Does my fish have ich

dcarrion144 · May 12, 2015

Sorry for the rookie question. I've done allot of research on itch but am not sure if she has it. I need to know what's the deal. Sorry for the pics not being so clear but I did what I could also please answer me if this is contagious

miyags · May 12, 2015

Ich is highly contages, but treatable. I use cuppramine in a QT. Could also have flukes,treat with prazipro. Sorry its hard to tell by pic's, but seems to maybe have both.

Humblefish · May 12, 2015

Just to confirm what I believe I am seeing in your pics... Does the fish have salt or sugar-like “sprinkles” on the body and/or fins?

If so, please look here: https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/fish-disease-treatment-diagnosis/191226-how-treat-ich.html

dcarrion144 · May 15, 2015

I think I mad a bad move not sure if my tang had itch now he is doing worse in the quarantine tank. Now hes breathing heavy are these markings on him bad

dcarrion144 · May 15, 2015

He was fine until I put him in the quarantine tank

dcarrion144 · May 15, 2015

I put him back in the display tank . I know maybe I shouldn't but I think I was killing him in the quarantine tank I need advise

Humblefish · May 15, 2015

That looks like scarring from feeding parasites. What medication(s) were you using to treat him in QT? What was your ammonia reading in QT?

4FordFamily · May 15, 2015

Looks like ich and the repercussions of ich to me

Paul B · May 15, 2015

That fish is in terrible shape and needs copper right away or he may not make it 2 more days

Humblefish · May 15, 2015

Paul B said:
That fish is in terrible shape and needs copper right away or he may not make it 2 more days

+1 After looking at all the pics again, this fish may very well have velvet. Best to play it safe and treat with copper (which treats both ich & velvet.)

dcarrion144 · May 16, 2015

Humblefish said:
+1 After looking at all the pics again, this fish may very well have velvet. Best to play it safe and treat with copper (which treats both ich & velvet.)

I was. I was using copper aid . That treats itch and velvet but he was looking like he was dieing in the QT tank. He wasn't eating and breathing really heavy and very skinny. Once I put him in the display tank he did great. He started eating and swimming around ware in the QT he was on the floor flat and not moving. He now has his belly full and swimming like a champ. I don't know what to do I fell if I put him in the QT tank again he will die but here is a pic I don't understand why he does good here and withers away in the QT tank. Does he look good here? Am I just paranoid and have no clue but don't want to effect my other fish if he is infected. He is actively swimming all around the caves and looks like he is playing around like a little kid in reassess IN CONFUSED BIG TIME GUYS

dcarrion144 · May 16, 2015

One more thing he was only in QT for 3 days and I know that's not enough

Humblefish · May 16, 2015

Did you test for ammonia in QT? If ammonia had started to build up, that would cause him to stop eating and breathe heavy. Or some fish just don't respond well to copper.

dcarrion144 · May 16, 2015

Humblefish said:
Did you test for ammonia in QT? If ammonia had started to build up, that would cause him to stop eating and breathe heavy. Or some fish just don't respond well to copper.

I didnt test for amonia but i took the water from my display tank so there was only alittle if any and when i put the tang back in the display tank he responded almost instantly he looked really bad when i put him in the display tank yesterday and today hes bouncing all over the place like hes bran new. I have a lot of micro bubbles in the tank so idont know if its the bubbles im seeing on his skin but i dont want to be nieve about it either

Humblefish · May 16, 2015

dcarrion144 said:
I didnt test for amonia but i took the water from my display tank so there was only alittle if any and when i put the tang back in the display tank he responded almost instantly he looked really bad when i put him in the display tank yesterday and today hes bouncing all over the place like hes bran new. I have a lot of micro bubbles in the tank so idont know if its the bubbles im seeing on his skin but i dont want to be nieve about it either

Water taken from your display would be fine at first, but after 3 days ammonia would start to build up unless you had biological filtration going in QT or were doing WCs to control the ammonia. What size QT was he in?

dcarrion144 · May 16, 2015

Humblefish said:
Water taken from your display would be fine at first, but after 3 days ammonia would start to build up unless you had biological filtration going in QT or were doing WCs to control the ammonia. What size QT was he in?

20 gallon with a long air stone I didn't run any filtration cuz I was told all u need is a tank water and an air stone no filtration needed. Is that correct? I never had a QT before so I only did what people suggested on you tube. By the way HumblefishThanks for all ur input

Humblefish · May 16, 2015

dcarrion144 said:
20 gallon with a long air stone I didn't run any filtration cuz I was told all u need is a tank water and an air stone no filtration needed. Is that correct? I never had a QT before so I only did what people suggested on you tube. By the way HumblefishThanks for all ur input

You must keep ammonia at 0 at all times with marine animals. Even slight traces can be harmful.

In a QT you can accomplish this 1 of 3 ways:

1. Biological filtration
2. Water changes
3. Ammonia reducer such as Amquel or Prime (however, you cannot use an ammonia reducer in the presence of medications such as copper)

If you haven't already, I recommend reading this guide: https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/fish-disease-treatment-diagnosis/189815-how-quarantine.html

Under the section "Ammonia control", I discuss how to use a cheap HOB power filter as an effective bio-filter in QT.

dcarrion144 · May 16, 2015

Humblefish said:
You must keep ammonia at 0 at all times with marine animals. Even slight traces can be harmful.

In a QT you can accomplish this 1 of 3 ways:

1. Biological filtration
2. Water changes
3. Ammonia reducer such as Amquel or Prime (however, you cannot use an ammonia reducer in the presence of medications such as copper)

If you haven't already, I recommend reading this guide: https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/fish-disease-treatment-diagnosis/189815-how-quarantine.html

Under the section "Ammonia control", I discuss how to use a cheap HOB power filter as an effective bio-filter in QT.

Beautiful thank u . You've been the most help in my troubles. Do u think I should keep him in the display tank. He is doing fine now. I'm not sure

Humblefish · May 16, 2015

dcarrion144 said:
Beautiful thank u . You've been the most help in my troubles. Do u think I should keep him in the display tank. He is doing fine now. I'm not sure

The thing is ... at this point you'd need to QT/treat ALL of your fish and go fallow in the DT for 72 days. Otherwise, the hippo tang will just get reinfected once put back in the DT. If you are unable/unwilling to do this, then "ich management" becomes your next best option: https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/fish-disease-treatment-diagnosis/188775-ich-eradication-vs-ich-management.html

However, if this does turn out to be velvet instead of ich (hard to say at this point), then you could be looking at a complete (fish) wipeout soon.