Blue tang has bad white spots

[Biznizface]

Hi have had a small blue tang (22mm long) in CP for two weeks and was fine eating etc but now has white spots smothering him noticed today 14 days into CP treatment.

Anything I can do ? Different treatments etc ?
It seems the CP isn't working ?

Sorry for the bad photo

 

[Humblefish]

Sounds like velvet, but can you post a photo to confirm that diagnosis?

Also, where did you get your CP from and what dosage did you administer?

 

[Biznizface]

Added photo to original post.

Put two tabs in and a further one after a 10L water change.

Did another water change tonight and added a further 1 and a half tabs.

 

[Humblefish]

I can't tell much from that pic. However, there's something you need to know (below) about CP tablets:

In most cases, 250 mg tablets have an equivalence of 150 mg chloroquine base, and 500 mg tablets have an equivalence of 300 mg chloroquine base. Although the purity mentioned above is generally accurate, it would be best to verify the chloroquine base contained in the tablets of your choice in order to be able to properly calculate the exact dosage. Keep in mind if you decide to use the tablets, there are some inactive ingredients, which you may have to deal with, e.g., Camauba Wax, Colloidal Silicon Dioxide, Dibasic Calcium Phosphate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Magnesium Stearate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Polyethylene Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Pregelatinized Starch, Sodium Starch Glycolate, Stearic Acid, and Titanium Dioxide. And as mentioned earlier in this chapter there are occasions where some medicines are not in their pure form (100% pure), i.e., mixed with a substance called a 'carrier,' which should be noted on its label. If so its potency is reduced, and if not sure about the exact amount of medication needed, suggest contacting a more experienced aquarist for the way to resolve this situation.

But underdosing might have actually saved this fish's life, as Hippo Tangs are notoriously intolerant of Chloroquine. If this is ich or velvet (which it sounds/looks to be), I would switch over to copper ASAP.

 

[Biznizface]

We have spoke before regarding doses etc here in UK there's a different mindset. I posted a thread link on this sites CP thread.

So anyway how would I go about changing to copper do I have to change all the water out or how would I do it also what treatment do I need is it Cupramine ?

 

[aykwm]

So anyway how would I go about changing to copper do I have to change all the water out or how would I do it also what treatment do I need is it Cupramine ?

Since there is no test kits for CP its advisable to change all water to be on the safe side, although carbon might break it up. And for copper treatment you can use any copper medication available, be sure to have a test kit as you need to test daily or twice daily. Cupramine is one of the safest copper based medication and dosage can reach 0.8 before poisoning the fish, while your target is above 0.35, around 0.4-0.5. You need to increase the dosage slowly, but since this is a suspected marine velvet infection, you can expedite it to 48 hours because marine velvet is a fast killer. Again make sure you always test, and when doing a water change, mix copper to the required level before adding it to the tank. If copper dropped below 0.35 ppm, you return to day 0 of treatment.

*Avoid adding LR or anything porous as these will fluctuate the copper reading by absorbing and releasing copper, making copper go below 0.35 or above 0.8 very likely and either the treatment fails or you poison the fish.

 

[Biznizface]

Ok will be home in around 8 hours at work now will add carbon to the internal filter on the QT then after I've slept will go get some cupramine and a copper test kit.

Just hope the fish is still alive by this point looked pretty bad when I left for work although he still ate.

 

[aykwm]

Carbon will need time to deactivate the CP, less than a day might not be enough. Some people say it can take up to a week, that's why changing the water is the safest bet.

 

[Humblefish]

As stated above, carbon removes CP fairly quickly. However, since you can technically mix the two, CP does not have to be 100% removed before dosing copper.

A freshwater dip and/or acriflavine bath might buy you some time if he looks really bad off.

 

[Biznizface]

What about the other fish in with him, orange spot goby and wreckfish anthia, that are showing no sign of WS I assume i have to leave them in with the blue tang ?

Not sure a Fw dip is a good idea he is so small just 22mm

 

[aykwm]

Yes you need to treat them with him, if one fish in tank shows signs of velvet, then other fish will have it even if they show no signs.
If you don't want to do FW bath, you can do acriflavinelavine bath as stated by Humblefish. The purpose of doing one of both is it reliefs the fish from the parasites, so it has higher probability of surviving the attack.

 

[Biznizface]

I have this product at home is this ok for this purpose ?

 

[Humblefish]

@Biznizface Yes, that product will help (as a bath) or can also be mixed with copper.

Active ingredients:

• Malachite Green 0.17% w/v
• Formaldehyde 0.24% w/v
• Acriflavine 0.11% w/v

Source: http://www.masa.asn.au/masawiki/index.php/Myxazin

 

[Biznizface]

So when I get home do a bath with the myxazin product with the blue tang only in a separate bucket then add carbon to the filter in the QT leave that running for probably 8 hours then go to LFS get the copper med then add that to QT get upto the required level within 48 hours then how long leave in the QT at the correct dosage and any water changes during this time and also do I feed as normal ?

 

[Humblefish]

So when I get home do a bath with the myxazin product with the blue tang only in a separate bucket then add carbon to the filter in the QT leave that running for probably 8 hours then go to LFS get the copper med then add that to QT get upto the required level within 48 hours then how long leave in the QT at the correct dosage and any water changes during this time and also do I feed as normal ?

I would treat with copper for 30 days. Feed normally and do WCs as needed, to control ammonia or tidy up the QT.

 

[Biznizface]

The QT has been running for a long time so not sure would be any ammonia issues. Just have a plastic plumbing fitting in there.

Water changes would make getting dosage back to stated levels a bit of a nightmare right ?

 

[aykwm]

why not do it for all fish? you can use the same water to bath all fish, it will provide relief for them. As mentioned earlier, if a fish shows the signs then all fish in that tank has it, especially true for marine velvet. I had a marine velvet wipe out and some fish died with no visible signs at all.

Also after adding the fish to Qt start increasing dosage to around 0.5 (ionic copper like cuperamine) or 2 for chelated copper (copper safe) check the labels to know which level is required and what type of copper it is. Make sure you have copper test kit to ensure you are always above the minimum level. You would need to treat for 30 days to ensure that no more parasites exist.

When doing water changes, ensure you mix copper to the water before adding it to the quarantine to ensure the copper does not drop to low levels. If copper drops below therapeutic levels, you return to day 0. For food, keep feeding normally, some fish might stop eating, if this happens, soak food with garlic.

More about copper treatment here:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/copper-treatment.193343/

 

[aykwm]

Water changes would make getting dosage back to stated levels a bit of a nightmare right ?

You should mix copper to the water before adding to the tank to ensure copper will not drop below therapeutic level, if it dropped below that you need to repeat the treatment (start at day 0)

 

[Humblefish]

Water changes would make getting dosage back to stated levels a bit of a nightmare right ?

You would have to dose any replacement water with copper. You don't want the Cu level fluctuating, even for a few seconds.

 

[Biznizface]

Ok will have to do at least one water change during 30 days so will do one after 15 days.

I know I can get Cupramine from my LFS just hope the instructions are not to confusing..