Purple Tang, ICH, Opinion Please!

[ca1ore]

OK, bought a few fish last weekend and put them into my observation QT. This is NOT a tank for treatment, just for observation. One fish, a purple tang, is showing signs of ich, so I will move him into my treatment QT (aka, HT) and run a course of cupramine. What to do with the other fish though, a potters angel and two bartlet anthias? At this point, I assume they have ich, but no symptoms yet. I guess what I will do is to continue to observe them where they are and treat as symptoms emerge. How long to wait before concluding they are not infected, 8 weeks, less?

Thanks in advance!

 

[HumbleFish]

IMO, any fish that shares water with an Ich-infected fish must also be considered infected. Is this true 100% of the time? No, but the odds say the risk is too great to ignore. You can observe, and still miss symptoms if they are subtle enough. Cysts don't always form if a fish has Ich.

 

[ca1ore]

Sensible perspective, no question. I am hopeful that as the Tang was only in the observation QT for a couple of days, and has just a few ich spots, that the other fish will 'dodge the bullet', but we will see. Don't really want to have to treat the potters angel with cupramine if I can possibly avoid it.

 

[scuzy]

I would treat them all. I am now a firm believer of chloroquine phosphate. It's a lot easier on the fishes than copper

 

[Dapg8gt]

What about using chloroquine? Seems better than copper IMO. I have bought some just to have in case I need it in qt.. Sure you've seen it but here's a link..Said to be easier on the fish in general and works great from what I've read. No experience yet though
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2013/2/fish

Edit.. Scuzy beat me to it =).

 

[ca1ore]

Unfortunately, amongst the varied array of fish and invert medications and treatments in my fish room medicine cabinet, CP is not to be found! I have not seen it for sale in any of my usual retail or online suspects, could you tell me where you got it from (maybe from a local vet)?

 

[Dapg8gt]

http://kmaintl.homestead.com

He's local to me but I'm sure you can get it on ebay..

 

[MrTuskfish]

I'm really starting to like CP too.

Don't forget to leave your observation tank fishless for at least 12 weeks.

 

[ca1ore]

Don't forget to leave your observation tank fishless for at least 12 weeks.

For now my Potters and Bartletts are still in the tank - showing no signs of ich yet. Do you think that if they continue to show no symptoms, and do not for 12 weeks, that I'd be in the clear? Obviously if they show symptoms, then its into the HT they go and then observation tank goes fallow for 12. I guess I probably shouldn't even use it as a QT for inverts then either.

 

[Deinonych]

For now my Potters and Bartletts are still in the tank - showing no signs of ich yet. Do you think that if they continue to show no symptoms, and do not for 12 weeks, that I'd be in the clear? Obviously if they show symptoms, then its into the HT they go and then observation tank goes fallow for 12. I guess I probably shouldn't even use it as a QT for inverts then either.

I personally would not take the risk. I would assume all fish have been exposed and need treatment.

 

[EllieSuz]

I can't see any reason you couldn't QT inverts in the observation tank. They are not affected (or infected) by Ich. If this observation tank is bare bottomed and doesn't contain rock, just PVC hidey holes, you could empty it, maybe give it a vinegar bath, dry it out and you'd be good to go. If it contains sand and rock, it's 12 weeks fallow as Mr. Tuskfish advises. Keep us posted.

 

[ca1ore]

I can't see any reason you couldn't QT inverts in the observation tank. If it contains sand and rock, it's 12 weeks fallow as Mr. Tuskfish advises. Keep us posted.

Indeed it is a 'full reef tank', just smaller so if ich proves pervasive then fallow will be the way to go. We'll see ....

 

[ca1ore]

I can't see any reason you couldn't QT inverts in the observation tank. They are not affected (or infected) by Ich.

Just seems like I've see folks who claim an ich infection in their DT from a piece of coral - and while the odds of that seem long, I'd become a serial user of the head-banger smilies if my QT efforts were all for naught because of a tomont riding along with a new clam

 

[ca1ore]

I'm really starting to like CP too.

Don't forget to leave your observation tank fishless for at least 12 weeks.

So, if I start with cupramine, can I switch to CP when it arrives (just ordered some), or just continue with copper? Figure it will be about a week of copper before I could start CP.

 

[MrTuskfish]

So, if I start with cupramine, can I switch to CP when it arrives (just ordered some), or just continue with copper? Figure it will be about a week of copper before I could start CP.

From post #9 above: Fish can easily carry ich without you seeing it. Ich loves the gills. I would always treat any fish that had been exposed to ich, no matter how briefly.

Just use one med. You'd have to remove all of the copper (I assume) before adding the CP. This is an open window for ich and the clock would have to re-start.

 

[ca1ore]

So, I've decide to just continue with cupramine. Used a seeded filter from my DT, but still showing ammonia on reagent test. I have been doing regular water changes, but now I read that cupramaine actually shows a false positive on the test - %&*#$%^!! Last time I put a fish through copper (6 years ago), don't remember this problem. Great W/Q in the QT though . purple looking much better; no sign of any white spots. Remaining fish in the intro tank also clear so far.

 

[Deinonych]

So, I've decide to just continue with cupramine. Used a seeded filter from my DT, but still showing ammonia on reagent test. I have been doing regular water changes, but now I read that cupramaine actually shows a false positive on the test - %&*#$%^!! Last time I put a fish through copper (6 years ago), don't remember this problem. Great W/Q in the QT though . purple looking much better; no sign of any white spots. Remaining fish in the intro tank also clear so far.

I use a Seachem ammonia badge to keep track of ammonia levels in my QT. It (according to SeaChem) will not read false positives from the amine complex in Cupramine.

 

[ca1ore]

I have one, but wasn't using it :headwalls: Is funny, no matter how long one has been in the hobby, never to old or jaded to learn something new ....

 

[ca1ore]

Almost two weeks and no sign of ich on the Bartlett's or the potters. Looks as if I got the purple tang out in time.

 

[jduck]

Almost two weeks and no sign of ich on the Bartlett's or the potters. Looks as if I got the purple tang out in time.

Jut because you don't see any signs of it does not mean that it is not in their gills. Or one spot you are overlooking. Just treat them tank transfer, CP, copper and then there are no worries.