Ich, velvet or flukes?

[lba4590]

My blue flasher wrasse has something that is really only visible with a strong flashlight, not visible with normal light which makes me think it may not be ich... maybe velvet or flukes? He’s still eating well, swimming around normal sometimes but for the most part being dramatic and hiding. I started feeding them metro/focus in their food just today when I noticed this. He’s only been in my QT for a little under 48hrs. I’ve heard wrasses don’t tolerate copper very well, is that true? I have Prazipro and Coppersafe on hand - which should I use first? can they be used together? Should I stop the metro? There are 3 other fish in QT with him as well (longfin fairy wrasse, bicolor blenny, royal gramma).

 

[Flippers4pups]

@Jay Hemdal

 

[Idoc]

Looks like Ich spots to me! I'd keep feeding the Focus+Metro for intestinal parasites, though. In fact, I prefer Focus + General Cure since it also has praziquantil in it to help take out internal parasites and internal worms.

Some wrasses due well in copper, others don't. If you can't find someone with definite information for this particular type of wrasse on the forum or within the searches, then maybe start very, very slowly and increase the copper concentration over the course of a week up to around 2.0 ppm for CopperSafe type of copper. If you notice any odd behaviors, then plan on abandoning ship quickly with already prepared emergency saltwater for a large water change.

Hopefully someone with information on this specific wrasse will chime in soon.

 

[lba4590]

Looks like Ich spots to me! I'd keep feeding the Focus+Metro for intestinal parasites, though. In fact, I prefer Focus + General Cure since it also has praziquantil in it to help take out internal parasites and internal worms.

Some wrasses due well in copper, others don't. If you can't find someone with definite information for this particular type of wrasse on the forum or within the searches, then maybe start very, very slowly and increase the copper concentration over the course of a week up to around 2.0 ppm for CopperSafe type of copper. If you notice any odd behaviors, then plan on abandoning ship quickly with already prepared emergency saltwater for a large water change.

Hopefully someone with information on this specific wrasse will chime in soon.

Thank you! I’m glad you don’t think it’s velvet.. ich seems more manageable. I did a bunch of searching and found some info that coppersafe seems fine for flasher/fairy wrasses. Do you think ramping up the copper so slowly will be an issue for the ich getting worse? I’m worried about how quickly this seems to have set in, he had nothing on him yesterday that I could see. He does seem less active but isn’t flashing or anything. I’m going to start a small amount of copper tonight.

 

[Idoc]

Thank you! I’m glad you don’t think it’s velvet.. ich seems more manageable. I did a bunch of searching and found some info that coppersafe seems fine for flasher/fairy wrasses. Do you think ramping up the copper so slowly will be an issue for the ich getting worse? I’m worried about how quickly this seems to have set in, he had nothing on him yesterday that I could see. He does seem less active but isn’t flashing or anything. I’m going to start a small amount of copper tonight.

You can always do a freshwater dip to give fast relief for the fish. If it's coming on fast or worsens by tomorrow, then I'd ramp up more quickly... just in case it is velvet.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

That could be ich, but difficult to be certain from the photo. Coppersafe is generally well tolerated, but it is slow to cure. I wouldn't take more than 36 hours to get up to full dose. Remember, dealers who run copper, put their fish right into the full dose every shipment that they get.

Jay

 

[mitch91175]

That could be ich, but difficult to be certain from the photo. Coppersafe is generally well tolerated, but it is slow to cure. I wouldn't take more than 36 hours to get up to full dose. Remember, dealers who run copper, put their fish right into the full dose every shipment that they get.

Jay

Yeah I recently did the same thing pretty much immediately once I noticed signs of disease. Went straight to 2.25 (although they suggest 2.5) using CopperPower. All fish have recovered that are alive (those that didn't were just not eating and picky fish to begin with - Regal Angel, White Face Butterfly).

Now I do not see any signs of anything externally on the fish after a few weeks. No mucus spots, etc.

 

[lba4590]

That could be ich, but difficult to be certain from the photo. Coppersafe is generally well tolerated, but it is slow to cure. I wouldn't take more than 36 hours to get up to full dose. Remember, dealers who run copper, put their fish right into the full dose every shipment that they get.

Jay

Thanks for your help! I started the first bit of copper last night, added more today, I think I’m now at about 1.0-1.5 but the API test isn’t great so I’m about to go to my LFS to buy the Hanna checker. Interestingly enough, both wrasses seem more lively today and I really don’t see the spots unless I look really hard. I’m hoping that means it’s not velvet. Judging by the way these two fish are acting and the fact that they came from the same LFS, I think they were already in copper there and masked symptoms of whatever they have.

Oh and I misspoke - I don’t have coppersafe, I have copper power - instructions say to dose to 2.5ppm but most things I’m reading say 2.0 is the therapeutic level?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I'm not sure about the fine-tuning of the dose on Copper Power, I'd just suggest reading threads on it and then try to make a decision from that.

Jay