Confirm Ich on O. Clown?

B

Belmont31R

New member
Got these guys last weekend, and treated with prazipro on day 2. This fish has slowly been getting worse, and has spent most of the time near the surface. Has not been eating, looking pale, and skinny.




Today I took this video, and I can't see the white spots with the naked eye but did notice the spots on the white stripe just behind the eye. After looking at the video in 1080 and full screen the white spots are clearly visible.


Water quality is fine with 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites, 1.022 SG, 78F.


Other fish of the pair has good color, is eating, and swimming around all over the tank.


QT is 20G with about 18G of water in it. I dosed 1.2ML of Cupramine just a few minutes ago.

Just want to make sure this is Ich and not something else.


Here is the video. 1080 and full screen is best. http://youtu.be/bOxQupwOi7s


Thanks for any help!
 
This fish seems to have a few ich spots, hard for me to tell. But, his breathing is way too distressed for a mild case of ich. His gills could be full of the parasites, though. Maybe gill flukes, which the Cupramine will kill. Be sure to have a Cupramine-comparable copper test kit; SeaChem or Salifert, and don't rely on just measured dosage. Did you buy these fish from the same tank? Usually groups of clowns kept together are tank-bred from the same litter and if this is a contagious parasite; the other fish may get it too. You don't see any sloughing of skii, do you? I think Cupramine is the best treatment, but my gut-feeling is that something else is going on. If this fish hangs on, and doesn't respond to Cupramine at .50ppm, I'd give him a FW dip for possible gill parasites. If it were my fish, I'd do that right now; but that always a judgement call. Good luck with him. Glad to see you using a QT, if you lose this fish, damage will be limited.
 
I started the prazipro on day 2 so they've had almost a full week.


Fish were in the same tank. One is doing great one is not.


He is back on the top near the surface. He's been there for the last few days. Not gulping for air but just below the surface near the top of the heater.



I will try a FW dip. I have a FW tank right next to the QT tank. How should I do this? The only few products I have is kents calcium, pro buffer alkalinity, and tech m. Im afraid if I just take a specimen cup out of my FW tank -or- just RODI water it will give the fish PH shock.


Here is another video...this is about an hour maybe a little more after the cupramine was added. Just to make sure I did two ammonia tests with different kits, and they are both negative. I don't think its the tank because he hasn't eaten since I got him, and the other fish out of the same tank bought at the same time is doing great.


http://youtu.be/kyLv2CU9GZQ
 
If this fish doesn't have a parasite problem in hi gills, my best educated guess, I think he's a goner. He is breathing way too fast. Its almost impossible to PH adjust fresh water, but a pinch of ordinary baking soda is as good as anything. If you have RO/DI; fine. If not use a de-chlorinator. Temps should be close. Maybe 5+ mins, but watch him closely. many fish will lay on their sides when being dipped, this is normal. many folks will consider this extreme at this point, but your 1st video clearly shows a fish in serious respiratory distress (IMO & IME) and I don't think you have much to lose. When done, run the dip water through a coffee filter and see what you've gotten off of him.
 
Alright I just did the FW dip with water from my FW tank, and use the Kents pro buffer alkalinity. He was pretty stressed the first 10 seconds curled up but quickly began swimming back and forth in the specimen cup.


Lasted 6 minutes, and he is back in the QT. I didn't see anything fall off.




Here is another video just before the FW dip: http://youtu.be/LmZA2sreuuE
 
MrTuskfish said:
If this fish doesn't have a parasite problem in hi gills, my best educated guess, I think he's a goner. He is breathing way too fast. Its almost impossible to PH adjust fresh water, but a pinch of ordinary baking soda is as good as anything. If you have RO/DI; fine. If not use a de-chlorinator. Temps should be close. Maybe 5+ mins, but watch him closely. many fish will lay on their sides when being dipped, this is normal. many folks will consider this extreme at this point, but your 1st video clearly shows a fish in serious respiratory distress (IMO & IME) and I don't think you have much to lose. When done, run the dip water through a coffee filter and see what you've gotten off of him.
Click to expand...



Sucks but Ive not seen him eat since I got him. The 2nd one appears to be doing fine. No signs of stress, he is swimming around fine, and ate 3 different types of food today. His color is great and his fins are 'out'. He has really been doing great today swimming around a lot and very active in the tank.
 
Belmont31R said:
I just went ahead and put him down....wish I knew what it was.
Click to expand...
Sorry you lost him; I really don't think there was anything you could do. Its not unusual to not know the cause when fish aren't showing the symptoms of one of the few problems we do know about and can help. I doubt it was brook; this parasite makes the skin slough off in big pieces; along with spots and blotches. Your fish didn't seem to have any of these symptoms. Watch the other fish closely, just in case it was something contagious. I don't think it was though.
 
MrTuskfish said:
Sorry you lost him; I really don't think there was anything you could do. Its not unusual to not know the cause when fish aren't showing the symptoms of one of the few problems we do know about and can help. I doubt it was brook; this parasite makes the skin slough off in big pieces; along with spots and blotches. Your fish didn't seem to have any of these symptoms. Watch the other fish closely, just in case it was something contagious. I don't think it was though.
Click to expand...




Thanks. The 2nd one is still doing great, ate well today, fins and general health appear good, and doesn't appear to have caught anything from the sick one.


Already have a 2nd clown ordered from LA. These ones were bought locally. QT tank has been sanitized and cultured filter media already added.
 
Just a heads up; I assume both fish are juvi (or at least, very small) Ocellaris Clowns. If so, they should get along just fine, maybe some initial squabbling. If the new fish is significantly larger and sexually mature, I'd really watch them.
 
I just got the new clown today from LA, and they are right about the exact same size. The one I got today appears to be health, good color, and swimming alright....though appears to be a bit intimidated by the purple firefish I got at the same time.
 
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