Dodged the velvet bullet!

[Alberta-newb]

I hope I don't jinx things but happy to say I dodged the velvet death sentence with a pyramid butterfly this week.

Thanks to all here that stress QT! This particular fish was already into week four of QT in my bare 55 med tank when it suddenly came down with velvet. It had already gone through a prophylactic prazi treatment and was about to get a cautionary copper treatment when overnight things went bad. Started with first dose of Cupramine (I ramp up at half recommended dosage) and realized right away this fish was hyper sensitive (erratic swimming and rapid breathing) immediately did a WC and switched to chloroquine phosphate at 80mg/gal.

Three days later it has cleared up and the fish is finally getting its appetite back.

Thanks to all those here who stress the importance of a good long QT. in the past I would have introduced this fish after two weeks and possibly lost everything.

Francis

 

[Deinonych]

Great to hear a success story. Hopefully this will inspire those who don't QT to start doing so.

 

[sleepydoc]

Congrats on your success! Did you measure the copper concentration before the WC? The last time I used cupramine, I dosed at half the recommended strength (i.e. 1/4 total dose) and found the concentration already at 0.25 after the first dose.

Can I ask where you obtained the chloroquine and what the cost was?

 

[Alberta-newb]

Congrats on your success! Did you measure the copper concentration before the WC? The last time I used cupramine, I dosed at half the recommended strength (i.e. 1/4 total dose) and found the concentration already at 0.25 after the first dose.

Can I ask where you obtained the chloroquine and what the cost was?

Yes, measured using Seachem test kit, about 0.1 but at that value it's barely readable. The CP I purchased from a seller on EBay, 25 grams for $18. Being in Canada I was concerned customs would seize a baggy of white powder in the mail! ;-)

Francis

 

[Deinonych]

Yes, measured using Seachem test kit, about 0.1 but at that value it's barely readable. The CP I purchased from a seller on EBay, 25 grams for $18. Being in Canada I was concerned customs would seize a baggy of white powder in the mail! ;-)

Francis

Sounds like the same seller from whom I purchased my CP. Really wish one of the "mainstream" marine medication vendors would start offering CP so it were more readily available, though.