Ich or velvet

01xp · May 4, 2020

So I posted thinking I have a ich outbreak and lost a magnificent foxface and a cleaner wrasse. So now I have a coral beauty that is in hiding not eating when the lights are on. The fish have been in copper for 4 days now my clowns are still eating. I think it might be velvet please help...

Ammonia is negligible
Copper is at .5
Everything else is ok

Flippers4pups · May 4, 2020

01xp said:
So I posted thinking I have a ich outbreak and lost a magnificent foxface and a cleaner wrasse. So now I have a coral beauty that is in hiding not eating when the lights are on. The fish have been in copper for 4 days now my clowns are still eating. I think it might be velvet please help...

Ammonia is negligible
Copper is at .5
Everything else is ok

Picture would help in diagnosis.

Moved to fish disease treatment and diagnosis for more eyes to see.

Albertan22 · May 4, 2020

What kind of copper you are using is important. You may not have enough copper in the water. If you do have a proper dosage, then I believe all you can really do is wait. See this thread for copper use https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/copper-treatment.193343/

01xp · May 4, 2020

I'm using cupramine there are no visible symptoms on the fish at all. Before qt there were white spots on their bodies and fins like ich. But even in the copper they seem to be getting worse. I just read on this forum that velvet can make them light sensitive so I unplugged the lights. The fox was just flushed couldn't see anything but his belly was all white he was stiff as a board

Albertan22 · May 4, 2020

01xp said:
I'm using cupramine there are no visible symptoms on the fish at all. Before qt there were white spots on their bodies and fins like ich. But even in the copper they seem to be getting worse. I just read on this forum that velvet can make them light sensitive so I unplugged the lights. The fox was just flushed couldn't see anything but his belly was all white he was stiff as a board

Foxface’s go stiff when they sleep and also change all kinds of funny colours. Mine turns a kind of white and grey camo and almost seems to stand on his tail in a back corner within 20 minutes of lights out. I would say to let the copper work. Remember, the copper doesn’t kill the parasites inside the fish. The ich/velvet has to complete its life cycle in the fish and exit/drop off the fish as a tomont (picture egg or cocoon), the tomont leaves to a hard surface, where it grows new parasites and releases them to the water as free swimmers. It’s those swimmers that the copper kills. So yes, your fish might still be getting worse as they have to expel the remaining parasites in their bodies. It’s possible they may not survive it if they were already too infested. Hopefully that is t the case.

01xp · May 4, 2020

Okay thanks hopefully they live. The fox moved him around he wasn't sleeping I knew when was gone hopefully everyone gets better. The clowns still eating fingers crossed

Albertan22 · May 4, 2020

Watch for secondary infections. I’ve got a wrasse in QT right now that just cleared up an ich outbreak, is still in hyposalinity then developed some kind of skin infection I think. Might be fungal, I’m not sure but he started getting worse again. So I’m treating for a fungal infection while in hypo and hoping he makes it.

Hugh Mann · May 4, 2020

A freshwater dip can help alleviate the symptoms, giving the copper more time to do its work. This is important, especially with fast acting parasites like velvet.

Zionas · May 4, 2020

Do you know what brought the ich?

Surprised and sad your Foxface didn’t make it. Heard they are extremely resistant to Ich and are one of the few species capable of surviving tank crashes.

01xp · May 4, 2020

No I have no idea what brought it out everybody was doing great then boom everyone was sick

Big G · May 4, 2020

Copper lowers the fish's immune system. Bacterial infections are common. Be ready to treat with Spectrogram, or the trifecta of Furan2 + Metro + Kanaplex for 10-14 days. Feeding high quality foods + vitamins (prefer Beta Glucan) to boost immune system.