Blue Hippo Tang Copper Irritation

[Drewb628]

I have my 3 fish in a QT from a marine velvet outbreak. They are 1 day away from the 6 week fallow mark. I'm planning on waiting till this weekend to start the transfer though to give a couple of buffer days.

The past week my Blue Hippo Tang is showing signs of HLLE, and has been very lethargic. I don't notice him eating, but I do have a nori clip in the tank so he could be grazing when I'm not around. He also just sits under the sponge. Today I noticed some bumps on his side, and after doing some research it appears to be a reaction to the copper (cupramine). I would have thought most of it was gone after multiple water changes to try and help his HLLE. They aren't white, and he's not hanging around the flow area so I'm fairly certain it's not ICH or velvet.

I'm going to grab some beta-glucan to help out his immune system. My question is do I need to keep him in the QT after the fallow is up? Most of his problems aren't getting better in there, and the larger tank would hopefully increase his mood. I read that the bumps are an infection from the irritation of the copper, and not sure that poses any problems for the DT. Any help would be great.

 

[PTXReef]

I personally wouldn’t want to risk putting him back in the DT, but I would definitely introduce more variety and vitamins in his diet. I was in a similar situation with my yellow and blue hippo after a long cupramine treatment + carbon. They are making a steady recovery from HLLE with lots of nori, frozen mysis, frozen spirulina brine, some seaweed delight all soaked in selcon and reef plus. I tried garlic but it seemed to be too strong or not that enticing to my tangs. They kinda twitch when it hits the water and dart away. Otherwise they have returned to their fat and healthy state (just some HLLE that’s a bit displeasing to the eye).

 

[piranhaman00]

Im assuming you did a 30 day cupramine treatment when you say you did water changes to bring the levels down yes? Thats probably what is causing the issues.

HLLE can be reversed with vitamins in food. I would get him back in the DT after fallow. That fallow period is the absolute max time too btw. You will be good

 

[Drewb628]

Im assuming you did a 30 day cupramine treatment when you say you did water changes to bring the levels down yes? Thats probably what is causing the issues.

HLLE can be reversed with vitamins in food. I would get him back in the DT after fallow. That fallow period is the absolute max time too btw. You will be good

Yeah it was 4 weeks on cupramine, so close to 30 days. I did 2 water changes in week 5 to lower the copper, and then did a 50% change this week when he was showing signs of HLLE. The QT was the only thing I could get at the time so he's a little cramped in there and I was thinking that wasn't helping him improve either.

Thank You for the advice!

 

[Drewb628]

I personally wouldn’t want to risk putting him back in the DT, but I would definitely introduce more variety and vitamins in his diet. I was in a similar situation with my yellow and blue hippo after a long cupramine treatment + carbon. They are making a steady recovery from HLLE with lots of nori, frozen mysis, frozen spirulina brine, some seaweed delight all soaked in selcon and reef plus. I tried garlic but it seemed to be too strong or not that enticing to my tangs. They kinda twitch when it hits the water and dart away. Otherwise they have returned to their fat and healthy state (just some HLLE that’s a bit displeasing to the eye).

Okay, he still has a few days left on fallow. I have been feeding him nori, frozen mysis and extreme seaweed (I think that's what it's called - they're pellets). I will have to pick up some additives to help out as well.

Thank you for the advice!

 

[PTXReef]

Okay, he still has a few days left on fallow. I have been feeding him nori, frozen mysis and extreme seaweed (I think that's what it's called - they're pellets). I will have to pick up some additives to help out as well.

Thank you for the advice!

I was seeing results with just the nori and selcon (I add 0.75 mL soaked in 3”x3” nori daily which I shread to bite sized pieces so they can consume it quicker). Decided to add the rest because it was recommended by my LFS m. The owner is treating a yellow tang with HLLE that they got as a donation with the same food. Hope it helps!

 

[Drewb628]

I was seeing results with just the nori and selcon (I add 0.75 mL soaked in 3”x3” nori daily which I shread to bite sized pieces so they can consume it quicker). Decided to add the rest because it was recommended by my LFS m. The owner is treating a yellow tang with HLLE that they got as a donation with the same food. Hope it helps!

I will have to grab some selcon to dose it with. Now I just have hope he eats it!