Chromis, metronidazole, and copper

[Fishmommy]

I have had a chromis and a kole tang in QT together for about 3-4 weeks.
Right now they are undergoing Cupramine treatment.
They have both been active and feeding great.
Suddenly, when I got home from work, the chromis is deep in the throes of either Brook or Uronema infection. He's really far gone at this point.

I have metronidazole on hand, but can I dose it with copper at 0.4?
If not, and assuming he dies, do I still need to treat the kole for it after the copper is removed?

Thanks much.

 

[Fishmommy]

Oh and what about the QT? Does it need to fallow for some period once the kole is out of there?

Thx2x

 

[snorvich]

If you have uronema marinum, the QT tank needs to be taken down, cleaned, since uronema is a parasite that does not need an obligate fish host for the parasite to continue its life cycle. I never recommend combination of parasite treatments.

 

[snorvich]

And given that you had a chromis, the odds of it being uronema is very high.

 

[avandss]

it is always a good idea to qt chromis alone

 

[Fishmommy]

Lesson learned. I will remove the copper and then treat both fish with metro. How long before I can safely transfer the kole to the DT after treatment?

I will break down the tank and wash with vinegar and re cycle it before bringing in any more fish.

 

[avandss]

uronema is nasty stuff. i would transfer the kole when you have a total of 4 weeks observation with no signs of disease

personally i would wait 6 weeks.

 

[Fishmommy]

Ok now I am befuddled. Yesterday the chromis was gasping, fins out, and half his scales looked like they were loose/white.
This evening I went to claim the body and he looks normal and even ate dinner.
Could this be?
Did I misdiagnose?
I did nothing in the interim. What do you think?

 

[avandss]

we need pictures, any chance you have a dslr? (cell phone pics usually do not work)

 

[Fishmommy]

He just looks like a regular chromis now. I didn't get pics when he looked bad unfortunately.

 

[Fishmommy]

Just to follow up....finished the copper and did a round of Metro. Fish seems fine. Dunno what happened.

 

[Newms118]

Just to follow up....finished the copper and did a round of Metro. Fish seems fine. Dunno what happened.

What was the dose you gave of the metronidazole and how long did you treat?