Hippo Tang still flashing after 21 days of Curpramine?

[xtonydx]

I have a 90 gallon reef tank sitting empty of all fish, awaiting completion of fallow period. I have a 29G QT that currently has all of my fish in it. They consist of:

• Sailfin Tang (about 2")
• Bengaii Cardinal (about 1 1/2")
• (2) Ocillaris Clowns (about 2" ea)
• Purple Fire Goby (about 2 1/2")
• Hippo Tang (about 1 1/2")

I have had them all in QT for several weeks now, dosing Cupramine for the past 20 days. All of the fish seem fine except the Hippo which looks faded and is flashing like crazy on the PVC pipe I have in there. Surely if it was Ich, it would have been gone from its gills after 20 days right? Could there be something else bothering it? Could the Cupramine itself cause it to flash? It does look a little faded in color, but still eating healthy.

My plan was to remove the Cupramine, and put them through a run of either PraziPro, or Paraguard. I have been debating which I should do next, but that is another topic altogether.

Any help you can give is appreciated.

Thanks,
Tony D

 

[Deinonych]

What Cupramine concentration were you maintaining, and did you test it daily to make sure you were keeping the medication at therapeutic levels (0.35 - 0.5mg/L)? It's also possible that the fish may have flukes.

 

[xtonydx]

I was maintaining it as close to .5 as I could. Testing twice a day. It would drop down into the .42-.44 range some days and I would add more to bring it back up to where it should be.

What medication fixes Flukes?

Thanks,
Tony D

 

[Giovanni]

I have found that some time fish flash due to water quality issues.

 

[Deinonych]

I have found that some time fish flash due to water quality issues.

Yes, on occasion fish will do that. If it's continuous flashing, it's more than likely a parasite.

To the OP: Prazipro is the appropriate medication for flukes. Be sure to administer two treatments 7 days apart to ensure any newly hatched larvae are killed.

 

[xtonydx]

Ok, I'll do a 50% water change tomorrow, and then Cuprisorb to get the rest of the Cupramine out. Then I will start the PraziPro. Should I wait until all of the copper is out before starting the PraziPro, or go ahead and start it after the water change? Will the Cuprasorb absorb the PraziPro as well?

Thanks,
Tony D

 

[SecretiveFish]

FWIW, I treated with Cupramine for the recommended 0.5mg/L for the directed 14 days, but the Ich came back a few weeks later. I then re-treated the tank with 0.4 mg/L for 30 days based on suggestions here and that did the trick.

Some people treat both at the same time and have no issues (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19917240), but personally I prefer to only treat with one medicaton at a time. Cuprasorb removes metals from the water and since Prazipro is not a metal you should be OK.... key word being should.

 

[snorvich]

Tank transfer is the fastest and easiest way to treat for cryptocaryon irritans. 12 days and done because you are obviating the back end of the life cycle. Copper will work assuming the concentration is proper AND it is done for a long enough interval. That interval will vary, unfortunately.