Hippo tang symptoms

Humblefish · Jul 20, 2017

@juicemanatx Can we get more photos of the fish from a few different angles? Something is not quite right here...

juicemanatx · Jul 20, 2017

jeff williams · Jul 20, 2017

You have been topping off the tank with fresh water daily I'm assuming this could lower cu levels also have you been testing cu daily ? If it were me I would dose your top off water and do a WC daily with water that has been pre dosed with cu.

melypr1985 · Jul 20, 2017

juicemanatx said:
@Humblefish

OK that looks a lot like what I've been dealing with. The working theory is that it's either copper resistant velvet or Brook. I switched copper brands and added metroplex to the mix

melypr1985 · Jul 20, 2017

jeff williams said:
You have been topping off the tank with fresh water daily I'm assuming this could lower cu levels also have you been testing cu daily ? If it were me I would dose your top off water and do a WC daily with water that has been pre dosed with cu.

No, top-off water will not lower copper levels. Never dose your freshwater with copper as this will raise your copper levels. When freshwater evaporates the copper stays behind just like the salt does.

Humblefish · Jul 20, 2017

I think that's a skin reaction to copper. See below:

juicemanatx · Jul 20, 2017

melypr1985 said:
OK that looks a lot like what I've been dealing with. The working theory is that it's either copper resistant velvet or Brook. I switched copper brands and added metroplex to the mix

This fish has been through at least 3 Formalin Dips and has had Metro so I think we can rule out the Brook.

I'm using Coppersafe. Switch to something else?

melypr1985 · Jul 20, 2017

juicemanatx said:
I think we can rule out the Brook.

See Humble's pictures above. If we rule out brook, then that skin irritation would be the next logical leap.

juicemanatx · Jul 20, 2017

Humblefish said:
I think that's a skin reaction to copper. See below:

Hmm..... like my copper is too high?

Humblefish · Jul 20, 2017

juicemanatx said:
Hmm..... like my copper is too high?

My pet theory is it's some sort of adverse skin reaction certain fish have to prolonged copper exposure. Best case example is here (but thanks to Photobucket all the pics are now gone): http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2440449

I've seen it many times since, primarily on tangs. The "trifecta" (Kanaplex, Furan-2, Metroplex) will sometimes clear it, but that could just be a coincidence.

juicemanatx · Jul 20, 2017

Humblefish said:
My pet theory is it's some sort of adverse skin reaction certain fish have to prolonged copper exposure. Best case example is here (but thanks to Photobucket all the pics are now gone): http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2440449

I've seen it many times since, primarily on tangs. The "trifecta" (Kanaplex, Furan-2, Metroplex) will sometimes clear it, but that could just be a coincidence.

I do have all 3. Should I do a dose?

Humblefish · Jul 20, 2017

juicemanatx said:
I do have all 3. Should I do a dose?

I would, for 10 days.

juicemanatx · Jul 20, 2017

Humblefish said:
I would, for 10 days.

Like dose how often over 10 days?

Humblefish · Jul 20, 2017

juicemanatx said:
Like dose how often over 10 days?

Kanaplex & Metroplex every 48 hrs.

Furan-2 is a little more complicated, so follow the directions on the box.

Time your WCs to coincide with redosing.

ngoodermuth · Jul 21, 2017

Fwiw, I dosed Furan-2 every 48 hours with the others and had no ill effects. Otherwise it's very difficult to time it correctly with waterchanges.

juicemanatx · Jul 23, 2017

4 days into triple Antibiotic, doesn't appear any better.

4FordFamily · Jul 23, 2017

juicemanatx said:
4 days into triple Antibiotic, doesn't appear any better.

That's so odd -- still looks like ich to me but I can't understand how. Is the fish's behavior changing at all? Is it breathing heavily still?

melypr1985 · Jul 23, 2017

See??? This is what was happening to my hippo!!!! It would go away every time I brought the copper back up to therapeutic levels. This last time I combined the copper with metroplex assuming brook (the copper was a "back up" just in case I was wrong). Now, mine is clear of those weird ich looking deals, but he's super stressed out and almost died day before yesterday. I switched him to a new sterile QT when I thought he might die. Not looking great but I'm not giving up on this weirdness.