Ich or flukes maybe?

[starionesir]

I tried to get some better pictures last night but still not the best but you can see all the white speckles all over the fish. Still not breathing rapid but recently started scratching and started to roll over on his side while on the bottom of the sand bed?

I was able to get him pulled out early this morning and is in my QT tank. Should I treat for ich or something else or a combo of things? I don't have any medications right now as I recently got back into the hobby so not sure if I should treat with hypo or get some medications to deal with whatever it is. All the other fish in the DT don't show any signs or distress.

Also on the bottom of the fish there are almost stringy white things. They aren't wavy or anything they seem stiff. Also all the locations that have the spots also look raised slightly. So from the side the fish looks bumpy.

 

[crissie]

Try a fresh water dip and see what comes off.

 

[starionesir]

I've never done a freshwater dip. How long should I do it for and I assume your supposed to try and match the ph and temp from the tank they came out of or does that matter?

 

[crissie]

To quote Snorvich...

To carry out a freshwater dip:
1. Take some freshwater (RO is best) and heat it up to the same temperature as the tank
2. Adjust the pH of the freshwater to match the tank using a commercial pH buffer.
3. Catch the fish and pop it into the freshwater bath, watch the fish carefully and be prepared to remove it if it becomes very distressed. Normally 3 minutes in a freshwater bath will dislodge most parasites; this can be extended to five minutes.
4. Catch the fish and put it back into the tank. Do not pour the freshwater back in the tank as this may introduce the parasites back into the display tank.

Yes, temp and PH should be matching - it's quite important.

 

[snorvich]

While the picture is not clear, looks like ich to me.

 

[starionesir]

Sorry about the blurry picture. Was the best shot I could get yesterday. Everytime the camera focused the fish moved and had to start it over again.

I'm gonna try and do a freshwater dip this evening when I get home. I only have my DT and QT tank so the TT method won't work. Should I try hypo after that or treat with copper?

 

[MrTuskfish]

Sorry about the blurry picture. Was the best shot I could get yesterday. Everytime the camera focused the fish moved and had to start it over again.

I'm gonna try and do a freshwater dip this evening when I get home. I only have my DT and QT tank so the TT method won't work. Should I try hypo after that or treat with copper?

Even though the spots seem a bit to raised for ich, that's my bet too. This species is very susceptible to ich. I'd treat ALL fish with copper or CP; I don't think hypo is even an option; but sure don't have a quarrel with folks who still use it....that includes some outstanding fish-folks on RC. I FW dip will do nothing for ich, but could confirm other possibilities.

 

[starionesir]

I ordered cupramine and a seachem copper test kit today. Not many local fish stores left in my area and the ones don't carry saltwater or many medications either. I do have some kordon rid ich plus that I never opened from years ago. I know its probably not the best or might not even work but should I try and start at least treating with that while I'm waiting for the cupramine to come in?

My kids love the fish and my 3 year old is really attached to him and am trying my best to not lose him. Any other ideas or things to try will be greatly appreciated. Thanks again guys.

 

[starionesir]

Also if for some reason I need to lower ammonia what can I use short of a water change? I started the QT tank with water from my DT but just incase I need a quick fix. I have amquel but read somewhere you can't use that with cupramine without causing a issue.

 

[starionesir]

Or should I start hypo as I probably won't have the cupramine till the weekend? If I start hypo should I just continue that treatment and not start the copper once I have it? I know you can't do both at the same time but wasn't sure if I should just ride the hypo out for the 4 weeks or raise the salinity back up then start the copper once I have it.

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

Display tank water isn't going to manage ammonia, you need a biofilter, which takes time to build up. You will have to manage ammonia with water changes. What is your QT setup?

I would wait for the Cupramine to come in on Saturday unless the fish takes a turn for the worse, in which case the rid - ich may be better than nothing.

Although we normally recommend ramping up Cupramine slowly, I would follow the directions on the bottle (half a dose on day 1 and the other half on day 3) given the condition of the fish and use a full strength dose.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Tank transfer may be ideal to use on the one fish if it looks like it can't wait. , then use copper when it arrives. There is a sticky on TT. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2389659

 

[starionesir]

I got the rest of the fish out this evening so gonna let the dt sit for 10 weeks to get rid of the ich. So far all seem to be doing fine in the qt tank. It's a 10 gallon tank with a hob eheim filter and as stated I used water from the dt to help speed up the biofilter. I'm gonna try and hold out till the copper comes in. TT would work if I had a third tank but the wife would have a fit if I got a third tank.

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

How many fish do you have in your 10 gal QT? If more than 2, you will need to do 50% water changes every day or two to manage ammonia. Remember, you will have to add Cupramine to your replacement water to maintain the proper copper level. The good news is that Cupramine is pretty stable in solution so that you can be pretty sure that putting the prescribed amount in the tank will get you the right concentration and you can just confirm with your test kit. Copper test kits can be difficult to read. I tend to trust the measured dose of Cupramine over a conflicting test reading (do multiple tests to confirm if the test doesn't show the concentration you expect).

I assume your picture is from your DT. You cannot have calcium-based live rock or sand in the QT while you are treating your fish with copper as the copper will be removed from solution and you won't have a proper level of copper.

How big is your DT and what other fish do you have?

I would treat all of the fish with Cupramine given you are leaving the DT fallow for 10 weeks. Make sure you don't have any fish that are known to be extra sensitive to copper such as a flame angel.

You can use a clean plastic container to hold your fish for a while instead of getting additional tanks if you need to during the next 3 months. Just add a cover, an airstone and/or a powerhead, and a heater, plus something for biofiltration.

Good luck.

 

[starionesir]

The picture is from my dt. In the qt tank there is the hippo tang, 4 green chromis and 1 engineer goby. All are very small. I'm going to monitor ammonia closely while treating.

 

[starionesir]

Thanks for the input and info. I checked all of them this morning and all seem fine and all levels are good so I think I'll try and hold out till the cupramine comes in. Shockingly the tang is looking much better with alot less spots but then again I'm sure just transferring to the new tank probably was a help getting away from the swarm that is probably in my DT.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Thanks for the input and info. I checked all of them this morning and all seem fine and all levels are good so I think I'll try and hold out till the cupramine comes in. Shockingly the tang is looking much better with alot less spots but then again I'm sure just transferring to the new tank probably was a help getting away from the swarm that is probably in my DT.

You are seeing the normal pattern of ich; it often disappears, then comes back in greater numbers. I'd read the sticky by Snorvich on the life cycle of ich. Its much easier to battle the parasite when you know more about it.

 

[starionesir]

I've read a ton on ich lately lol. Still has the spots but not near as bad since the move. Check my shipping and hopefully will have the cupramine saturday but if not then won't be till monday. So far everyone is looking fine so hopefully it will stay that way and give me time to start treatment. I appreciate everyones info and input.

I'm just hoping all make it as the kids are kinda of attached especially my 3 year old. I figure at least while I'm waiting for the DT to become ich free I can start to get some corals as they are not affected by ich. At least give me something to look at.