Hey, I noticed my royal gramma had some white spots on him a few days ago, hes been eating up until yesterday, when I fed he was out looking at the food but didn't really eat, also noticed him rubbing off the rock here and there so pretty sure he has ich. And now to make matters worse this morning did not eat again and looks like he might be getting pale and losing some color. I just got a small 10gal tank and hob filter so I can set a qt up. I'm new to the hobby so not sure how to go about this, I also have two other fish in my tank with him, they both look good and are still eating, should I remove all the fish and put them in a qt together and let my tank go fallow for the 76 days. Just trying to figure out what my options are any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Sick fish need some help?
- Thread starter Fractalreefer
- Start date
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TheEngineer
Formerly icecool2
I'm sure the experts will be along. Here's a good place to start:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ich-cryptocaryon-irritans.191226/
Can you post a picture? Let's make sure this isn't velvet.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ich-cryptocaryon-irritans.191226/
Can you post a picture? Let's make sure this isn't velvet.
Yes I tried this morning but could not get anything useful I will be leaving work early today and will get a few pics.
Big G
captain dunsel
Without pictures it's a bit tough, but your description of it becoming pale and losing color is a symptom of velvet. If so, the treatment is the same as with Ich, but you have far less time to act. Velvet kills very quickly. Velvet and bacterial infections are rampant in the industry these days. Not good.
For velvet do the following:
Do a freshwater dip to remove the parasites from the fish's gills. This maybe why the fish is losing color; it can't get enough O2 processed through its gills
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/video-how-to-do-a-freshwater-dip.286639/#post-3487082
After the freshwater dip, give the fish a bath in an Acriflavine product like Ruby Reef Rally. This is an important step as RRR has both antibiotic and antiseptic qualities that help fight off bacterial infections that are a result of the many parasite's insertion points into the fish.
Next the fish needs to be either treated with CP or a copper product like Copper Power. Avoid Coppersafe brand copper. It's strength levels have been unreliable lately. With Copper Power the minimum therapeutic level is 1.5 ppm and tops out at 2.0 ppm. I like to try to keep it in the middle at 1.75 ppm. But you need to get to the minimum level ASAP. Small regular doses of Copper spread out over 24 hours is much easier on the fish. If you can, get a Hanna HL Copper Checker to monitor the copper levels. It's far superior and way more reliable than the cheaper copper test kits. But the good news is the Copper Power dosing info on the bottle is pretty darn close. Best of luck with your fish.
For velvet do the following:
Do a freshwater dip to remove the parasites from the fish's gills. This maybe why the fish is losing color; it can't get enough O2 processed through its gills
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/video-how-to-do-a-freshwater-dip.286639/#post-3487082
After the freshwater dip, give the fish a bath in an Acriflavine product like Ruby Reef Rally. This is an important step as RRR has both antibiotic and antiseptic qualities that help fight off bacterial infections that are a result of the many parasite's insertion points into the fish.
Next the fish needs to be either treated with CP or a copper product like Copper Power. Avoid Coppersafe brand copper. It's strength levels have been unreliable lately. With Copper Power the minimum therapeutic level is 1.5 ppm and tops out at 2.0 ppm. I like to try to keep it in the middle at 1.75 ppm. But you need to get to the minimum level ASAP. Small regular doses of Copper spread out over 24 hours is much easier on the fish. If you can, get a Hanna HL Copper Checker to monitor the copper levels. It's far superior and way more reliable than the cheaper copper test kits. But the good news is the Copper Power dosing info on the bottle is pretty darn close. Best of luck with your fish.
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I'm on my way home now I'll try to get some pictures of him. Another question about my qt, if I just set it up last night I would need to use some sort of bacteria in a bottle?
Big G
captain dunsel
Yes. Bacteria in a bottle like BioSpira works pretty good. Soak any filter pads and any ceramic rings, etc. in a bowl with BioSpira for a couple of hours, and then pour the bacteria into the QT.
Big G
captain dunsel
Good pictures. You can see more of the spots on the fish's jaw/gill area on the last head on picture. The not eating is yet another symptom of velvet. Your fish's immune system is fighting the parasites. Time is not your friend. You need to act fast to give the fish the help it needs.
I just actually gave him a couple pellets while there and he ate a few of them, which made me feel a little better
