Disease ID

jk_s124 · Nov 30, 2020

Bought a starki damsel 1 week ago. Had some white cysts and some tattered fins. Also had a vertical wound behind right pectoral fin. Has been in QT since. Started with fresh water dip and then metro and focus in food and metro in water. After initial dip, cysts seemed to drop off and the fish has seemed healthy alert and with appetite. Two days ago switched to general cure for flukes. Damsel started to flash and twitch more after one day of treatment. Today he looks much worse. Cysts are back, cloudy pale look. Not sure what to do.

Jay Hemdal · Nov 30, 2020

Hi,

That is a protozoan infection, most likely ich. If the fish is breathing rapidly, it could possibly be velvet, but I’m seeing ich.
You need to start a copper treatment with a good test kit right away. I always suggest that people begin quarantine with copper, as the protozoan diseases cause problems pretty quickly.

Jay

Topekoms · Nov 30, 2020

Definitely ich I would do a copper treatment

jk_s124 · Nov 30, 2020

Thanks! Is a full water change necessary before copper treatment since I was using general cure? Or can I add copper to the already medicated water?

Jay Hemdal · Nov 30, 2020

jk_s124 said:
Thanks! Is a full water change necessary before copper treatment since I was using general cure? Or can I add copper to the already medicated water?

A water change never hurts, but you can dose copper after GC.
Jay

jk_s124 · Nov 30, 2020

Im ordering copper power from BRS right now. Any advice on what I can do until it arrives? Usually very fast shipping from them as I’m only an hour away from the twin cities.

Jay Hemdal · Nov 30, 2020

jk_s124 said:
Im ordering copper power from BRS right now. Any advice on what I can do until it arrives? Usually very fast shipping from them as I’m only an hour away from the twin cities.

A five minute freshwater dip may buy you some time, but you'll need to get the copper level up to full using a good test kit ASAP> What copper product did you buy?

Jay