Ich/velvet mistake

Griff · Jun 13, 2016

purchased 1 hippo tang 1 yellow tang and 3 chromies. All are in quarantine and eating. LFS did not sell copper and vet has not agreed to prescribe chloroquine phosphate. No fish have visible signs of Ich or velvet and I was talked into purchasing rally and kick Ich as a supplement for my quarantine tank. After reading about it online I wish I had never purchased it. I did dose as directed as a precaution.

The hippo tang is a little pale and keeps hiding, but I assume that's from shipping stress. I knew better than to do this but the kids were super excited and we had driven an hour each way to get fish. I can't believe they didn't sell copper and worse that I let them talk me into a product I hadn't researched.

My question is if I do end up having one or both of these diseases could I start using copper now or will the existing product in quarantine affect the copper treatment. Same question for the chloroquine phosphate.

Reefahholic · Jun 13, 2016

I wouldn't mix medication. Rally has Formalin in it (I believe). Big contraindication. The kick ICH is a mere bandaid and probably an immune booster (not sure) I do know it's snake oil though. Change 100% water and Run CP if you have it. If you don't, you can start acclimating the fish to copper.

I would wait to see if the really have something though. If you medicate, you may mask the symptoms. Change the water and watch the fish. Report back.

Griff · Jun 13, 2016

Thanks for the advice. Not the answer I was hoping for but what I was thinking as well.

Humblefish · Jun 13, 2016

Rally is mostly acriflavine, with just a miniscule amount of formalin thrown in (as an activator). Acriflavine is useful as a bath for temporary relief of parasites/harmful bacteria, but its not potent enough to completely eradicate most diseases (except maybe Brooklynella.) I would run carbon before mixing it with any other medication. Kich Ich I am unsure of, as the manufacturer won't say what's actually in it. I suspect it is an herbal remedy of some kind.

Griff · Jun 13, 2016

Thanks I was hoping you'd chime in. I'll continue with the kick ich and rally. After treatment I'll wait another 3 weeks to see if anything shows up. I'll start running carbon after treatment and before the 3 weeks of watching for signs of disease if I see any I'll do a 50% water change and beg my vet for chloroquine phosphate if they say no I'll do cupramine or copper

Sound good?

Humblefish · Jun 13, 2016

Griff said:
Thanks I was hoping you'd chime in. I'll continue with the kick ich and rally. After treatment I'll wait another 3 weeks to see if anything shows up. I'll start running carbon after treatment and before the 3 weeks of watching for signs of disease if I see any I'll do a 50% water change and beg my vet for chloroquine phosphate if they say no I'll do cupramine or copper

Sound good?

Sounds good, but make sure you sit in front of the QT everyday for at least 10-15 minutes and study your fish. You're not just looking for white dots or blemishes or other physical signs of disease; but also scratching, flashing, heavy breathing, head shaking and other behavioral symptoms of disease.

Griff · Jun 13, 2016

I will. I'll post any of those signs you listed if I see them.

Griff · Jun 22, 2016

Looks like my hippo is getting some spots. In my opinion it's ich not marine velvet.

My plan is to stop by the vet tomorrow to see if I can get a script for chloroquine phosphate but I read another post saying not to use with hippos. Should I not use it?. If they won't wrote the script I'll go to my LFS and get some cupramine.

I'll do a 50% water change regardless of what I use first. The reason is because I'm sure the kick ich and ruby reef meds are probably still in there. Should I do a larger water change? I was also going to run carbon for a day or two first, using a hang on the back filter.

I'd love any advice

Humblefish · Jun 22, 2016

I've lost 3 Hippos in CP thus far, so I would go the copper route if I were you. Try to get Coppersafe or Copper Power instead of Cupramine, if you can.

Griff · Jun 22, 2016

Just ordered copper safe and sea hem copper test kit from Amazon. LFS didn't have it. Should be here on the 24th. Do I need to slowly bring this up vs all at once dose. Should I follow manufactures instructions or do something different?

Humblefish · Jun 22, 2016

Griff said:
Just ordered copper safe and sea hem copper test kit from Amazon. LFS didn't have it. Should be here on the 24th. Do I need to slowly bring this up vs all at once dose. Should I follow manufactures instructions or do something different?

You need the API copper test kit for Coppersafe (sorry, should have thrown that into my previous post.)

I would ramp it up slowly over a 4-5 day period. So, don't follow the mfg instructions.

Griff · Jun 22, 2016

Humblefish said:
You need the API copper test kit for Coppersafe (sorry, should have thrown that into my previous post.)

I would ramp it up slowly over a 4-5 day period. So, don't follow the mfg instructions.

Oops I'm not a fan of Api so didn't order that one. I'll see if I can switch that

Griff · Jun 22, 2016

I was able to change the order in time. Thanks for the heads up

Griff · Jun 24, 2016

Copper safe should be here today. I have my water ready for 50% water change.

One last question. I have a six line and 2 clowns in my current 30 g. I had ich on them 2 years ago but no signs of it since. Should I put them in quarentine also before transferring to the new tank

Humblefish · Jun 24, 2016

Griff said:
One last question. I have a six line and 2 clowns in my current 30 g. I had ich on them 2 years ago but no signs of it since. Should I put them in quarentine also before transferring to the new tank

Yes, you want every fish to have a "clean slate" before being put in a new tank. And QT all new additions moving forward.