Ok so I'm going to sound like a complete newbie on this one. I just bought a bursa trigger and after 2 days of being in his new home he has what looks like ich. Now I know this can typically happen from being stressed but I just don't get it. I have yet to have this issue in new fish. Didn't even get it from the hippo I once had. He's eating fine and swimming fine and has lots of energy and all of his color. Any ideas?
Trigger issue
- Thread starter Msmerek
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In QT or in DT? Any chance of a pic?
eatbreakfast
Fish Nerd
If you don't qt, then it is quite likely ich is present in the tank. It is then possible for any fish to be susceptible to showing symptoms of ich.
Just to clarify, stress does not cause fish to develop white spots, stress will cause fish to become pale and colors fade away. White spots indicate parasites. If you can take a picture of the fish so we can have closer look at it, many people misdiagnosed velvet for ich (me included) and this can have unpleasant consequences. Although from your description it might be just ich if its still energetic, just watch him closely for any symptoms and I suggest if it is still in quarantine to start treatment, or if it is in display you can either remove all fish and treat or if it is ich you can manage it so fish can fight it on their own.
4FordFamily
Tang, Angel, and Wrasse Nerd!
Two days with notable ich makes me fear velvet is far more likely - especially for that fast of progression on a trigger. Can you post photos of the fish?
melypr1985
totally addicted
I'd like to see pictures as well before giving a possible diagnosis. I agree with the others, however, that stress doesn't cause ich, ich is already present and can show on any fish in the infected system who's immune system is less than optimal. Otherwise, it mostly stays in the gills where it's hidden from the naked eye.
Hard to tell, from the front looks like ich, but the sides look like velvet. Both have similar treatment, I would suggest removing all fish and start treating with copper or CP.
For how long did you quarantine it. Sometimes if fish has been exposed to copper below therapeutical range or less than the recommended duration (maybe at LFS or supplied) it might take days to weeks until symptoms start showing.
Do you notice any symptoms on the fish, heavy breathing, sensitivity to light, swimming by power head.
For how long did you quarantine it. Sometimes if fish has been exposed to copper below therapeutical range or less than the recommended duration (maybe at LFS or supplied) it might take days to weeks until symptoms start showing.
Do you notice any symptoms on the fish, heavy breathing, sensitivity to light, swimming by power head.
Most major stores run copper in their display tanks in order to eliminate parasites and reduce losses. Unfortunately, they don't dose the recommended dosage and end up decreasing the number of parasites rather than eradicating them, so parasites will be present but not in a high concentration to be fatal or show clear symptoms.
melypr1985
totally addicted
Petco isn't allowed to use any medications in their tanks. The spots on the trigger do look to be much too small and numerous to be ich. I'd lean towards velvet as well unfortunately. Petco, not being able to use any meds in their tanks, is a veritable buffet of diseases and parasites.
Empress
Valuable Member
FWIW the marine salesperson at the Petco near me said they use Melafix in all their reef tanks.
Ok so here is an update. This morning looking at him the spots are starting to go away. It is way less noticeable than yesterday and I didn't remove him from the tank. Could it be that he had it before coming to my tank and it just is going away being in a cleaner environment?
it wont go away, it will still be there but the fish will develop immunity, but any new fish will get infected (if it is velvet or ich). Either that or the parasite is dropping off to the next stage of the life cycle.
It will drop out of the fish as tomont to reproduce, thats why many people think it healed up, but then it appears again. This can take few days or few weeks, so it might give sense of secuirity.
