Fish in Display with Ich for 4 Hours

[Angelo Fatica]

Hello,

I bought a coral beauty that was supposed to be treated in copper before purchasing. After about 4 hours of being in the tank and the lights went blue, I noticed it had ich on its body. Does this cause concern about it dropping off the fish? Is my tank now infected within such a short span? I yanked him out luckily and am going to bring him back to the seller. Thanks.

 

[TheRealDmorty217]

Here is a good read to educate yourself. It’s hard to say for certain if any protomonts fell off or not. I would venture to say no being it was only 4 hrs.

Ich (Cryptocaryon irritans)

Marine Ich (Cryptocaryon irritans) What You Need To Know: * Mild fish parasite which is often managed by using a UV Sterilizer, Ozone, Diatom Filter, Oxydator, herbal remedies, enhanced nutrition, etc. etc. * Can be treated in a quarantine tank using Hyposalinity, Chloroquine, Copper or...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Jekyl]

Few things here. Firstly stores treating with copper is not uncommon. However, and unfortunately, they don't follow a quarantine protocol. Their levels are merely to reduce infection while waiting to sell their wares. You need to ask more details on the method used. Even then, practice the use of an observation tank, as I don't trust underpaid employees.

Second would be diagnosis. Can you please provide white light photos and a video?

 

[LAReefer4Life]

Are you positive that it is ich?

 

[Angelo Fatica]

@LAReefer4Life @Jekyl
Here are some photos of him. Most definitely ich. Seems to have shown a ton more once he was in the tank probably stressed. Kicking myself for blindly trusting them but it is what it is.

 

[LAReefer4Life]

It does look like ich from the photos. Fingers crossed nothing negative happens

 

[Angelo Fatica]

It does look like ich from the photos. Fingers crossed nothing negative happens

I’m going to have to take a gamble on it. He was in for 4 hours so there is obviously a chance some of it dropped off but there’s also a chance it hasn’t.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello,

I bought a coral beauty that was supposed to be treated in copper before purchasing. After about 4 hours of being in the tank and the lights went blue, I noticed it had ich on its body. Does this cause concern about it dropping off the fish? Is my tank now infected within such a short span? I yanked him out luckily and am going to bring him back to the seller. Thanks.

Here is an example of the power of quarantine. Buying a quaranjtined fish is great but you also have to assume it has something in form of disease and do your own , even short term QT of 14-21 days to assure its disease free and allow it to get accustomed to your water.
If it showed dots within 4 hours, itt likely had it already and do note because sotrores called them Qt'd, they are merely in isolation with lowest copper level possible and not truly quarantined. Ich is present, so prepare to treat in a separate tank using coppersafe or Copper Power at therapeutic level 2.25-2.5 For a FULL 30 days (do not interrupt this 30 day period) monitored by a reliable Copper Test kit such as Hanna Brand- No API brand. Also monitor Ammonia levels while in quarantine with a reliable test kit and add aeration during treatment using an air stone.
The display tank will have to be kept fishless (FALLOW) for 6-8 weeks to assure the existing parasites go through their life cycle without a host fish and die off and with occupants exposed, they too should go into quarantine
A quarantine tank can be as simple as a tank from a second hand store or a starter kit from Walmart which most of the needed essentials.

 

[Spare time]

Fish stores run copper so that they don't have every fish get sick and die. However, for copper to work, all fish need to be in it at 81F and 2.2-2.5ppm for 30 days with no new additions and most stores simply can't do this.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hello,

I bought a coral beauty that was supposed to be treated in copper before purchasing. After about 4 hours of being in the tank and the lights went blue, I noticed it had ich on its body. Does this cause concern about it dropping off the fish? Is my tank now infected within such a short span? I yanked him out luckily and am going to bring him back to the seller. Thanks.

If you are 100% certain it was ich, then there is a small risk that some of the spots (the trophont stage) dropped off the fish in the four hours. These form testing tomonts in the sand for a few days. These tomonts then release theronts that can infect existing fish. There is no way to gauge this relative risk though, just watch the existing fish very carefully for the next few weeks.