My journey using Chloroquine Phosphate begins...

[b0bab0ey]

As some of you know, I have a PB Tang that I treated for Ich (confirmed) in copper for over a month, and treated w/Prazi numerous times for Flukes (unconfirmed). And yet she still displays some symptoms of both diseases.

I was fortunate enough to score 30 grams of CP and will be treating her soon in an attempt to get her healthy again so she can someday return to my DT. This thread will document her treatment with Chloroquine Phosphate. This will be my first time ever using this medication.

I'd like to thank alprazo. I've probably read every post you've ever written on here regarding CP. Also, if anyone has any advice to offer please feel free to do it here. I think I've got most of it covered. One question though: Should I leave the lights on during treatment or leave them off completely? I've read conflicting things about this.

TIA

 

[alprazo]

Sensitive to light, I use my UV when I wish to end treatment. Anyway I recommend ambient lighting for Qt and treatment tanks.

I wish your PBT well.

 

[cngreg]

Did you confirm krypto with a scope? I've been fooled by a bacterial infection on a pacific blue tang (paracanthus hepatus) that looked a lot like marine ich. Good luck with the chloroquine. What dosing regime are you going with?

 

[b0bab0ey]

Did you confirm krypto with a scope? I've been fooled by a bacterial infection on a pacific blue tang (paracanthus hepatus) that looked a lot like marine ich. Good luck with the chloroquine. What dosing regime are you going with?

I didn't confirm with a scope. But she had "white sprinkles" all over her and was scratching. The "white sprinkles" vanished a few days after copper treatment began, but more than 6 weeks now after copper she's still scratching and twitching. I haven't seen anymore white spots on her. Multiple rounds of Prazi have failed to have any impact on her symptoms and a f/w dip didn't produce any worms falling out. It's possible this is not Ich but what else am I to do? She can't spend the rest of her life in QT. So I'm gonna give Chloroquine a shot, dosage: 40 mg/gal.

 

[b0bab0ey]

OK, treatment has begun... For the record I am using a 29g bare bottom QT with only PVC fittings for hiding places. For filtration I am using an AC 50 HOB w/a seeded sponge. For additional circulation I am running an AC 402 w/a foam insert. I'm also using a Seachem Ammonia Alert badge to keep track of ammonia.

Subjects being treated: Sixline Wrasse, Maroon Clown and Powder Blue Tang. The tang is the only one to still exhibit symptoms (twitching, scratching) after 6 weeks of copper treatment (Coppersafe) for Ich. The other two were just unfortunate enough to be in the same tank.

I did a 50% WC yesterday evening to remove any remaining copper. Copper test ran this morning shows undetectable copper levels. I've also been feeding heavy over the past week in anticipation of possible appetite suppression during treatment. Tank was also thoroughly scrubbed of any algae before treatment as CP is known to have algicide properties. This morning the tang looked particularly bad. She was scratching and was thrashing/twitching about in an almost violent manner. It should be noted that these symptoms come & go throughout the day.

This afternoon I dosed Chloroquine Phosphate at a dosage of 40mg per gal. I dosed for 30 gals of water instead of 29 to compensate for the additional water in the HOB filter. I measured the 1.2 grams of CP using a calibrated scale accurate to 0.1 grams. I've decided to go lights out on my QT during treatment due to concerns about light breaking down the CP. Another source thought that the CP might make the fishes eyes more sensitive to light. The fish will only get ambient light and be fed twice per day.

So far the fish look calm, almost a little sedated. The tang has not had another episode since treatment began. However, this is normal nighttime behavior for her. She usually only scratches/twitches early in the morning before the lights come on or when the lights are on. Ammonia shows 0. Will update in another day or two.

 

[birdman1979]

Where do you get Chloroquine Phospate?

 

[vaporize]

Sensitive to light, I use my UV when I wish to end treatment. Anyway I recommend ambient lighting for Qt and treatment tanks.

I wish your PBT well.

alprazo: are there any other medication that CP might conflict with? like Copper, malachite green, formalin, furan2 etc. ?

 

[b0bab0ey]

Where do you get Chloroquine Phospate?

I got mine from a fellow reefer who has a good stock of it. Before that I was having a hard time finding it. You can find it online or I've been told possibly from a vet, but the trick is you usually have to have a prescription to get it. Your vet might be able to hook you up if you explain why you're wanting it. This stuff ain't cheap btw. I did find it here (see link below) for $185 per KILO but it looks like a wholesale place...

http://www.fishchemical.com/Products-CHLOROQUINE-PHOSPHATE-1-KILO-22937.Item.html

 

[birdman1979]

Thx

 

[marlin85]

Can Chloroquine Phosphate be dosed in a tank that has live sand and rock? How long will you be doseing your tank with it?

Thanks

 

[b0bab0ey]

Can Chloroquine Phosphate be dosed in a tank that has live sand and rock? How long will you be doseing your tank with it?

Thanks

I am dosing in a bare bottom QT with no sand/rocks for 2-3 weeks (depending on how the tang looks). I would think, like copper, some of the CP would get absorbed into the rocks. And since there's no CP test kit out there (at least none that I'm aware of) it's imperative that the concentration remain constant from the initial dosage. I also would never use this stuff in the presence of corals/inverts.

Day 1 of treatment: So far, so good. I haven't seen any further symptoms from the tang since treatment began. However, I'm trying to be realistic and not get overly optimistic. Two initial things I really like about this medication though: No discoloration of the water and no noticeable difference in the fishes appetites. The latter is something I really don't like about copper treatment.

 

[Agioniko]

WWM has places you can get quinine on the website

 

[vaporize]

I am dosing in a bare bottom QT with no sand/rocks for 2-3 weeks (depending on how the tang looks). I would think, like copper, some of the CP would get absorbed into the rocks. And since there's no CP test kit out there (at least none that I'm aware of) it's imperative that the concentration remain constant from the initial dosage. I also would never use this stuff in the presence of corals/inverts.

Day 1 of treatment: So far, so good. I haven't seen any further symptoms from the tang since treatment began. However, I'm trying to be realistic and not get overly optimistic. Two initial things I really like about this medication though: No discoloration of the water and no noticeable difference in the fishes appetites. The latter is something I really don't like about copper treatment.

Sorry not sure if you mentioned about this before, what is the exact dosage you are using?

 

[b0bab0ey]

WWM has places you can get quinine on the website

I've read that Quinine Sulfate is an acceptable substitute for Chloroquine, as CP is a derivative of QS. But supposedly CP is gentler on the fish.

Sorry not sure if you mentioned about this before, what is the exact dosage you are using?

40mg per gal

Day 2: This morning before work I noticed the tang acted like she was going to scratch on the bottom of the tank (several times)... but didn't. Weird. She also was racing all over the tank. She's done this before. 0 ammonia, everyone else looked fine.

 

[Paul B]

I have used a similar malaria medication numerous times. Quinicrine hydrocloride which I mix with copper will "clear" visable ich from a fish in about 24 hours but the fish needs ten days for a cure.
It is a prescription and not easy to get. I am not sure anything you can get in a pet shop will be the real thing, especially if it is a prescription med.

 

[b0bab0ey]

I have used a similar malaria medication numerous times. Quinicrine hydrocloride which I mix with copper will "clear" visable ich from a fish in about 24 hours but the fish needs ten days for a cure.
It is a prescription and not easy to get. I am not sure anything you can get in a pet shop will be the real thing, especially if it is a prescription med.

How much copper do you dose with it? I might experiment mixing CP w/copper down the road.

 

[b0bab0ey]

Day 3 update: Last night when I got home the tank had a foul smell coming from it. But no smell this morning. Seachem Ammonia Alert badge & Salifert Ammonia test both show 0 ammonia. I'm fairly certain the Seachem badge is still accurate, but I'm not sure if CP affects ammonia test kits like copper does, giving false readings.

Fish are eating well. Tang is eating her nori and they all readily accept mysis, brine, clams, shrimp, flake food, etc. I did see the tang twitch twice last night but at least she isn't racing all over the tank twitching, scratching like crazy like she was before. She seems very calm, almost tranquil. The only thing that's weird and different is she will sometimes pace back & forth against the side glass, almost like she's looking at herself. Maybe she's just stoned

I've read varying opinions on how long it takes for CP to be effective. Some say it works almost instantly, some say a week, some say 2-3 weeks. I guess I'll keep the fish medicated for 2-3 weeks to be sure and then see what happens. If the tang's symptoms completely go away or come back.

 

[Paul B]

How much copper do you dose with it?

The same amount of copper you does if you just use copper alone.
Remember I only used it with quinicrine hydrocloride, I am not sure if quinine sulfate is the same thing or if it can be mixed with copper.

 

[alprazo]

Quinicrine works by the same mechanism as quinine and chloroquine. It tends to turn everything yellow. For a while it was unavailable in the US but now can be purchased.

Against Plasmodium, there are some reports of complexed copper being synergistic with chloroquine.

IME, if your fish had Ich or Velvet, It should be clinically free of disease at this point. Must finish treatment though

 

[b0bab0ey]

IME, if your fish had Ich or Velvet, It should be clinically free of disease at this point. Must finish treatment though

So how long until treatment is finished? I was figuring 2-3 weeks?

Tang looks really good this evening btw. Very active, eating anything/everything she can. Have not seen her twitch/rub once today. It's almost like CP is an appetite stimulant. All of the fish are very active, very responsive, almost like they're begging for food. They were all kind of lethargic before.