Clownfish with ich!

[kenilworth-reef]

Hi y'all,

My clownfish has come down with a case of ich. Seems to be doing okay for the moment. She's got some spots, and moments of labored breathing, but she's pretty active overall and is still eating frozen mysis. I've got a qt tank set up with Cupramine ready to go. My question is, should I go ahead and move her to qt? Or should I monitor her for a bit in the dt? I'm worried that the stress of moving her to qt and copper will end up being worse than giving her a chance to fight it on her own, especially cause she's still eating and being active. I've also got metroplex and garlic guard on hand to feed her in dt if need be.

Any advice is welcome!

 

[Arose231]

Hi y'all,

My clownfish has come down with a case of ich. Seems to be doing okay for the moment. She's got some spots, and moments of labored breathing, but she's pretty active overall and is still eating frozen mysis. I've got a qt tank set up with Cupramine ready to go. My question is, should I go ahead and move her to qt? Or should I monitor her for a bit in the dt? I'm worried that the stress of moving her to qt and copper will end up being worse than giving her a chance to fight it on her own, especially cause she's still eating and being active. I've also got metroplex and garlic guard on hand to feed her in dt if need be.

Any advice is welcome!

Ich is in every tank unless your willing to qt inverts and corals for 76 days. Send pictures for confirmation. @Jay Hemdal can help you

 

[kenilworth-reef]

Ich is in every tank unless your willing to qt inverts and corals for 76 days. Send pictures for confirmation. @Jay Hemdal can help you

Yes, I'm aware thank you. My question was whether or not I should move my fish to copper qt or allow it to try and fight it on its own.

 

[Arose231]

Yes, I'm aware thank you. My question was whether or not I should move my fish to copper qt or allow it to try and fight it on its own.

Yes that looks like ich. How old is your tank? Get a UV sterilizer it will help. Metroplex cannot be used with inverts.

 

[kenilworth-reef]

Yes that looks like ich. How old is your tank? Get a UV sterilizer it will help. Metroplex cannot be used with inverts.

Tank is a year old. I’m already running a uv sterilizer.

 

[christinna77]

Yes, I'm aware thank you. My question was whether or not I should move my fish to copper qt or allow it to try and fight it on its own.

It's recommended to move all fish to a hospital tank and treat them with chelated copper at 2.25 ppm for 30 days. I'd try to use Copper Power or Coppersafe instead of Cupramine (ionic copper), since they're a safer form of copper.

If you must go with Cupramine, note that the dose is 0.5 ppm instead and it should be ramped up slowly. Do not combine it with Metroplex.

Leave the main tank fallow for 60 days minimum at normal temperatures, or for at least 45 days at 82°F if you can keep it that high the entire time.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Yes, I'm aware thank you. My question was whether or not I should move my fish to copper qt or allow it to try and fight it on its own.

This is indeed ich. You will need to place fish in Quarantine tank and treat with Coppersafe or Copper Power at therapeutic level 2.25 for a FULL 30 days (do not interrupt this 30 day period) monitored with a Hanna Brand copper test kit- No API brand. Also monitor Ammonia levels while in quarantine with a reliable test kit and add aeration during treatment using an air stone. All other fish in with it should also be removed as they have also been exposed to the parasites and placed in quarantine tank and I would not boost temperature above 80.5 degrees
The display tank will have to be kept fishless (FALLOW) for 6-8 weeks to assure the existing parasites go through their life cycle without a host fish and die off. Inverts and coral can remain in the display (not treatment) tank during fallow period.
A quarantine tank can be as simple as a tank from a second hand store, a Rubbermaid type tub or a starter kit from Walmart which most of the needed essentials.

 

[Nasito]

If you have a QT this is the moment for use it, no need to wait

 

[kenilworth-reef]

Got both fish that were in the tank out and in qt with cupramine. It’s all my lfs had in terms of copper so that’s what I’m using. They’re both doing well so far. Will raise up to .5ppm over the next 3-4 days and continue treatment until ich is gone (30 days?) Also planning a 76 day (at least) fallow period in dt.

I plan on following Humblefish’s eradication method from here on out.

Thanks for your help everyone!