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Last Login: 8/18/2008 4:26:01 PM
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| Any idea what these bumps might be? He's hovering in front of the water jets or intake all day. I tried a 10-minute freshwater dip, but it offered him no relief. I think he's breathing more rapidly. Thanks, Dianne
Dianne
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| Dianne, How long have you had this puffer? Is it in quarantine? Can you post a picture so all can see what you are describing? What you are describing is a "classical" presentation of cryptocaryon irritan - marine ich. Freshwater dips to do any benefit really need to be at least 20 minutes in duration - preferably 30 minutes. The brown spots you are seeing are the parasite that is feeding on the puffer - using the puffer's skin as protection. If you perform a dip - it may dislodge some of the parasites but when you return the puffer to the original tank, it will become reinfested. The only proven method of eradicating the parasite is hyposalinity OR copper in a separate QT. The display tank will have to be left fallow (FISHLESS) for a minimum of 6 weeks with no new additions. See this stickied thread in this forum:
http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic31173-10-1.aspx
Kelly
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Group: Forum Members
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| Have been battling Ich in this tank for 9 months, since I moved from 72 to 150 gallon tank. The puffer could be 10 years old; I adopted him and all his tank mates about 3 years ago. I love him dearly. What threw me was the brown color of the critters--thought ich was always white. Guess that's just how they look on puffers because my other fish still have a mild case. I treated the tank with hyposalinity for as long as they could stand it--about 3 weeks--at 1.015. When I first used copper 9 months ago, I put in a 1/2 dose and this puffer went into convulsions and blew up. I then added a little bit every day, but never could get a full dose in there. Practically speaking, I can't leave the tank fishless for 6 weeks because I'd have to set up an awfully large QT tank (my current is only 10 gallons where 2 of my "non-ich" fish are being treated for two other illnesses with Pima and MelaFix! I'm not clear on why another tank helps. Won't they bring Ich in there when moved? I understand dips can help, but is there a trick to catching the fish?! I feel like it stresses everyone for me to take out all their decorations and chase them around with a net for 45 minutes until catching it finally? (Puffers are easy, though, although they're starting to get hand-shy. I also have a porc) Thank you so much for helping!
Dianne
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Dianne (2/15/2007)
Have been battling Ich in this tank for 9 months, since I moved from 72 to 150 gallon tank. The puffer could be 10 years old; I adopted him and all his tank mates about 3 years ago. I love him dearly. What threw me was the brown color of the critters--thought ich was always white. Guess that's just how they look on puffers because my other fish still have a mild case. If one fish has parasites, then the tank is infested. I treated the tank with hyposalinity for as long as they could stand it--about 3 weeks--at 1.015. When I first used copper 9 months ago, I put in a 1/2 dose and this puffer went into convulsions and blew up. I then added a little bit every day, but never could get a full dose in there. The ich parasite can withstand a salinity of 1.015. A low copper level will not be effective either. Need to treat with Seachem cupramine in a bare bottom tank with daily copper level monitoring (Seachem copper test kit or Salifert copper test kit) Practically speaking, I can't leave the tank fishless for 6 weeks because I'd have to set up an awfully large QT tank (my current is only 10 gallons where 2 of my "non-ich" fish are being treated for two other illnesses with Pima and MelaFix! I'm not clear on why another tank helps. Won't they bring Ich in there when moved? Yes the feeding parasites will fall off in the QT, where the cyst stage will hatch and become free swimming and killed by the copper. Display tanks with substrate and live rock should not be treated as there will be a die off of the microfauna and porous materials will absorb copper - thus making achieving a therapeutic level difficult and there is the potential risk that the copper could be released with shifts in water parameters - leading to toxic levels. In the display tank there are large numbers of each of the three various stages of the parasite. Various containers can be used for QT - clean empty litter buckets, rubbermaid tubs, etc. I understand dips can help, but is there a trick to catching the fish?! I feel like it stresses everyone for me to take out all their decorations and chase them around with a net for 45 minutes until catching it finally? (Puffers are easy, though, although they're starting to get hand-shy. I also have a porc) Thank you so much for helping! Dips can help dislodge some of the parasites if done correctly - problem is that when you return the fish to the display tank, they will be reinfested. If there are no fish in the tank for a minimum of 6 weeks, the parasite will starve and the life cycle will not continue. In case anyone has seen this thread:
http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic31173-10-1.aspx
Kelly
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