Question on CP following Velvet wipeout

ReefHog · Mar 6, 2019

In over 30 years in the hobby I've read more than a few full tank wipe out stories. Sitting behind a keyboard (or magazine back in the day) I never realized just how devastating something like that can be to the reef occupants as well as the hobbyist responsible for their well being. Unfortunately over the weekend that realization hit home full force. What I thought was an isolated issue with one of my fish, turned out to be what I assume is Velvet. 36 hours later, 8 of my 12 fish were dead. Two fish (Long Nose Hawk and Aiptasia eating Filefish) are seemingly completely unaffected and remain in the DT for now. A trigger and Hippo Tang are/were in a hospital tank with copper. Don't think the Hippos gonna make it. With the Hippo most likely gone, I called my Vet and convinced him to call in a prescription for CP. When I picked ip up, I noticed that it was in pill form. With my head overwhelmed from research on Velvet and treatments, I didn't specify Powder when I talked to him. I don't want to push my luck and ask him for another prescription. My plan is to put the Hawk and Filefish in Quarantine with treatment along with the trigger and let my DT go Fallow for 6 weeks. Since the Hawk and Filefish are showing no affects of the disease and are otherwise healthy, I really don't want to use copper but want to make sure there are no tag-a-longs on them. From what I have read on countless searches today, CP in 500mg pill form only has 300 mg of chloroquine base. Now I'm not a chemist but I am assuming the base is the part of the medication that is actually being used. So I did the math and if I dose in pill form at slightly over 60mg/gal, that would be 40mg/gal if the base is only 300mg per 500mg tablet which is the recommended dose. If for some reason the base IS 500mg, then i'm still at the high therapeutic range which shouldn't be a problem from what I've read. Does this make since? Am I thinking about this correctly?
As far as the Hippo goes, I removed him from the copper and put him in a clean hospital tank with fresh SW and bio filter. If he starts to come around, I'll have to address him as well.
Is there anything I'm missing?

ngoodermuth · Mar 6, 2019

First, I'm very sorry for your losses

Sounds like a decent plan, considering. I think most folks here use the prescription from their vet to order from diamondback drugs, which is a reputable source... for future reference.

Just wanted to note, if the hippo does make it to treatment... they don't typically do well in CP so you'd be better off with copper for him. If he's not too far gone, you might try a freshwater dip followed by a 90-minute bath in a product containing acriflavine.

This thread, post #2, has detailed instructions for emergency treatment strategies that might be helpful:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/velvet-amyloodinium-ocellatum.217570/

Good luck, and keep us posted!

ReefHog · Mar 6, 2019

ngoodermuth said:
First, I'm very sorry for your losses

Sounds like a decent plan, considering. I think most folks here use the prescription from their vet to order from diamondback drugs, which is a reputable source... for future reference.

Just wanted to note, if the hippo does make it to treatment... they don't typically do well in CP so you'd be better off with copper for him. If he's not too far gone, you might try a freshwater dip followed by a 90-minute bath in a product containing acriflavine.

This thread, post #2, has detailed instructions for emergency treatment strategies that might be helpful:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/velvet-amyloodinium-ocellatum.217570/

Good luck, and keep us posted!

Next time I'm at the vet I'll talk with him in person regarding the CP prescription. I did talk to the pharmacist in person this afternoon and she was able to confirm, through her drug database, that there is 300mg of Chloroquine Phosphate usable base in the 500mg tablet. Also 150mg Chloroquine Phosphate usable base in the 250mg tablets. So as long as the math is worked out it shouldn't be a problem, albeit, a few extra steps.

I did a FW dip earlier this morning after removing the Hippo from the first hospital tank and placing him in the second one with no copper. He seemed to get worse over the two days in copper, so I'll leave him copper free until/if he recovers enough to at least swim/hover upright. Hes been on his side since last night under the PVC. Either way he wont be going through the CP treatment. He was the oldest fish in the tank at about 10 years young.

ngoodermuth · Mar 6, 2019

Aw man, that sucks

The acriflavine has antibiotic and anti-parasitic properties... might buy him some time while you slowly try to ramp the copper back up?

It’s hard to say though... when they are close to the edge like that any treatment you try to administer can push them over. I hope he pulls through for you, that’s a long time to have a fish... I’m sure you are pretty attached to the guy