Royal Gramma flashing after 5 weeks in QT

fifthtoe

Member
I have a royal gramma in qt that just started flashing 5 times in a row last night. It is going on it's 5th week of Cupramine at 0.5ppm (Salifert) and 3 Prazipro treatments. I haven't seen it flash since, but what are some things that would cause this behavior that Cupramine and Prazipro wouldn't treat? Kinda sucks because I was almost ready to put him into the display tank next week.
 
We're you treating with cupramine for a reason or just prophylactically? Does he have any spots? Were flukes confirmed via FW dip?
 
My RG flashes every now and then (as in, once every couple of weeks). He had an eye infection when he was in QT, and I figure it still bothers him from time to time even though it is clear. Sometimes fish just get an itch and need to scratch. I would keep an eye on him and keep track of how often it happens.
 
Treatment was prophylactic. I never did a freshwater dip but I did see a couple spots on him that cleared up soon after the second prazipro treatment. I haven't seen any spots on him in two or three weeks. I just found it odd that he did it five times in a row.
 
Flukes will not present as a spot on a fish like crypto. Because they are clear and flat they disappear on the fish. That is until they are exposed to a different salinity, as in a FW dip, where they become opaque.
I agree with Chris, sometimes a fish just has an itch:) Five times in a row is a bit much so keep an eye on him.
 
Although 5 weeks of Cu will almost always get all the parasites, like everything about ich, nothing is 100% This is why I always observe for at least 2-3 weeks after Cu treatment is finished. This sticky by Snorvich shows the problem, you just need the 1st post:http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2041951 If you need a 2nd round of copper, I'd remove the Cu in the tank, let the fish have some copper-free time, and be sure he's eating well before dosing again. Just a heads up: basslets, like RGs are tough to cure once they develop ich or similar parasites. I have no idea why.

As much as I like copper, I think tank-transfer would offer the best odds of eradicating ich within a given time frame.
 
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