Marine Velvet?

[eipappas]

I am repasting this from the fish discussion BB:
I have been trying to figure out why my puffer has been scratching himself on rocks and darting out into open space and then slowing down for air... From the behavioral descriptions I have read for various diseases it sounds like he fits the description for Marine Velvet - But he doesn't have any visible signs yet - No slime, no spots, nothing except what looks like dirt from rubbing against rocks... What do you guys think? And should I medicate now just in case? Apparently this is the most deadly of diseases when not caught and treated early...

 

[beth]

When did you get the puffer? And, when was your last fish addition to your tank?

 

[eipappas]

I got the puffer a maybe 10 days ago and I got a sailfin tang 5 days later (mistakenly - I brought it back yesterday) - He was the last addition and was still present when the clown fish decided to shred my poor clownfish (who is now in a QT tank getting medicated for damaged finnage...) It was yesterday after dealing with that chaos I realized that the puffer was acting strange. I took an ammonia reading and realized the ammonia levels had spiked to 0.3-0.4. I did a mass water change into the QT as I put my clownfish in there and that's where things stand now. My tank has been running for a couple months and finished cycling a month ago. I now only have those two fish.

 

[beth]

Well, there are really too many fish coming in to a new tank too fast. Not likely velvet. It could be an adverse reaction to the ammonia or ich, or, very likely, both.
For now, I would suggest that you get that ammonia down and keep it down. Even if it means frequent water changes.
How big is your hospital?

 

[eipappas]

Hi Beth -
I think you're right - It's not velvet... Maybe I just wanted to believe something could explain how he could have shredded up my clown fish all of a sudden like he did... Looks like it was the spike in ammonia that made him scratch himself. Is there any way that could explain why he attacked my clown fish? I guess their "friendship" was only a week old but he had never so much as looked at the clown funny before that happened... Anyway, the clownfish is now in a 10 gallon QT. I am using live rock in the QT and substrate and water from the existing system. Do I still have to make water changes each day? I'm afraid it will dilute the effect of the medication in the water.
Elena

 

[hnf2k]

dont go by me, being that i dont know much. but i don't think you are supposed to have live rock or substrate in a qt. i thought the medication kills it and is impossible to get out. am i wrong?