Think I might lose Charles Dickens

[aquadonkey]

Hi URS. I put my fish in QT on Monday after spotting some white spots on one of my juvenile clowns. I have 3 fish - a false perc pair (very small about one inch long) and a yellow watchman goby.
I started treating with Herbtana on Monday night and did a 20% WC today. I wasn't able to syphon any of the bottom water because I couldn't get the syphon going, so I just pulled from the top with a cup.
The original clown that had the spots (just a few small spots on his fins) is not doing well now. The spots are gone, but he stays in his little section of PVC and hasn't eaten at all today. He came out briefly at feeding time - both times, but didn't actually swallow anything. I'm very new, so I'm not totally familiar with these fish - I know they have a wobbly swimming motion, but he seems more unstable than before. I've also noticed him resting (for a second tops) on the bottom and rubbing himself a bit.
Maybe he thinks his little pipe is a coral and he's trying to host?
Any advice?
Thanks!

 

[aww_419]

hes probably still trying to rub off the ich. Herbtana is not a great product IMO. When i researched with my problem I saw a lot of negative feedback for it. not too mention the description states that it does not kill ich. But never the less if you keep the water pristine and feed often you should be in the clear. If you dont QT and treat and keep the display fishless for at least 8 weeks you will always have ich. But with good quality specs and well fed happy fish, ich shouldnt be an issue

 

[Conesus_Kid]

I haven't heard of Herbtana, but I'm willing to be that your QT tank does not have an established biological filter and your fish are suffering from the effects of ammonia in the tank.

I recommend an in-tank sponge filter driven by an air pump: inexpensive and effective. It will take a while to establish the nitrifying bacteria, so you'll need to do large, frequent water changes, (probably daily).

Proper copper treatment and leaving the display fishless for 8 weeks are both well-proven to have an ich-free aquarium.

If you decide to go with copper, you need to make sure you have an accurate test kit to maintain therapeutic levels. And DO NOT, I repeat: DO NOT use an ammonia locking product (like Amquel) when treating with copper. It WILL kill your fish.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[aquadonkey]

Thanks for the replies.
Charles Dickens looks a bit better this morning, but still didn't eat. He showed more interest in food, but still spit out anything he tried, or lost interest before he got all the way to it. The other two seem to have recovered from the move and are getting back to their normal selves.

Conesus_Kid - I'm not totally sure about my biological filter, but I have tried to establish one. I'm using the HOB bio-wheel filter that was on my 29g DT (before I added a sump). The filter itself had dried out, but I was keeping the wheel in the sump, so hopefully that has some good bacteria in it. Also, I have been adding a handful of LS from the DT (have more sand than I want, and I'm taking it from a different place every day) into the QT once a day.

I also did a 20% WC yesterday (put them in on Monday). I was thinking about doing 10% daily instead - would this be better?

Thanks!

 

[Conesus_Kid]

I would test for ammonia daily and use that as a gauge to determine the size of your WC.

If you do plan on treating w/copper, I would actually do a 100% water change (with aged ASW) so the Herbtana is out of the picture. I have no idea what it contains, and I'd hate to see any reaction with the copper.

Good luck!