Sick copperband butterfly

[Sevenhours]

1. How old is this aquarium?

3months

2. If less than six months old, what is ammonia level?

Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = between 20-30ppm

3. What is SG of this aquarium? How measured?

1.025 using a refractometer

4. When was the last fish added to this aquarium?

2 Weeks ago (

5. Was it quarantined? If so, how? And how long? Was it prophylactically treated? How?

No QT, first fish in the tank; I was told all the tanks at the fish shop where I bought him were medicated with copper and broad spec

6. If you are using a copper based medication, which one? How often do you measure level? When?

NA

7. If you are using hyposalinity, how did you calibrate your refractometer?

NA

8. Please describe in detail, the appearance of the fish? If there is one or more pimples, are they lumpy? What color?

Not quite sure how to describe what is happening but as you can see in these pictures there's some discoloration and little black spots on his fins.
This is slowly getting worse





9. Please describe the behavior of the fish as best you can. Is it acting reclusive? Is it always up towards the top of the aquarium? Is it avoiding light? How active is the fish?

Eating well going through a cube and a half a day at this stage. Swims up and down the tank but every now and then will rub against some rocks (flashing?) and go crazy, swimming up and down the glass for long periods of time.
Not avoiding light
Not reclusive, loves attention gets in my face when i try to view the tank
Always swimming around

10. Is the fish eating? What?

Yes going through a cube and a half of a mix of mitis shrimp and some brine shrimp every now and then.

 

[snorvich]

Several things. Non-therapeutic dosing of copper by the LFS can mask certain parasites which may show up in about three weeks time. I can see nothing from the pictures, but ich does not have to present visibly to be present in the gills. If I were to guess, and it is only a guess at this point, the most likely is flukes. However do not assume that your LFS is quarantining for you; you need to quarantine everything wet.

 

[Sevenhours]

Today I notcied two white dust like spots on the fins of the copperband. Putting him in a hospital tank today; going to treat with copper. Is it safe to aldo treat with antibodies at the same size? Trying to cover most of my bases. He's definitely getting worse.

 

[snorvich]

Today I notcied two white dust like spots on the fins of the copperband. Putting him in a hospital tank today; going to treat with copper. Is it safe to aldo treat with antibodies at the same size? Trying to cover most of my bases. He's definitely getting worse.

Twitching? A fresh water dip will confirm flukes. Are the two white spots like "salt"?

 

[Sevenhours]

I would say dusty like in appearance; my hospital tank is un-cycled so it's going to be a very long few weeks.
Currently my attack plan is vertonex for 4 days coupled with stress guard to try and heal some of the damage done by the flashing. After 7 days a 25% water change and a few days of carbon.
Then I'll treat with melafix for 7 days and see how he's looking after that.

My question is can I run something like API ammo lock during this whole time to stop any ammonia spikes causing damage.
Also how viable is my plan?

Thanks for all the reply's snor I really appreciate it

 

[snorvich]

Well, best to see this because "dusting" is more symptomatic of other parasites, especially if it is on the body of the fish. Please describe current behavior.

 

[Sevenhours]

Not on the body it's on the fins will try to get another picture in a second. It's hard to tell because of the damage he's done to himself from scratching

Currently eating as per usual if not more. He was swimming all over the tank and loved sitting in front of the glass while you're trying to view the tank, not reclusive, not trying to swim towards the top etc

I did treat the tank with seachem stress guard to help him repair a little bit before I moved him across to the hospital tank; this seems to have made him a little more docile then usual. Still eating and swimming around, just not as active.

I've been through that sticky a few times, so many conflicting symptoms. The LFS said it looks like velvet but I see no other evidence other then a spot on his tale.

I'd also like to note I haven't seen him flash in the past 2-3 days

 

[snorvich]

With dusting only on the fins, normal behavior, and eating well, I am perplexed. Keep us posted.

 

[Sevenhours]

Is it possible it's stressed induced? Maybe something in the tank is freaking him out to the point he's flashing.
I did pull 2 mantis shrimp out of the tank. I have a pistol (very tiny) floating around somewhere :-/

 

[snorvich]

Is it possible it's stressed induced? Maybe something in the tank is freaking him out to the point he's flashing.
I did pull 2 mantis shrimp out of the tank. I have a pistol (very tiny) floating around somewhere :-/

Stress would induce hiding behavior but not physical symptoms. When fish are stressed, they normally avoid the stress or if aggressive, such as tangs, try to remove th stress. Flashing would normally be flukes (which can be confirmed with a fresh water dip) or some other parasite which may or may not be visible.

 

[Sevenhours]

I've never done a freashwater dip before so I'm reluctant to try it out. I'll do some research and dive in I guess.
Is it wise to treat the whole tank or put him in an un-cycled hospital?

 

[snorvich]

I've never done a freashwater dip before so I'm reluctant to try it out. I'll do some research and dive in I guess.
Is it wise to treat the whole tank or put him in an un-cycled hospital?

Check out the master sticky on Parasites (which be found here) in this forum. It will have all the information you need (for all parasite types) as well as treatment.