Can an Isopod survive copper?

[ngoodermuth]

There have been two other threads with some sort of parasite that sounds similar to what you are dealing with. Formalin, prazipro, general cure, freshwater dips, and copper have been ineffective.

I sent pictures from one of them to humblefish, and he thought that is might be a parasitic crustacean from the Argulus genus.

Does this look at all like what you are seeing?

Were you able to get any clearer photos?

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

Okay so my weekend plans got derailed. My Apex went down and I spent all weekend figuring out back ups.

Noticed some antennas hanging out of my tangs mouth and a couple new spots on my Marine Betta. I am now fairly certain it's isopods. Will a fresh water dip get them to detach? Also-why is copper not killing them?

I’m not sure there is a treatment other than manual removal. The problem is once removed the fish will no longer have a tongue and could possibly bleed to death from the attachment point of the isopod.
I’ve found some info on them but there isn’t a lot out there for our fish as this is pretty rare.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cymothoa_exigua

When you watch this video don’t be eating anything. This manual removal on a larger scale.

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

Here’s another informative video

 

[seaplane]

Did you see anything come off during the dip? I don’t know if you’ve seen this video, but shows you what I mean... the little white-ish colored sesame seed shaped things flying around are flukes:

is there a concern that the flukes may be "splashed " into the DT by the air bubbles??

 

[AMBER NICHOLS]

There have been two other threads with some sort of parasite that sounds similar to what you are dealing with. Formalin, prazipro, general cure, freshwater dips, and copper have been ineffective.

I sent pictures from one of them to humblefish, and he thought that is might be a parasitic crustacean from the Argulus genus.

Does this look at all like what you are seeing?

Were you able to get any clearer photos?

I am getting my dip water up to temp. I will try for better picture in a bit. that top picture outline is similar to what is on the marine betta but need to get closer to really see it. Will update again in a couple hours.

 

[ngoodermuth]

is there a concern that the flukes may be "splashed " into the DT by the air bubbles??

Usually, this is done in the tank the fish came from so I think it’s assuming that if the fish has flukes, the tank does too.

If you are doing it on an incoming fish that you aren’t planning to put into a QT tank... then I wouldn’t suggest doing it inside of a display tank like this. A separate bucket or container with a small heater to regulate temperature, would be better. A black or dark bucket would make it easier to see flukes after the dip.

Keep in mind, if the dip does reveal flukes and you’ve put the fish in your display tank afterwards anyway... the display would then need to be treated via prazipro.

 

[ngoodermuth]

I am getting my dip water up to temp. I will try for better picture in a bit. that top picture outline is similar to what is on the marine betta but need to get closer to really see it. Will update again in a couple hours.

The first picture is from one of the other current cases, the second is of an argulus. It could be a different species of argulus, or something else altogether. We haven’t had a positive ID so far.... just multiple cases that all popped up at once.

When I was giving the details to humble, he was surprised that the copper had no effect on it :/

Do let us know how you make out with the dip!

 

[AMBER NICHOLS]

The first picture is from one of the other current cases, the second is of an argulus. It could be a different species of argulus, or something else altogether. We haven’t had a positive ID so far.... just multiple cases that all popped up at once.

When I was giving the details to humble, he was surprised that the copper had no effect on it :/

Do let us know how you make out with the dip!

I think I will have a better chance of a good picture on the tang. Betta is too spotty.

 

[AMBER NICHOLS]

Here’s another informative video

Yikes. Hoping it's not the tongue eating kind

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

Yikes. Hoping it's not the tongue eating kind

Me too! I wish you the best

 

[AMBER NICHOLS]

Nothing came off and I 100% failed at getting pictures. Those 5 mins were so fast and the tang turned into a whack job. Kept trying to jump out of bucket, it was an awful 5 mins for me. MB just chilled but tang was so nuts.

Only worthy picture I got was of my Hanna Cooper checker...of which was high. 2.19...eek. That is all under control. (Stinking water changes.)

I may try again this weekend when my husband is home so I have a spare set of arms! I am due to start filtering out copper this weekend. I guess I just start going into observation for the next two weeks? Remove all meds and see what happens? Sunday will be 4 weeks of copper.

 

[ngoodermuth]

2.19 isn’t too bad actually, you probably could have just let it be [emoji12]

After 30 days, remove copper and wait at least 2 weeks (or however long it take to figure out that parasite...) before adding to your display. I wouldn’t put them in there if they still have the parasites attached though...

 

[AMBER NICHOLS]

2.19 isn’t too bad actually, you probably could have just let it be.

After 30 days, remove copper and wait at least 2 weeks (or however long it take to figure out that parasite...) before adding to your display. I wouldn’t put them in there if they still have the parasites attached though...

Yeah I guess one last copper boost to kill any stragglers. I am going out of the country next week so I won't see these guys until I get back in 2 weeks. They will hangout in QT likes it's their permanent palace.

 

[ccombs]

I am sorry for your troubles. On a somewhat brighter note, this thread has been very informative and mind blowing for me.

I hope everything works out for you and the fish, you are in great hands with @Frtdrmrose7 and @ngoodermuth !

 

[ngoodermuth]

IF it is fish lice (argulus), you could try treating with dimilin-x.

It’s more often used in ponds for koi, so the dosage is like 5ml per 500 gallons lol But, it’s supposedly non-toxic to fish at any concentration so you can’t really “overdose”. I’ve found a recommendation of 1/8 teaspoon per 10 gallons in for use in QT. You do need several doses though, to account for eggs... it says 2-3 doses given at 1 week intervals. It’s NOT reef safe, so would have to happen in QT.

I don’t have any first hand experience with this... just passing along what I’ve managed to dig-up in various koi forums lol It’s more often a freshwater or tropical parasite, but there are some marine species as well. If one happened into a large supplier holding system and reproduced, could explain the recent emergence of several cases at once...

 

[AMBER NICHOLS]

IF it is fish lice (argulus), you could try treating with dimilin-x.

It’s more often used in ponds for koi, so the dosage is like 5ml per 500 gallons lol But, it’s supposedly non-toxic to fish at any concentration so you can’t really “overdose”. I’ve found a recommendation of 1/8 teaspoon per 10 gallons in for use in QT. You do need several doses though, to account for eggs... it says 2-3 doses given at 1 week intervals. It’s NOT reef safe, so would have to happen in QT.

I don’t have any first hand experience with this... just passing along what I’ve managed to dig-up in various koi forums lol It’s more often a freshwater or tropical parasite, but there are some marine species as well. If one happened into a large supplier holding system and reproduced, could explain the recent emergence of several cases at once...

Good to know. I will read up and see what happens when I get back

 

[AMBER NICHOLS]

When I returned from vacation whatever was on them was gone. Both fish have transitioned to DT and are doing great [emoji4] wish I could have figured out what it was.