NFG and copper

[JMM744]

currently treating my saddleback for a infection. Day 5 of NGP. Out of nowhere tonight my pearlscale is all but dead. He was eating even today. Tonight he is listless and barely keeping upright with heavy breathing. I did a fresh water dip but expect to find it dead in the am. This is the 3 rd. Fish to act funny, get shy and back off eating in the past week since starting the NGP. After a fresh water dip they all improved. I was planning to run copper once the 10 day treatment was done. With NGP in the water I can not see enough of the fish to tell if anything Is going on at all. Nice green water. I am making water right now so I can make a big water change tomorrow and then start copper. Can I combine the two or go ahead and change the water out? Also, do I dip them all in fresh water and maybe soak in Ralley before treating? All I can figure is velvet which they were treated for already.. Otherwise I am clueless. Theses fish are around 8 weeks in my care now.
Thank you, Jim

 

[HotRocks]

currently treating my saddleback for a infection. Day 5 of NGP. Out of nowhere tonight my pearlscale is all but dead. He was eating even today. Tonight he is listless and barely keeping upright with heavy breathing. I did a fresh water dip but expect to find it dead in the am. This is the 3 rd. Fish to act funny, get shy and back off eating in the past week since starting the NGP. After a fresh water dip they all improved. I was planning to run copper once the 10 day treatment was done. With NGP in the water I can not see enough of the fish to tell if anything Is going on at all. Nice green water. I am making water right now so I can make a big water change tomorrow and then start copper. Can I combine the two or go ahead and change the water out? Also, do I dip them all in fresh water and maybe soak in Ralley before treating? All I can figure is velvet which they were treated for already.. Otherwise I am clueless. Theses fish are around 8 weeks in my care now.
Thank you, Jim

I would avoid mixing if possible.

Copper or CP is going to be necessary to erradicate the velvet. RRR bath will help prevent infection. ABX such as NFG may be necessary after you complete the copper treatment.

I would perform a large WC and run carbon for 24hrs.

FW dip can help provide temporary relief and then a bath in RRR to help prevent infection. You need to attack the cause of the infections first (velvet infestation). Then once you are to therapeutic copper level, if infections develop you may have to resort to use of antibiotics. I would avoid mixing, and only do so if completely necessary (infection develops during copper treatment).

 

[JMM744]

Ok, thanks, appreciate it. Here’s hoping....

 

[JMM744]

Fish are in the therapeutic bath now and will soon go into the qt tank. I changed 25 gal. Out of 40. I may do another big change before copper due to the water being tinted green . I don’t think I will be able to see the fish well enough to catch small infections.
Pearlscale died. No sign of trauma at all. Butterflies are proving to be a bit of a challenge, that’s for sure.
Jim

 

[HotRocks]

Yeah, FW dip then bath then therapuetic copper. That is the order. You need to knock down the parasite affliction then worry about cleaning up infections. They are going to struggle to beat the infections if they are also fighting parasites. Parasites already have the immune system vulnerable.

 

[Humblefish]

Have you been keeping up with the water changes required when using NFG? (Every 24 hours before the next dosage.)

 

[JMM744]

Yep, fresh water dip, RRR and then 24 hrs. With charcoal filter. Then copper.
Yes sir, 25 % before every dose. Thanks for asking.

 

[Humblefish]

Yep, fresh water dip, RRR and then 24 hrs. With charcoal filter. Then copper.
Yes sir, 25 % before every dose. Thanks for asking.

You can technically combine copper & NFG, but expect side effects (appetite suppression, lethargy) to increase. For some reason, NFG seems to work best as a standalone treatment whereas the trifecta (Furan-2 + Kanaplex + Metroplex) seems to mix easier with copper or Chloroquine. But anytime you combine that many meds, its not going to be easy on the fish.

 

[JMM744]

Just curious, ever know of NFG to cause fish to breath hard? I have two hob filters, air bubbler and two power heads breaking the surface but they seem to be breathing hard 2hile I was treating them.

 

[Humblefish]

Just curious, ever know of NFG to cause fish to breath hard? I have two hob filters, air bubbler and two power heads breaking the surface but they seem to be breathing hard 2hile I was treating them.

I've used NFG pretty extensively (mostly as a stand-alone) and it's been pretty mild on the fish I've treated. No heavy breathing or anything like that. In fact, the
Methylene Blue contained therein is conducive to oxygen transport so it should make breathing easier on the fish.