Gasping butterfly in QT

[Fowler freak]

Need some opinions here for I’m at a loss. I’ve had this pearlscale in qt for less than a week and up until this afternoon he was doing great. Eating and acting totally normal with no scratching or nodding. I’ve been slowly increasing the copperpower and am at less than 1.0 Hanna checked. Daily 25 percent WC and Dr. Tim’s bacteria added Plus there are 2 royal grammas and a Blenny all doing fine as well. He ate this AM and hours later he’s looking up and gasping for air so I FW dipped him for 4 mins and still no change. What would you do?
Here’s a video attached. Thanks for your help!

 

[Dr. Reef Verified Sponsor]

is this a cycled tank or are you relying on Dr Tim bacteria to keep ammonia at bay?
Badges sometimes do not work, can you test ammonia?

 

[Fowler freak]

Tank wasn’t cycled just added bacteria into bacteria beads in the HO filter like I always do. Daily vacuum with 1/4 WC and like I mentioned all the other fish are fine. I’m at a loss and the butterfly is beginning to lay on his side while gasping now.

 

[Big G]

You may have a copper sensitive fish. Some butterflies take copper better than others. Pearlscale butterflies are in the "watch" them for sensitivity catagory.

 

[Fowler freak]

is this a cycled tank or are you relying on Dr Tim bacteria to keep ammonia at bay?
Badges sometimes do not work, can you test ammonia?

Haven’t checked for ammonia relying on the badge but like I said I’m on keeping the tank clean so the chance of there being ammonia present is very slim

 

[Fowler freak]

You may have a copper sensitive fish. Some butterflies take copper better than others. Pearlscale butterflies are in the "watch" them for sensitivity catagory.

Gotcha. Just did a WC and didn’t replace the Copperpower at all but I think it’s way too late

 

[Fowler freak]

Unbelievable the fish made it and is swimming normal while eating. In all my years I’ve never seen a fish on his side gasping for air taking 200 breaths a min and make it. Seriously a miracle but now I’m afraid to continue my qt med process. I don’t want to ramp the copper back up slowly and see this crap happen again. I’ve never done the TTM ever but maybe this is going to force me to do it. I’m laid off and have the time so I guess now is as good as ever.

 

[Big G]

This may interest you as it would cover more parasites than regular TTM.

Hybrid TTM to treat all parasites!

10/9/2022: Jay Hemdal and the current Fish Medic staff are suggesting that people find other treatments rather than TTM. It has some substantial drawbacks: “Tank chasing” method (Tank Transfer Method - TTM) A mostly theoretical method for treating Cryptocaryon infections takes advantage of...

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