Early stage of Ich?

[saltydad]

Four days ago, I added a sailfin tang to my dt without quarantining him, which I know is tempting fate, especially with tangs. Yesterday, I noticed a single white dot on its pectoral fin--I don't think it was there before that. It seems to be behaving normally, happily munching on the algae in the tank.
I'm pretty sure it has to be ich, and not just sand or a bubble. Since I seem to have caught it pretty early, what are my options? If I put it in a qt, will that protect the other fish, since the ich hasn't had a chance to detach and reproduce yet? Would a cleaner shrimp help at this stage?
I've got a 90-gallon UniQuarium with live rock, inverts, 1 maroon clown, 2 green chromises, and the new sailfin.

 

[peter1215]

Since you cannot do hypo or copper treatment in your DT becasue of the inverts and lr, I would put him in a QT asap and just watch the others. If the other fish get ich also , then you have to leave the DT fallow for 4-6 weeks to rid the parasite. this is why no matter how tempting it is to just throw a new fish in the DT, its not worth the trouble you will experience dealing with ICH and other potential parasites. I qt all new fish plus treat with prazipro to assure flukes are not transferred to the DT.

 

[beth]

It may be lymphocyctis. Its wait and see. Keep an eye on him using a magnifying glass looking at him at various times of the day.
If its ich, you'll have to come up with a plan to treat all your fish.

 

[saltydad]

You don't think I caught it in time, Beth? I thought that if I removed the sailfin before the ich detaches, I may not have to remove all the fish.

 

[saltydad]

Beth?

 

[saltydad]

Hello, Beth?

 

[saltydad]

Ah, well.
I should have my qt mostly ready by tomorrow, and ready for the fish by Tuesday. I have ordered Cupramine and a Seachem copper test kit that should arrive by Wednesday.
Since I'm not 100% sure the spot on the sailfin is ich, should I hold off treatment until more spots appear, or should I just start treating right away?
Also, can I start adding more inverts and/or corals in my display tank in the meantime?

 

[saltydad]

Okay, moving on.
The 10-gallon qt is up and running, and should be ready for fish tomorrow.
I ordered Cupramine and a Seachem copper testing kit from amazon, and they should be here tomorrow. I'll read the directions and start the treatment immediately.

 

[saltandpepper]

I'm treating two of my fish for ICK also right now, one was purchased with it. A picaso trigger of all things!
The other, a juvenile porcupine pufferfish, got it from some live rock in the DT.
I have both in the Hospital/QT tank, and I have been treating the puffer for about a week in a half now. The trigger I just got today, and in he went too with the puffer. I am using Rid ICK.
The puffer has been completely spot free for a while, but I am starting to think he has a relaspe now, or either air bubbles. Hard to tell, but I do daily water changes and treatments every 24 hours as directed.
The DT is almost empty except for a clown fish and a neon cleaner goby, they have both remained free and clear of any signs or behaviours of ICK so I have 16 more days out of 28 till I reintroduce the pufferfish if he stays clear, but the trigger I am going to wait and see how he holds out for about three weeks or so I think.

 

[saltydad]

I'm certainly no expert, saltandpepper, but I think it is possible for ich to be present in the gills of your fish and not anywhere else, making you think it's not there when it really is. This could give you a false sense of security. Like I said, though, I'm no expert, obviously.
Just to be sure, I'm treating all of my fish with Cupramine. As soon as it arrives, that is.
I just spent the last hour moving my fish to a qt. Hard to do with live rock and very lively fish.

 

[saltydad]

I've noticed that the tang and 2 chromises are breathing very rapidly, but my clown isn't. I checked the ammonia and nitrite thinking it could be ammonia poisoning, but both were zero. My only other thought is that they may not be getting enough oxygen. It has a side-hanging filter that may not be providing enough for all those fish in a 10-gallon. I'm try to add more agitation to the water by pumping air into the water with my little pump I use to mix saltwater.

 

[saltydad]

The same 3 fish are still breathing very rapidly this morning despite my attempt to put more oxygen in the water. Not sure what else to try, or how long they can go on like this. I may try removing the chromises to give the rest of the fish more oxygen. I'm not sure I can start with the Cupramine when they are so obviously stressed by something else.

 

[saltydad]

Well, 2 chromises gone. Just for giggles, I added some Amquel, but no change in the rapid breathing for the remaining sailfin. The clown doesn't seem affected at all. It seems that I did something wrong in setting up the qt and I should have just left things alone.
The Cupramine should arrive today or tomorrow and I'll start treatment on the survivors then.

 

[saltydad]

Sailfin is still breathing rapidly this evening. Copper test kit arrived today, hopefully the Cupramine will arrive tomorrow. Offered the fish some spirulina flakes, but only the clownfish had a few nibbles.

 

[sepulatian]

Saltydad, I am sorry that I did not check this post before. You had four fish, including a sailfin tang, in an uncycled ten gallon?? Your readings are still all zero? You have only a hang on filter in there for flow? Oh my, I am terribly sorry that I didn't check this before. Do NOT use copper if the fish are reacting like this. It will only make matters worse. Do you have a refractometer? You only have the clown and sailfin in there now, correct?

 

[saltydad]

Yes, sepulation, just the sailfin and clown now. And the sailfin is still breathing rapidly.
I had the filter pad for the hang-on filter submerged in the display tank for over 3 weeks, so I was hoping it had accumulated enough beneficial bacteria to handle the bioload in the qt.
I added a huge bubbler to the qt yesterday to increase oxygenation, but it hasn't seemed to help. Can you think of anything else I can try?
Thanks.

 

[saltydad]

At this point, I really can't stand watching the sailfin suffer anymore, so I'm putting it back in the dt along with the clownfish and hope for the best. He certainly couldn't be worse off than he is now.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by saltydad
http:///forum/post/2904486
Yes, sepulation, just the sailfin and clown now. And the sailfin is still breathing rapidly.
I had the filter pad for the hang-on filter submerged in the display tank for over 3 weeks, so I was hoping it had accumulated enough beneficial bacteria to handle the bioload in the qt.
I added a huge bubbler to the qt yesterday to increase oxygenation, but it hasn't seemed to help. Can you think of anything else I can try?
Thanks.
You would need a power head for circulation. If you do put them back into the display then be sure to add vitamins and FRESH garlic to their foods.

 

[saltydad]

Well, I actually put them both back in the dt this morning, and I've been away from home all day.
What kind of vitamins do you recommend, and how would I add them to frozen food? And is it possible to add fresh garlic to frozen food?
I'd be afraid to add a powerhead to a small 10-gallon tank--is there a certain size or gph you would recommend?
Thanks very much for your help, sepulation. I'll see if the tang is still alive when I get home. I sure hope so.

 

[saltydad]

I arrived home a few minutes ago, and the sailfin doesn't look good--clamped fins, rapid breathing, and hiding behind rocks. I turned off the lights in the hopes that would calm him down and hopefully let him rest. I was expecting him to look and act a lot better, but the shock and stress of the last 24 hours may have been too much for him.