Liartail Scatching gills

jdm85 · Oct 15, 2020

I have a Purple Tang and lyretail Anthias in QT for the last 3 weeks in lower salinity 25ppt "1.0188" with copper power at 1.50ppm "I know I could go up to 2.25"

The tang is doing fine but the Anthias keeps scratching on PVC and glass. No signs of external parasites or white dots. Both fish are pigs and eating well

I wonder if it could be ich but only irritating gills for the Anthias. I did see 2 ich looking dots on the purple tang week 2 of QT. They fell off and nothing since adding Copper Power

My Ammonia Spiked to .50 before a quick water change. Could this be symptoms of Ammonia Burn. I can't tell by looking

I did a fresh water dip and did not see any Flukes

I'm in Canada so we can't get General Cure or Prazipro

CCauthers · Oct 15, 2020

@Jay Hemdal

Jay Hemdal · Oct 15, 2020

As I read these problem reports, I start to formulate treatment ideas...I’m thinking General cure or prazipro, and then I read you’re in Canada, sigh.
Are you keeping the ammonia below 0.25 ppm now? How often does the anthias scratch? Did you see even a temporary improvement in the scratching rate after th FW dip?
Jay

jdm85 · Oct 15, 2020

Since the tank is right beside my work desk I can watch him all day

I would say he scratched once every hour on average. And he's always targeting the same gill on his left side

Yes Ammonia is below .25 and has been for the last 7 days
No improvement after FW dip

I don't notice any other odd behaviours other than the scratching. He sure likes any food I give him from pellets, mysis and even eats Nori left overs from the tang.

Jay Hemdal · Oct 15, 2020

I guess I’d be inclined to hold off doing anything, especially if its only scratching one side (a heavy infection would cause scratching all over). Once per hour isn’t too bad, and the dip was negative..,.
Jay

jdm85 · Oct 16, 2020

Fresh water dipped again and I can say she's been scratching less after the dip this time.
she was breathing pretty heavily for a good 2hours once she was put back in the QT tank but she's breathing normally now