pescado Racing]

What are your H2O Parameters? Are they aggressive towards each other? The color issuse makes me think "Brooklynella" look that up, look at pics see if you have a match. If it is QT the fish and Formilin 3 Bath.

 

[dohc97]

actually i know what brook looks like its not that. I have had clowns with it before. After some reading im thinking this seems to be velvet + fin rot. Im not sure what is up, all my parameters check out good except for my alk being a little higher than i would like.

salinity: 1.025
nitrate:0
nitrite:0
ammonia:0
ph:8.2
calcium: 420
alk: 12 dkh
temp: 78

I read a couple articles and they say that a freshwater dip might help?

 

[Pescado Racing]

Velvet strikes very quick, it kills fish fast. I'd go ahead with the dips.

 

[dohc97]

any suggestions on how long to keep them in freshwater? the article i read said 30 minutes?

 

[Pescado Racing]

I really wouldn't go over 10 minutes and observe through dip for any signs of stress. Repeat daily for 4-6 days.

 

[dohc97]

Ill get going on that, ill post updates

 

[fishyvet]

if you are doing FW dips, make sure the temp and pH match QT conditions. The dip is over when the fish looses equilbrium (rolls over), then you have to pull it out fast or death will shortly follow. I've never heard of a FW dip lasting 30min... I think generally they last around 5 min or so but every fish is an individual so make sure you watch it closely.

 

[Spracklcat]

Would you consider some kind of antibacterial as well? Furan-2 or the like? Fin rot plus the epidermal changes sounds like it could be bacterial, and if so I wouldn't want to wait--

 

[dohc97]

Update:
I lost one of them last night, after i first posted i went over to my friends to pick up ro/di water. By the time i got back the male looked really bad and was laying on his side on the bottom glass. i was able to get him into qt but he was pretty much gone. he died in the qt tank a few minutes after going in. Just to see what would happen i put him in freshwater and tiny white dot looking things came off, also some kind of white coating. The female was in better condition and she went thru a 5 minute dip without problems. she made it through the night so i hope i can at least save her, im really bummed about this.

 

[Pescado Racing]

Sorry for your loss, but glad the female is pulling for you. Continue dipping the female once a day. The suggestion on antibiotics is good, but make sure to follow instructions and treat for entire length recommended. I've heard some strange news lately on antibiotic resistant bacterias due to tolerance of drugs.

 

[dohc97]

Well came home for lunch and the female is dead, im really at a loss here. Im almost sure it was velvet so im going to go a couple months without fish to make sure it dies.
Im so mad at myself for not being able to save them.

 

[Pescado Racing]

Velvet is a cruel disease, by the time it's discovered it's usually too late. Were these fish relatively new? Where did you get them? Don't be too hard on yourself, I know how you feel.

 

[dohc97]

well they were new but im sure the velvet didnt come from that store. I believe the velvet came in on a fish i bought at a different store. That fish died without any symptoms about a week before i bought the angels. This is so discouraging, i have never had to deal with this much death in my tanks. Before the 3 fish i just lost i cant even remember the last time i lost a fish. Its going to be tough with no fish for awhile but i dont want to kill any other innocent creature. I appreciate the help from you guys, thanks.