Clownfish in QT

[Heavymman]

Ok so it’s been a long haul, I started with a pair of clowns and a purple firefish in QT about 6 weeks ago. The firefish didn’t make it past a day (I believe succumbed to velvet). Clowns underwent a strict copper treatment (.50 Cupramine for 30 days). Than after a few days out of copper I noticed them being a little lethargic. At that point, I FW dipped both of them. I didn’t notice any flukes in the bucket but maybe they were too small for me to see (I noticed flukes present when I FW dipped all 3 fish initially). That being said , I started dosing GC as per instructions and I will be performing a water Change tomorrow.

The clowns have been pretty lethargic like, almost “hosting underneath the pvc pipe”. I noticed a little redness by the gill areas and one was excreting a stringy like feces but not like the long ones I see when they have internal parasites, like 3mm long pinkish feces.

That being said I wanted to see if maybe I am doing thing right, and the GC is working. Also should I redose again next week just to be sure? I am just dedicated to getting these guys back to full health and I would appreciate some insight and reinsurance from the experts.... thanks as always!

 

[DarkSky]

.50 Cupramine

When you say .50 cupramine, do you mean 0.50 ppm copper?

 

[Heavymman]

When you say .50 cupramine, do you mean 0.50 ppm copper?

Yes

 

[DarkSky]

Yes

How'd you measure that, and decide on 0.50ppm Cu?

 

[Heavymman]

How'd you measure that, and decide on 0.50ppm Cu?

It’s ionic copper, it’s the recommended treatment dose for Cupramine and I used the Hanna Copper meter

 

[DarkSky]

It’s ionic copper, it’s the recommended treatment dose for Cupramine and I used the Hanna Copper meter

OK, thanks. I was just asking because the symptoms you listed above sound like too much copper - but it looks like you had that covered.

 

[Heavymman]

OK, thanks. I was just asking because the symptoms you listed above sound like too much copper - but it looks like you had that covered.

That being said, next go around I will use old fashion Chelated copper like copper power. Even with the Hanna checker , I went through a lot of reagent double checking the smaller measurements required for ionic.

 

[Heavymman]

OK, thanks. I was just asking because the symptoms you listed above sound like too much copper - but it looks like you had that covered.

I wonder if the air stone leeched copper and it is releasing into the tank now... I will check copper right now, thanks for that idea

 

[Heavymman]

Copper level is 0, so I think I can rule that out

 

[rkpetersen]

Any chance of an ammonia spike? On my checklist for redness around the gills.

 

[Heavymman]

Any chance of an ammonia spike? On my checklist for redness around the gills.

I have a Seachem badge that looks good to go and I did a water change 3 days ago but I will check that as well with salifert test right now, thanks

 

[Heavymman]

I assumed maybe possible flukes on gills and it got irritated after flukes spasms with GC dosing

 

[rkpetersen]

That being said I wanted to see if maybe I am doing thing right, and the GC is working. Also should I redose again next week just to be sure? I am just dedicated to getting these guys back to full health and I would appreciate some insight and reinsurance from the experts.... thanks as always!

If there were flukes when you first FW dipped then, there are still flukes because copper won't kill them. So I'd do 2 courses of GC, spaced 5-7 days apart, followed by a 25% water change and addition of activated carbon 24 hours after the second dose.

 

[Heavymman]

If there were flukes when you first FW dipped then, there are still flukes because copper won't kill them. So I'd do 2 courses of GC, spaced 5-7 days apart, followed by a 25% water change and addition of carbon 24 hours after the second dose.

Understood, but not sure if flukes were from firefish that died after 1 day of QT... going to take an ammonia test right now

 

[Heavymman]

Ok good news , ammonia at 0 via salifert test kit...

 

[Heavymman]

So weird, clowns were swimming together when I went in there and kind of off the floor of the tank where they have been all day... is it possible that this is just side effects from GC?

 

[Heavymman]

Anyone go through similar symptoms?

 

[Heavymman]

Anyone lol ?

 

[Heavymman]

Ok so it’s been a long haul, I started with a pair of clowns and a purple firefish in QT about 6 weeks ago. The firefish didn’t make it past a day (I believe succumbed to velvet). Clowns underwent a strict copper treatment (.50 Cupramine for 30 days). Than after a few days out of copper I noticed them being a little lethargic. At that point, I FW dipped both of them. I didn’t notice any flukes in the bucket but maybe they were too small for me to see (I noticed flukes present when I FW dipped all 3 fish initially). That being said , I started dosing GC as per instructions and I will be performing a water Change tomorrow.

The clowns have been pretty lethargic like, almost “hosting underneath the pvc pipe”. I noticed a little redness by the gill areas and one was excreting a stringy like feces but not like the long ones I see when they have internal parasites, like 3mm long pinkish feces.

That being said I wanted to see if maybe I am doing thing right, and the GC is working. Also should I redose again next week just to be sure? I am just dedicated to getting these guys back to full health and I would appreciate some insight and reinsurance from the experts.... thanks as always!

Anyone ever deal with this? Trying to save two fish

 

[pshootr]

It seems fairly likely they are being affected by the flukes.I would not expect them to be happy until the GC starts to work. Sounds like you have been doing everything you should be doing.