Possum wrasse asymptomatic for velvet?

[Jessican]

I’m dealing with what I think is a velvet outbreak in two of my tanks. I’ve lost 8 fish out of 14 - of the remaining six, five are being treated with CP and doing well. The problem is that I can’t catch the last one to start the fallow period in that display - a possum wrasse that appears to be completely unaffected. So, here are my questions:

1. What are the chances that’s he’s just asymptomatic vs completely unaffected?
2. If he stays completely healthy in the DT for the six week “fallow period” (I know it’s not truly fallow if he’s still in there), is he still probably harboring velvet, or is he probably in the clear?
3. Would it be a good idea to acclimate a black mollie to put in with him after the six weeks to see if he’s just been harboring the velvet before re-adding the survivors? My thought is that if the mollie doesn’t come down with anything, then I could safely assume that the wrasse isn’t a carrier. I know that if the mollie were to show signs of velvet, I’m back to square one.

Do I have any other options besides catching the wrasse to make sure that my display isn’t still harboring the parasite? I already had to tear one display completely apart to catch those fish, and I really don’t want to have to do that to the second display if I don’t have to. He unfortunately hasn’t fallen for a trap and he sticks so close to the rock work that I can’t lure him out far enough to get a net underneath.

Final question: if I do have to get him out, can I treat him with CP? I know some wrasses don’t do well in it, but I haven’t found any info specifically about possum wrasses and CP.

 

[HotRocks]

It is a sure guarantee that velvet is still cycling in the tank with the Wrasse present. Their thick slime coat allows them to be pretty resistant. It would still be present in the gills.

Copper would be better than CP for the Wrasse. I personally have only treated anampses, macropharyngodon, and thalassoma wrasses in CP. It was hit and miss as far as those who would tolerate. I ended up moving most Wrasse out of CP and into copper.

 

[Jessican]

It is a sure guarantee that velvet is still cycling in the tank with the Wrasse present. Their thick slime coat allows them to be pretty resistant. It would still be present in the gills.

Copper would be better than CP for the Wrasse. I personally have only treated anampses, macropharyngodon, and thalassoma wrasses in CP. It was hit and miss as far as those who would tolerate. I ended up moving most Wrasse out of CP and into copper.

Thanks HotRocks, that’s what I was afraid of. I’ll keep trying to get him out. I have two HTs at the moment, both running CP. Once I catch him, I’ll combine the fish being treated with CP into one tank so that I can use copper in the other. Any suggestions for catching the wrasse without breaking down the display?

Side question: I planned to use one of the HT tanks as a coral/invert QT once this is over, and keep the other for fish QT. I’m guessing the one used for copper will need to stay the fish QT. How do I make sure all traces of CP are removed from the other to make it safe for corals/inverts? Will carbon be sufficient?

 

[HotRocks]

You should be safe with either tank with a proper bleach sterilization, vinegar rinse, and then hose out really well.

@Commander86 has one of my 10g QTs that I've used copper and every other medication under the sun in. He's using as a coral/invert QT without any issue.

 

[Jessican]

You should be safe with either tank with a proper bleach sterilization, vinegar rinse, and then hose out really well.

@Commander86 has one of my 10g QTs that I've used copper and every other medication under the sun in. He's using as a coral/invert QT without any issue.

Great, thank you!