Tank transfer method and adding a fish during a cycle.

[Revmedia]

I have two black and white occelaris in my QT right now, and they came down with what I thought was Brooklynella. I have them for about 4 days before they showed any symptoms. One got sick and died overnight (within about 12 hours). White splotchy stuff. I got some formalin (Rid Ich) and treated the second one with a bath for about 35 minutes.

Tonight, the LFS replaced the one that died. He seemed to think it wasn't Brooklynella, but Ich.

I was planning to do the tank transfer on these guys even before they showed symptoms, so I figure between the formalin and TT, they should be OK.

However, I started the TT method yesterday so, the first transfer should occur on Sunday if I've got this all correct.

My question is, what to do with my replacement clown? If I put him in with the other, am I safe in just transferring him on Sunday with his mate?

Since the whole point of the TT is to do it when the cysts drop, will putting a new fish in set me back, or worse cause two cycles? Or, as I suspect, since it's not in the free swimming stage, will the new fish just get infected (if at all) when the new cycle starts?

I'd rather not put the new fish in at all, but I have no where else to put him, and they both came from the same tank originally, so, it is what it is.

Please let me know what the best course of action is.

Thanks!

 

[Dr. Reef]

if they all came from same tank then it can be assumed that they all may have ich. under that assumption i will treat both together in ur hospital tanks.

 

[fishgate]

I would definitely delay transferring to the DT for another week at least.

 

[MrTuskfish]

I replied to your post in the disease section. The symptoms you describe; "white splotchy stuff" along with the quick death sound much more like brooklynella than ich. A pic would help.

 

[Revmedia]

Thank you all for the replies. Both clowns are eating well, and the sick one looks much better after the Formalin dip.

The white splotchy stuff has gone and now the surviving clown does indeed have some salt like spots. Could it be that he had brook and ich? I plan to do a formalin dip again on Sunday morning before transferring them for the first time.

The LFS that I got these guys from is 2 hours away, and I've already brought the new clown home.

I'm not sure I 100% understand the fine details of why the TT method works. If I simply add another week onto the TT time, should that insure I get it all?

Ich cysts are only contagious in the free swimming stage correct? Or is it just that we're transferring the fish around enough that Ich in different cycles of life is eventually taken care of anyway?

If the new fish is carrying Ich in a different life stage than the other clown, won't there be two consecutive Ich cycles happening? Maybe not, but this is what I'm worried about. The new fish "reinfecting" the old by dropping cysts on a different schedule.

It sounds like I should just carry on with my TT plan, and add another week onto it?

Thanks again!

 

[MuffsAbby]

As for the fine details as to how the TT method works (although I'm no expert): When you transfer the fish from the first tank to the second tank, you dispose of the water and thoroughly sterilize the first tank, thus eliminating any ich that is in the water, on the glass, etc.. Of course, there's always a chance that ich made its way into the second tank, either because the ich was on the fish (the trophont stage) or because it's impossible to transfer a fish without transferring at least a little bit water as well, and perhaps there were parasites in that little bit of water. So, you do the transfer a few times with the expectation that any ich (trophonts) on the fish will drop off at some point prior to the next transfer(s), and will thus be eliminated when you sterilize the tank the next time(s) around.

If we treat the day you get the fish as Day 1, then you should transfer on every third day (Day 4, Day 7, etc.), preferably first thing in the morning. Of course, you got the two fish on two different days, so I understand your predicament. As you suggest, you could treat the day the first fish went into the tank as Day 1 and go from there"¦but then add one more transfer at the end to be on the safe side.

Also to be on the safe side (re: brook vs. ich), you might want to post a pic for Mr.Tuskfish, since he's our expert.