If this is not ich... then what?

[ReefingIsMyTherapy]

Three weeks ago I got my very first blue tang from an LFS. They claimed that she (we call her Dory for obvious reasons please don't judge) was quarantined. Given than this was the first time I bought a fish from that LFS, I decided to put her on my QT tank for observation. Well, just five days later, I started seeing white spots, breathing quickly and her colors started to fade away :/

As soon as I saw the spots, I decided to act as fast as I could. Checked a few forums and to me, it definitely looked like ich, so I started copper treatment with copper power (I had bought a bottle in advance with the hope that I'd never have to use it). I raised the concentration to 2.5ppm within 72 hrs (maybe too quick?). I used the Hanna colorimeter to make sure I have the right copper concentration. The day after I added the first dose I noticed that the white dots were almost gone (but not completely) , so that made me think that I was right using copper. During this period she continued to eat well.

Couple of days later the white dots were completely gone, breathing much better and the colors were coming back, but definitely still faded. However, I noticed what looks like black dots/rash, mostly on her left side. She rubs against the pvc pipe and other surfaces from time to time.

I was out of ideas ao asked for help on humble.fish. The person who responded to my post recommended that I should use Seachem Stressguard so I bought a bottle.

I added the recommend dose as soon as I got the bottle but totally missed this information from the label

I asked whether it was safe to mix it with copper power and was told yes, but I didn't want to risk it, so I used it just that one time.

During the 3 weeks she has been eating A LOT. I've been feeding her nori and TDO pellets, which she loves and goes nuts when I spread some on the tank.

I'm out of ideas and could really use some help to figure out what's wrong with my fish. Should I use stressguard? If not, what else is safe that can be combined with copper power? Any idea what disease is this and what would be the recommend treatment?

Thanks a lot in advance for the help!

 

[gbroadbridge]

Three weeks ago I got my very first blue tang from an LFS. They claimed that she (we call her Dory for obvious reasons please don't judge) was quarantined. Given than this was the first time I bought a fish from that LFS, I decided to put her on my QT tank for observation. Well, just five days later, I started seeing white spots, breathing quickly and her colors started to fade away :/

As soon as I saw the spots, I decided to act as fast as I could. Checked a few forums and to me, it definitely looked like ich, so I started copper treatment with copper power (I had bought a bottle in advance with the hope that I'd never have to use it). I raised the concentration to 2.5ppm within 72 hrs (maybe too quick?). I used the Hanna colorimeter to make sure I have the right copper concentration. The day after I added the first dose I noticed that the white dots were almost gone (but not completely) , so that made me think that I was right using copper. During this period she continued to eat well.

Couple of days later the white dots were completely gone, breathing much better and the colors were coming back, but definitely still faded. However, I noticed what looks like black dots/rash, mostly on her left side. She rubs against the pvc pipe and other surfaces from time to time.

I was out of ideas ao asked for help on humble.fish. The person who responded to my post recommended that I should use Seachem Stressguard so I bought a bottle.

I added the recommend dose as soon as I got the bottle but totally missed this information from the label

I asked whether it was safe to mix it with copper power and was told yes, but I didn't want to risk it, so I used it just that one time.

During the 3 weeks she has been eating A LOT. I've been feeding her nori and TDO pellets, which she loves and goes nuts when I spread some on the tank.

I'm out of ideas and could really use some help to figure out what's wrong with my fish. Should I use stressguard? If not, what else is safe that can be combined with copper power? Any idea what disease is this and what would be the recommend treatment?

Thanks a lot in advance for the help!

The black marks just look like wounds from where the parasites dropped off. I had the same on a Tang (also called Dory).

I'd maintain the copper treatment and not add any other medication.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Coppersafe is my choice for tangs and treatment is at least 30 days at 80 degrees
You may see mucus spores but ich also seems to be present

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Three weeks ago I got my very first blue tang from an LFS. They claimed that she (we call her Dory for obvious reasons please don't judge) was quarantined. Given than this was the first time I bought a fish from that LFS, I decided to put her on my QT tank for observation. Well, just five days later, I started seeing white spots, breathing quickly and her colors started to fade away :/

As soon as I saw the spots, I decided to act as fast as I could. Checked a few forums and to me, it definitely looked like ich, so I started copper treatment with copper power (I had bought a bottle in advance with the hope that I'd never have to use it). I raised the concentration to 2.5ppm within 72 hrs (maybe too quick?). I used the Hanna colorimeter to make sure I have the right copper concentration. The day after I added the first dose I noticed that the white dots were almost gone (but not completely) , so that made me think that I was right using copper. During this period she continued to eat well.

Couple of days later the white dots were completely gone, breathing much better and the colors were coming back, but definitely still faded. However, I noticed what looks like black dots/rash, mostly on her left side. She rubs against the pvc pipe and other surfaces from time to time.

I was out of ideas ao asked for help on humble.fish. The person who responded to my post recommended that I should use Seachem Stressguard so I bought a bottle.

I added the recommend dose as soon as I got the bottle but totally missed this information from the label

I asked whether it was safe to mix it with copper power and was told yes, but I didn't want to risk it, so I used it just that one time.

During the 3 weeks she has been eating A LOT. I've been feeding her nori and TDO pellets, which she loves and goes nuts when I spread some on the tank.

I'm out of ideas and could really use some help to figure out what's wrong with my fish. Should I use stressguard? If not, what else is safe that can be combined with copper power? Any idea what disease is this and what would be the recommend treatment?

Thanks a lot in advance for the help!

Stress guard is not an actual medication, it is a water treatment. It can react with some copper products, but not all. The idea that it will "coat" the fish's skin and help it is not based in fact. If that were the case, it would coat the fish's gills as well, and that would be bad!

I wouldn't use it in this case unless you suspect there is a problem with the water.

The black marks could be scars from the ich, or the fish could also have flukes. I would finish the copper treatment and then, the the problem is still present (or gets worse) then treat with prazipro for flukes.

Jay

 

[threebuoys]

You indicated you are using Copper Power. There is no need to switch to a different product at this point. I don't have the formulas to prove it, but I believe Copper Safe and Copper Power have very similar formulas and both instruct a dosage of 2.5 ppm. Important to both is maintaining the concentration during QT to as close to 2.5 as practical. Dropping below 2.0 would require you to restart the 30 day clock.
Cupramine on the other hand is a much different formula with different dosing instructions.
Whichever product you use, you need an accurate testing device, Hanna being the easiest and most accurate in my opinion.

 

[ReefingIsMyTherapy]

Thanks everyone! I'll keep then copper power treatment. I have set the temperature at around 78.5-79. Should I raise it to 80?

 

[gbroadbridge]

Thanks everyone! I'll keep then copper power treatment. I have set the temperature at around 78.5-79. Should I raise it to 80?

I'd stress the fish as little as possible. The copper will do the job.

 

[ReefingIsMyTherapy]

I'd stress the fish as little as possible. The copper will do the job.

That's what I thought. Thanks!