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Post by Matt in Lewiston on Aug 19, 2013 19:24:23 GMT -5
I have a Blue Hippo Tang currently in a QT tank for 13 days. I have been treating with copper preventively, and went through a bacterial/fungal treatment as well. There are white patches with parallel "scratch" marks on each side of the belly, and on one side this turned to near transparent pigmentation. Any idea what this is? The fish is acting fine. I have been unable to get a picture, but I am trying.
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NateG
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Posts: 222
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Post by NateG on Aug 19, 2013 21:16:39 GMT -5
What kind of copper are you using ie onic or chelated? Dosing/testing at least once perhaps even twice a day? A pic, even a bad one would be helpful. The pigmentation could just be some of residual brusing/reaction to the initial problem. Hows the water quality? Size of the tank/filtration?
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Post by jstearn on Aug 19, 2013 21:22:04 GMT -5
Some times they just do that. I wait 24-48 hours before ever treating a hippo.
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Post by Matt in Lewiston on Aug 20, 2013 6:50:49 GMT -5
I'm not sure what kind of type of copper, it's Mardel Coppersafe. I have a copper test kit, but no idea what numbers I am looking for. There is no carbon filtration in place, no protein skimmer. I started with the recommended dose that is supposed to last 4 weeks, a week later I added a second dose after reading many people double up.
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Post by Matt in Lewiston on Aug 20, 2013 12:20:24 GMT -5
Lousy photo... Attachments:
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Post by Matt in Lewiston on Aug 20, 2013 20:57:41 GMT -5
BTW, it is chelated copper. Anyone know what levels I am looking for?
The hippo looks better today, but the clear spots are now almost black (but seem smaller). Both sides of the belly have parallel "scratch" marks of normal pigmentation. They look like a miniature cat scratched both sides of the fish. One side has a small white patch with scratches, the other is the blackish patch with scratches.
I have a bunch of fish in the same quarantine, anyone have any idea if this is parasitic, bacterial, or simply normal (maybe stress related, or just dead skin that cleaner shrimp will take care of)??
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NateG
Full Member
Posts: 222
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Post by NateG on Aug 20, 2013 21:50:46 GMT -5
Hard to to tell from pic. Is it eating? How big is the qt?
You want to be trying to keep the copper above 0.15 as it is ineffective against parasites below that. Above 0.4 will kill the fish. 0.3 will kill some more delicate fish. We learned at the Ornamental Fish Heath Symposium that although 0.2 may be a "therapeutic" dose...it is apparently not worth your time unless you keep it at 0.30 for most fish with the exception of some angels'butterflys. Seachem's copper test tests for ionic copper. Chelated copper will stay in the system longer. But after say 3 days, the levels of any copper will be lower, and lower in different severities from tank to tank.This is why if you are to be running copper, a daily test is required. Seachem's test is good and so is Lamotte's test. I haven't tested for chelated copper so i can't be of help there but keep in mind that chelated copper is usually "better" in that that is what all of the public aquaria and high end retail use, but it can be more lethal and difficult to dose. That is mainly because chelated copper will stay in the system longer and is therefore more likely to be overdosed.
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Post by Matt in Lewiston on Aug 20, 2013 21:55:37 GMT -5
Thanks. The system is a small 55 gallon system (with surface skimming). I am still trying to get a better pic. All fish are eating well.
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NateG
Full Member
Posts: 222
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Post by NateG on Aug 20, 2013 22:01:58 GMT -5
Damn, wish i had the room for a 55 qt haha. If its eating well and all the kids are getting along I wouldn't worry. Being 2 weeks now, the odds are good that the hippo will pull through just fine
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Post by Matt in Lewiston on Aug 20, 2013 22:08:28 GMT -5
A 55 gallon QT is tiny (I sold my freshwater cichlids and converted the tank). I had fish in my 110 reef tank, a parasite killed $400 in fish. I am going 6 weeks fish free in there, and using QT to prevent it happening again.
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Post by Matt in Lewiston on Aug 20, 2013 22:10:11 GMT -5
And yes, hippo is eating well, gets along with the naso, 2 blennies, 5 chromis, and firefish in the same tank.
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Post by Matt in Lewiston on Aug 22, 2013 8:30:53 GMT -5
It has been a few days, and the coloration is almost back to normal.
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