Help with sick damsel in qt.

[cst0215]

I have a flame angel and blue damsel that have been in a 10 gallon quarantine tank for 3 weeks. About 2 weeks ago the flame angel started showing signs of ich. I added chelated copper (Frits copper safe) at that time. Both fish have been doing great until tonight. The damsel has turned almost black and is very lethargic. It is breathing rapidly and is hanging out at the bottom of the tank, not eating, and has a couple light sores on its sides. The flame still looks great. Copper level has consistently been 2.5 ppm. I changed out 1.5 gallons of h20 yesterday, and added copper to the replacement water. Water temp is slightly over 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Salinity is 1.028 so I just started slowly adding fresh rodi water to hopefully bring it down to 1.025, trying to not go too fast and add additional stress. My seachem ammonia alert badge shows no ammonia.

Not sure what to do… will this reset the clock on my 30 day in copper qt period? Any advice is appreciated as always.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I have a flame angel and blue damsel that have been in a 10 gallon quarantine tank for 3 weeks. About 2 weeks ago the flame angel started showing signs of ich. I added chelated copper (Frits copper safe) at that time. Both fish have been doing great until tonight. The damsel has turned almost black and is very lethargic. It is breathing rapidly and is hanging out at the bottom of the tank, not eating, and has a couple light sores on its sides. The flame still looks great. Copper level has consistently been 2.5 ppm. I changed out 1.5 gallons of h20 yesterday, and added copper to the replacement water. Water temp is slightly over 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Salinity is 1.028 so I just started slowly adding fresh rodi water to hopefully bring it down to 1.025, trying to not go too fast and add additional stress. My seachem ammonia alert badge shows no ammonia.

Not sure what to do… will this reset the clock on my 30 day in copper qt period? Any advice is appreciated as always.

First thing - can you test the water for ammonia with another test, to try and confirm if your ammonia badge is working? Some stores can do that for you.

I prefer to use coppersafe at 2.25 ppm, unless there is active ich or velvet - especially with flame angels.

I'm not sure I understand - it doesn't sound like your copper dropped below treatment level, or if it did, it was for less than a day? If so, there is no need to extend the treatment time.

Can you post a video of the damselfish?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have a flame angel and blue damsel that have been in a 10 gallon quarantine tank for 3 weeks. About 2 weeks ago the flame angel started showing signs of ich. I added chelated copper (Frits copper safe) at that time. Both fish have been doing great until tonight. The damsel has turned almost black and is very lethargic. It is breathing rapidly and is hanging out at the bottom of the tank, not eating, and has a couple light sores on its sides. The flame still looks great. Copper level has consistently been 2.5 ppm. I changed out 1.5 gallons of h20 yesterday, and added copper to the replacement water. Water temp is slightly over 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Salinity is 1.028 so I just started slowly adding fresh rodi water to hopefully bring it down to 1.025, trying to not go too fast and add additional stress. My seachem ammonia alert badge shows no ammonia.

Not sure what to do… will this reset the clock on my 30 day in copper qt period? Any advice is appreciated as always.

How are you measuring copper level?
Post pics or video using bright white light intensity, no blue lighting for best assessment

 

[cst0215]

The damsel is still alive this morning. Still sitting on the tank bottom. I have been researching Uronella and now I’m really freaked out! These are not red open sores though.

All of my tests have shown a copper level above 2.25 ppm, Ive never had a time period below that concentration.

I have not seen any agression from the flame angel either

The damsel has been in the QT tank for approx 1 month with no problems until now. Not sure how long it takes for Uronella to present itself.

The damsel never showed signs of ich....just the angel

I am testing copper with a Hanna tester and will check ammonia ASAP.

When I did the 1.5 gallon water change on Sunday I also added a small amount of microbacter 7 and prime in case of an ammonia spike.

In the photos it looks like the fish has ich, but it is just specks on the glass. The fish did go from bright blue to almost black though.

 

[cst0215]

I just tested ammonia levels and they read 0. I only have a the fritz test which is just like an API test kit so I’m not sure of accuracy.

 

[cst0215]

Sorrow the disease I am worried about is uronema not uronella

 

[cst0215]

Here is a video from today. Blu color has returned, but breathing very heave and sometimes laying on its side.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Here is a video from today. Blu color has returned, but breathing very heave and sometimes laying on its side.

bRING COPPER TO 2.25PPM

 

[cst0215]

The Damsel is dead...here are a few photos. I double checked and the copper is at 2.5. Temp is 77 degrees. Salinity a bit high at 1.029. The QT tank volume is 10 gallon
.
I just did a 3 quart water change with new saltwater (no copper) to hopefully bring the level down to 2.25 and added an additional quart of fresh RODI water to lower the salinity.

The flame angel still looks good.

Any advice on what might have caused this? The damsel was fine on Monday night. Then i did a 1.5 gallon water change with new water with replacement copper added. Whats weird is that the Damsel should have been the hardier of the two fish so I would think it should have affected the flame angel first.

The damsel had been in quarantine for over 3 weeks and in copper for over 2 weeks. Im really worried it could me Uronema. When the fish was alive it had a white splotch on each side and an area where where a scale was missing I was originally planning to take them out of quaratine at the end of the month. Should I restart the quarantine period for 30 days from today?

Thank you

 

[vetteguy53081]

The Damsel is dead...here are a few photos. I double checked and the copper is at 2.5. Temp is 77 degrees. Salinity a bit high at 1.029. The QT tank volume is 10 gallon
.
I just did a 3 quart water change with new saltwater and the added about a quart of fresh rodi water.

The flame angel still looks good.

Doe

Sorry to hear. Dont see new pics

 

[cst0215]

Sorry I double posted. The pics are in the post above the most recent one

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Sorry I double posted. The pics are in the post above the most recent one

I don’t see distinct signs of Uronema on the damsel. It’s REALLY odd that a blue damsel would die and a flame angel is doing fine! For copper and water quality issues, damsels are much sturdier than flame angels.

Is the angel eating well today? Can you post a video of it?

 

[cst0215]

Here is a video of the flame angel taken this morning. I fed him last night and he is eating well. Whatever happened to the damsel came on really fast. The copper level and temp was high so maybe that stress caused the 2 white patches on his sides and it affected him more due to his smaller size?

Do you think I should just continue on with my copper regimen as planned until the end of the month and then add him to my display (as long as no signs of illness show up)? Or should I start an antibiotic?

Thank you

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Here is a video of the flame angel taken this morning. I fed him last night and he is eating well. Whatever happened to the damsel came on really fast. The copper level and temp was high so maybe that stress caused the 2 white patches on his sides and it affected him more due to his smaller size?

Do you think I should just continue on with my copper regimen as planned until the end of the month and then add him to my display (as long as no signs of illness show up)? Or should I start an antibiotic?

Thank you

I don't see anything that would indicate that an antibiotic will help, ne clear symptoms of bacterial disease in the damselfish.

As long as the flame angel stays strong like in the video, with no rapid breathing, I would continue with the copper and then dose praziquantel 2 to 3x very 7 days for flukes.

 

[cst0215]

Thank you for the advice, it’s very appreciated