CBB surface breathing

[ScottF]

I have a CBB thats been in QT for 3 days at 2.5 ppm of Copper Power. I just noticed today when I got home from work that he is hanging at the top of the water column and occasionally sticking its beak out of the water. It had a 6 hour Prazipro bath on day 1 before it went into the copper.

Should I remove it from copper and put in medication free water?

 

[ScottF]

I should add that the temp is 77 degrees and there is an air stone.

 

[exnisstech]

Was the fish healthy and eating well before being placed in medication. Often CBB are malnourished when purchased which makes them difficult even not being placed in medication. I don't medicate but when I did I always observed fish and made sure they were fat and eating before being medicated.
A video showing the fish under white light will help the fish medics assist.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I have a CBB thats been in QT for 3 days at 2.5 ppm of Copper Power. I just noticed today when I got home from work that he is hanging at the top of the water column and occasionally sticking its beak out of the water. It had a 6 hour Prazipro bath on day 1 before it went into the copper.

Should I remove it from copper and put in medication free water?

This isn’t from the copper, so removing that could be a mistake.

Does the tank have good aeration (not just circulation)?
Is it still eating?
Can you post a video of the behavior?

 

[ScottF]

Was the fish healthy and eating well before being placed in medication. Often CBB are malnourished when purchased which makes them difficult even not being placed in medication. I don't medicate but when I did I always observed fish and made sure they were fat and eating before being medicated.
A video showing the fish under white light will help the fish medics assist.

I observed it eating frozen at the store. It doesn't seem to be eating now though. I wouldn't buy a CBB without seeing it eat.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I observed it eating frozen at the store. It doesn't seem to be eating now though. I wouldn't buy a CBB without seeing it eat.

Sorry, that fish isn’t in very good shape - it is moderately thin, weak and has sort of ratty skin. The skin issue might be from flukes.

You could try a 4 minute FW dip to see if that alleviates the potential fluke issue, but to be honest, CBB are tough to acclimate even when they are in perfect shape, and in this condition, and it not eating, I think it has too many strikes against it.

FWIW; I only buy CBB from Australia now, pricey, but they hold up much better.

 

[exnisstech]

I bought mine knowing it didn't eat at the store because it was 50% less than one that was eating. I'm also a fairly confident I can train them to eat as long as they are healthy and not already starved. Quite often CBBs that eat at the store stop eating after being purchased and have to be trained. Not helping at all but I place mine in an observation tank with rock and corals to train them to take the food that I feed my DT. I have mine swimming to the front of the tank begging for food before I even think about moving them to DT.

Not possible for everyone but this is one of my observation tanks I use.

 

[ScottF]

I have a CBB in my big tank that is one of the most aggressive eaters in that tank. It's always the first one on the nori clip when I add nori and fights shoulder to should with my tangs for the frozen.

This one though is being a little more difficult. I'll try a fresh water dip to see if there is a fluke issue. I would have thought that the 6 hour prazi bath would have alleviated any issue with flukes.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I observed it eating frozen at the store. It doesn't seem to be eating now though. I wouldn't buy a CBB without seeing it eat.

This fish appears thin and lethargic which is of concern and if not eating will continue to deteriorate and weaken. These fish are hit and miss with both diet and acclimating to a given tank. Best to acquire one you see both eating and active prior to purchase

 

[W31Olds]

There is something above the eye which doesn't look good at all. As Jay and Vette indicated these fish are difficult, which is why I haven't tried one. I could see going through 3 or 4 at least before getting one to survive,

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I have a CBB in my big tank that is one of the most aggressive eaters in that tank. It's always the first one on the nori clip when I add nori and fights shoulder to should with my tangs for the frozen.

This one though is being a little more difficult. I'll try a fresh water dip to see if there is a fluke issue. I would have thought that the 6 hour prazi bath would have alleviated any issue with flukes.

Sorry - I missed the prazi bath! Yes, if the dose was 4 to 6 ppm, I would expect the prazi bath would have reduced the fluke numbers. If the dose was the regular 2 ppm, it may have not done much. Here is a thing though - the damage done by flukes (the ratty look) doesn't go away when the flukes are knocked off, it can actually get worse for a bit.....

 

[ScottF]

Sorry - I missed the prazi bath! Yes, if the dose was 4 to 6 ppm, I would expect the prazi bath would have reduced the fluke numbers. If the dose was the regular 2 ppm, it may have not done much. Here is a thing though - the damage done by flukes (the ratty look) doesn't go away when the flukes are knocked off, it can actually get worse for a bit.....

The prazi bath was 3ml of Prazipro in 4 gallons of water for 6 hours. I went ahead and did the 4 minute freshwater dip. Nothing changed and the fish was dead when I woke up. I guess it was too far gone.

I picked this fish because it was the most enthusiastic eater at the store, but next time I'll try to pay more attention to how skinny it is and its physical condition.

I'm sad that it died, but at least I didn't pay $$ for it. I traded in some birds nest frags for this poor little guy.