Raccoon Butterfly

[aquaqueen]

We recently purchased 2 fish, a Raccoon Butterfly and a Half Black Angelfish. We put them in our QT for about 2 wks and they both tolerated fine. I should also let you know we ran low dose copper in this tank, following the suggestion/example of our local AquaCenter. We moved them yesterday after 3+ hours of acclamation (mind you our water changes (5 gallons)to the QT tank came for the Main Tank. They both seemed to be doing fine last night, the butterfly fish pecking at the rocks first thing. We got up early this am and the butterfly fish had a really bad color, dark markings on its back, and was swimming around like it was disoriented or drunk. Swimming backwards bumping into the rocks and walls. We immediately took him out and returned him to the QT. He is his old self again. Our question is, "What happened?" : Did we move him too soon? The Angelfish is fine. We do have a Yellow tang in the tank, who seemed to follow him around a lot, but the lights were out and the tang was no where around him this morning.

 

[srfisher17]

You didn't QT long enough. This shouldn't have anything to do with your problem; but you need to QT with copper for at least 4 weeks to cover the life-cycle of most common parasites (like ich). Are the params in both tanks fairly close? Three hours acclimation (excellent!) would compensate for any small difference; but something shocked him. The fact that he returned to normal is odd, I'd give him some time and try again. BTW; I think using copper in QT is an excellent practice and don't understand why so many folks are afraid of it.

 

[aquaqueen]

Thanks for the reassurance. We will take your advice.

 

[deejeff442]

it is a bit odd for the racoon to act this way.but they are a peacefull fish when first introduced and the tang around him might have stressed him.
like fisher said try again.
the guy i get my fish from always uses copper in his tanks i have yet to get a fish from him with ich.

 

[ninjarob]

Most Butterflyfish will lose color when the lights are out. It takes them an hour or so before they wake up and their color comes back. It's normal. I think you should have left him in the tank before moving him back to the QT so fast. Are their any signs of disease? Copper will only eliminate parasites and if it's a low dose, it may not even do that.