Is flashing always bad? Need help ASAP

[citymouse]

I have 2 new tangs in my QT for 8 days now. The yellow tang started what I think is flashing yesterday, but the fish is eating, the other fish is fine and they both look fine. I don't see any spots or anything that looks out of the ordinary, they look the same as they day they arrived.

I'm worried that I need to treat him right now. I only have Cupramine, but I've been reading some info on here and I see there are some medications that treat multiple things that could cause flashing. Should I get something else in case the fish doesn't have Ich or Velvet?

I have never had a sick fish before, 8 years with saltwater and many more with fresh. No ich, parasites or anything like this. I'm not sure if this fish needs treatment or what would be the best treatment to use if it does. I just assumed Copper, but now I'm reading forums and people are talking about treating with copper and their fish is still flashing, others telling the it's something else..can't treat with copper and other meds etc etc I'm on information overload over here!

I have several videos and pictures of the fish. My videos won't upload, it says they don't have the proper extension? they mov files

 

[citymouse]

I uploaded some videos to youtube, hopefully this works.

 

[citymouse]

Also realizing a major mistake I made! I did water change around the 3rd or 4th day, used 2 or 3 of my 5g jugs to refill the tank...only kept one near the tan and the rest went back to the rest...ugh, now they're all mixed up! Hoping the one I'm using to add water to my DT wasn't one of the ones used! I don't think it was...but I also added fresh water to my biocube...also hoping there was no cross contamination...I guess the containers are off limits for how long? I labeled the one that's right next to the tank QT.

How concerned do I need to be about this and about feeding? My Biocube is in the same room as the QT, DT is is far away downstairs with it's own food. But I have been feeding both the QT and Biocube from the same food..is there a risk? it's not like I'm putting my fingers in the water or the container etc.

 

[hdsoftail1065]

Nice liking fish. Let me get the reefsquad in to check this out. #reefsquad

 

[HotRocks]

You definitely have something doing on there. I would suspect ich or velvet.

I also think you should do a FW dip to check for flukes.

The kole tang has something going on with dorsal fin.

I would start copper ASAP. I prefer to use copper power with the Hanna checker. Cupramine will work fine.

 

[Brew12]

Agree that the fish has something bothering its gills causing the flashing.
I would start with a FW dip, instructions here if needed.
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/video-how-to-do-a-freshwater-dip.214/

Flukes and velvet are both possible causes. Ammonia damage and improper acclimation are both possible if this fish was just received in the last day or two.
Agree with getting ready to treat with copper. Unless you see a large number of flukes drop off in the FW dip I would start with the copper.

 

[hdsoftail1065]

Wouldn't the sand need to be removed to keep the copper from absorbing?

 

[HotRocks]

Wouldn't the sand need to be removed to keep the copper from absorbing?

A little bit of sand in a QT won't typically absorb copper. Sand isn't really necessary in QT except for a small container for sand burrowing wrasses.

 

[flfireman1]

Technically speaking you have the fish in observation and not in QT. You should not have sand in a QT because of what you already mentioned as far as absorption.

The flashing the yellow tang is doing looks more like a fluke flash than from velvet or Ich. I would check with a fresh water dip and find CP if you can in case it isint flukes. Ickshield works just as good.

 

[citymouse]

You definitely have something doing on there. I would suspect ich or velvet.

I also think you should do a FW dip to check for flukes.

The kole tang has something going on with dorsal fin.

I would start copper ASAP. I prefer to use copper power with the Hanna checker. Cupramine will work fine.

The Kole has had those 2 dots on his fin since the day he arrived, I assumed it was normal? Because he's been acting normal and nothing else has shown up/spread etc. It's been 9 days since I got them.

 

[citymouse]

Technically speaking you have the fish in observation and not in QT. You should not have sand in a QT because of what you already mentioned as far as absorption.

The flashing the yellow tang is doing looks more like a fluke flash than from velvet or Ich. I would check with a fresh water dip and find CP if you can in case it isint flukes. Ickshield works just as good.

It's a newish QT, the sand is there because I had a Goby, shrimp and conch in quarantine prior to this, they all did much better once I added the sand. I do know that I need to remove it, that's why I didn't use much. It also helped with the fish not seeing his reflection, in the spots where he could, he was freaking out. The yellow tang was freaked out for the first 5 to 6 days, he's still a little on edge sometimes. I had to cover the sides and back of the tank for the same reason. He was bouncing off the glass, pacing quickly back and forth, had the white stripe down his side from stress...he just finally adjusted to life in a tiny tank, but not completely. I now have to find a container to fresh water dip and I know he's going to lose his mind in there.

What is "CP"? How do I treat Flukes if that's the case? This is all new to me

 

[HotRocks]

The Kole has had those 2 dots on his fin since the day he arrived, I assumed it was normal? Because he's been acting normal and nothing else has shown up/spread etc. It's been 9 days since I got them.

They aren't normal. I would do a FW dip on both fish to check for flukes.

It could be a bacterial infection on the kole.

 

[citymouse]

A little bit of sand in a QT won't typically absorb copper. Sand isn't really necessary in QT except for a small container for sand burrowing wrasses.

I figured I'd need to remove most of the sand, there isn't much in there. It was there for the Goby, conch and shrimp who were quarantined prior to the Tangs, they were all much happier with sand to dig and burrow in! As a matter of fact, the conch is in my DT and I haven't seen him since the day I put him in there! He burrowed under the sand and vanished almost immediately.
The sand the QT is maybe about a cup to under 2 cups, should I remove it?

 

[citymouse]

Agree that the fish has something bothering its gills causing the flashing.
I would start with a FW dip, instructions here if needed.
https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/video-how-to-do-a-freshwater-dip.214/

Flukes and velvet are both possible causes. Ammonia damage and improper acclimation are both possible if this fish was just received in the last day or two.
Agree with getting ready to treat with copper. Unless you see a large number of flukes drop off in the FW dip I would start with the copper.

So if it is flukes, should I still use copper? I'm concerned because everything I read says not to mix copper with other medications.

I acclimated according to the directions Live Aquaria sent, I also changed mostly all of the water from the QT. I got them last Friday, so it's been 9 days. The yellow tang just started calming down around day 5 or 6, I'm worried about fresh water dipping him because he was so stressed for so long and sill freaks a little at times, like when I first come in the room and turn the room light on every day, but then he calms down, I turn the tank light on hours later, mostly he's gotten used to us smallish space...some thought he might be newly wild caught and that's why he was literally bouncing off the walls in there. The Kole tang was newly in stock too, assuming he was also wild caught and new to tank life.

 

[Brew12]

So if it is flukes, should I still use copper? I'm concerned because everything I read says not to mix copper with other medications.

I acclimated according to the directions Live Aquaria sent, I also changed mostly all of the water from the QT. I got them last Friday, so it's been 9 days. The yellow tang just started calming down around day 5 or 6, I'm worried about fresh water dipping him because he was so stressed for so long and sill freaks a little at times, like when I first come in the room and turn the room light on every day, but then he calms down, I turn the tank light on hours later, mostly he's gotten used to us smallish space...some thought he might be newly wild caught and that's why he was literally bouncing off the walls in there. The Kole tang was newly in stock too, assuming he was also wild caught and new to tank life.

The best way to treat flukes is normally with Prazipro and I try not to mix it and copper.

It should handle a FW dip fine if done correctly.

 

[flfireman1]

[QUOTE=". What is "CP"? How do I treat Flukes if that's the case? This is all new to me [/QUOTE]

CP is Chloroquine Phosphate much better to use since it’s softer on the fish than copper. Just as effective when treating Ich or velvet as copper. Does not treat flukes. Look into API general cure for flukes. It’s the same ingredient as Prazipro but in powdered form. Also the dose is a little more accurate with less chance of overdosing.

 

[citymouse]

Ok, i had to go out today and while I was out I quickly checked the only open pet stores...petsmart...knowing i'd find nothing.

I did find out that my husband has Prazipro already, as precaution...he's way more prepared than I am and I used to pick on him for buying so much fish related stuff!

I my questions, before I get started because I'm a little worried about all of this. I feel like a first time parent with a sick kid, lol.
I'm warming freshwater now, shouldn't be very long.

Can I put both fish in the freshwater dip at the same time? or if not, can I use the same water?
Does the fish go right back into the QT? (not that I have other options here)

IF this is Flukes, do I need to do a water change before treating? I currently only have 5g of mixed saltwater ready and 5g that I just made, the tank is 20g.
I read the Prazipro bottle, it say 1 dose is good for 5 to 7 days, does it cure Flukes that fast? How contagious is it?

If this isn't Flukes, I assume I should treat with copper, I only have Cuprammine as far as copper goes...I'll be buying some more medications to keep on hand from now on!
Same question about water change.
I read something about removing copper from the tank when done treating? How do you know you're done and how do you remove it, how much should register etc etc.

Do I do a large water change after they are assumed better? how do I know they ARE better?

 

[citymouse]

Yes it's Flukes! Put the yellow tang in the freshwater and sure enough, lots of little white things were falling off. Thank you for that link Brew12 , the video was really helpful! If I hadn't seen that, I would have thought I was killing the fish! He's find now, swimming around in the QT immediately after his "bath", def more stressful for me, watching him closely, talking him (myself) through those 5 minutes. lol
I couldn't get he little one into a dip, he panicked after the big ones ordeal of being chased by a net and I believe is still hiding behind the filter almost 3 hours later.... I figured I'm treating the tank, he'll get treated as well.

I didn't remove the sand..is this necessary with Prazipro? I hope not, because I didn't think about as I was adding it to the tank, I was only thinking of getting the medicine in the water as soon as possible.

 

[flfireman1]

Prazipro is the one medication which they claim is reed safe. so leaving the sand in is no big deal. And yes, the kole tang will be treated as well.

 

[citymouse]

Prazipro is the one medication which they claim is reed safe. so leaving the sand in is no big deal. And yes, the kole tang will be treated as well.

I still haven't seen the Kole Tang since poor thing. The Yellow is swimming all around the tank, seems happier now! Hopefully the little Kole comes out of hiding soon and joins his friend! He was following the yellow around since day one, always mimicking him too.