Treating for Flukes,but....

jd371 · Aug 22, 2016

I have a Pink Margin and a Filamented wrasse in a 20gal QT. After a week of letting them get settled and eating I noticed the Pink Margin scratching a little and I heard that Flukes is going around now, so I dosed Prazi. After 4 days (yesterday) I dosed a second round of Prazi. This morning when I went to feed the fish, only the Filamented came out to eat. When I moved one of the PVC to get a look at the Margin it looked bad, it was breathing heavy and it looked like powdered sugar on him...Velvet!
I had to leave for work, but I was able to run GAC to remove the Prazi and I had 5gal of mixed water ready for a small wc planned for later today. I dosed the mixed water with CP.
I heard that Wrasses don't do well with CP and with the short time I have I couldn't wait to bring copper to the therapeutic level over a couple of days. With that said, the plan is if the Margin is still alive, as soon as I get home to do that wc with the dosed water and hope for the best. If the Margin doesn't make it by the time I get home should I continue with this plan or should I mix a new batch without CP do the wc use copper and raise it over a couple of days?
The Filamented looks fine and eats like a pig so I think I have time with him.

Humblefish · Aug 22, 2016

The issue with CP & wrasses is confusing.

I've only had problems with Sixline & Melanurus, and nothing but success with flasher & fairy. Although admittedly, I've used CP on many more fairy wrasses than flasher. I also only treat with CP for 10 days and then transfer to another QT for further treatment/observation. I just got done successfully running a Cirrhilabrus lyukyuensis thru CP and that is the same genus as your Pink Margin. However, the Filamented might be more at risk as there is more anecdotal evidence of flashers wasting away in CP. I know @Deinonych has suffered several losses.

Empress · Aug 22, 2016

What about using CopperSafe with Fairy and Flasher Wrasses? I have my eye those two for my next purchases in the future.

jd371 · Aug 22, 2016

Humblefish said:
The issue with CP & wrasses is confusing. I've only had problems with Sixline & Melanurus, and nothing but success with flasher & fairy. Although admittedly, I've used CP on many more fairy wrasses than flasher. I also only treat with CP for 10 days and then transfer to another QT for further treatment/observation. I just got done successfully running a Cirrhilabrus lyukyuensis thru CP and that is the same genus as your Pink Margin. However, the Filamented might be more at risk as there is more anecdotal evidence of flashers wasting away in CP. I know @Deinonych has suffered several losses.

That's my concern, the Filamented looks fine and I don't want to put him through CP if I don't have to. I'd hate to lose the Margin, but I also don't want to lose the Filameneted because of the CP.

Empress said:
What about using CopperSafe with Fairy and Flasher Wrasses? I have my eye those two for my next purchases in the future.

I would if I could dose the full amount of copper in one day like you can with CP. These were my last fish going into the DT too!

Humblefish · Aug 22, 2016

Empress said:
What about using CopperSafe with Fairy and Flasher Wrasses? I have my eye those two for my next purchases in the future.

^^This would be a better option for wrasses. A LFS I advise drip acclimates most new fish arrivals (including fairy & flasher wrasses) into 2.0 ppm Coppersafe (NOT Cupramine). He has a fairly high success rate doing this.

Empress · Aug 22, 2016

This is good to know. I'm making myself a note of this. Thank you HF.

jd371 · Aug 22, 2016

I just got home and he's still alive, although breathing rapidly and hiding in a PVC. I don't think he's going to pull through. Since the Filamented is still okay and eating I tossed the mixed water with CP and started a new batch to do a partial wc in a little while and then start Coppersafe.
In the future no more QT and observe, I will just treat prophylactically with Coppersafe and Prazi.

Humblefish · Aug 22, 2016

Sorry to hear this

jd371 · Aug 22, 2016

I've only had him for a few weeks, It breaks my heart to see him clinging to life. I'm just a year into this hobby and still learning a lot. Thanks for all your help HF.

jd371 · Aug 23, 2016

Happy to say that I think I dodged a bullet. I was able to do a partial water change and dose Coppersafe to 1.0 ppm yesterday, today the Margin is still hiding in the PVC but is upright and not laying on it's side and he did come out and swim about for a bit. Yesterday it looked like he was a goner. I'll feed them in a little while, hopefully he'll eat some Mysis. I'll bring the Coppersafe up to 2.0 ppm in the next day or two.

jd371 · Aug 24, 2016

Update...Margin looks better, I saw him eat some Mysis and a Blackworm so that's a good sign. Now, I have to deal with what looks like a bacterial bloom in the QT. The water got a little cloudy after the wc.