Hi. This hippo tang has been in copper treatment for 1 mth. He was ok for the 1st 3 1/2 weeks. But stopped eating n is just lying down on the side for the past few days. I see some patches on its body but I'm quite sure it's not ich or velvet.
Pls help identify .
- Thread starter darian
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GHsaltie
Valuable Member
I'm on my phone right and can't really see anything, can you highlight what you are talking about?
@Humblefish @melypr1985 @ngoodermuth
@Humblefish @melypr1985 @ngoodermuth
Maybe flukes? Have you tried a 5-minute fw dip?
Freshwater Dip
https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/Freshwater-Dip.248898/
Freshwater Dip
https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/Freshwater-Dip.248898/
^^ Flukes are a possibility.
However, a bacterial infection or even the onset of HLLE are other possibilities. I would remove copper from the QT ASAP just in case that is a contributing factor to his decline.
However, a bacterial infection or even the onset of HLLE are other possibilities. I would remove copper from the QT ASAP just in case that is a contributing factor to his decline.
melypr1985
totally addicted
Agreed. Removing the copper from the tank is the first step to figuring this out. If symptoms disappear after the copper is removed then you have a pretty good idea that the copper was causing it.
Have you done the 5 min FW dip to check for flukes? https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/freshwater-dip.248898/
If he has flukes (or any other type of worm) most of what you are seeing on his skin should drop off in the dip container. He should look mostly clear afterwards.
If it remains, I am inclined to believe this is either an infection or negative skin reaction (to copper) of some sort.
If he has flukes (or any other type of worm) most of what you are seeing on his skin should drop off in the dip container. He should look mostly clear afterwards.
If it remains, I am inclined to believe this is either an infection or negative skin reaction (to copper) of some sort.
melypr1985
totally addicted
Humble, this looks a lot like what my hippo had a couple months ago.... don't cha think? i agree that they have to go through the motions to address the more probable causes, but I wonder. I think this is the second thread I've seen that looked so similar.
I feel this is more of a condition than an actual disease. Seems to happen sometimes to Hippo Tangs and a few other species following copper exposure. Almost like its a "skin rash" or something. Common sense says it should clear on its own, given time, after a fish is removed from copper. But until we know more about it, I feel it's prudent to treat with Kanaplex + Metro just in case this is actually something bacterial or parasitic in nature. That combo is my "go-to" when I don't know what the heck I am dealing with lol.
Hopefully I can get my hands on an infected specimen, so I can look at one of those "things" under a microscope. I should at least be able to narrow it down to parasite, bacteria or virus if it falls into one of those three categories.
after 2 days in clean water + metroplex. the hippo tang is recovering and is eating again. quite impressive for a hippo tang to b in cupramine treatment for 3 1/2 weeks before it shows any negative signs. another week of monitoring and they'll be ready to enter the DT. thx guys for the help btw .
