Prazi or Copper first? Another tilefish...

[christinna77]

Hello fish medics! I just acquired a new tilefish on Sunday (my skunk is still well and I'm hoping to bond them later). He's been doing great so far, feeding and everything, but I noticed some head shaking, twitching, yawning, and just now I saw him flash against the sand bed a few times in a row (I know they hunt in the sand, but this seemed targeted at the gills).

I was about to start him on copper, but now I'm wondering if this plan would be better:

1. Run 1 round of Prazi with a 50% water change after 72h
3. Run 2.25 ppm copper for 21 days (I transfer the fish to a completely new tank afterwards, hence the shortened period)
4. Run 2-3 more rounds of Prazi in observation tank

My reasoning is that I want to buy some time knocking off flukes with the first round of Prazi, but also run copper as soon as possible to address anything like ich or velvet, and then resume treating for flukes. I can do additional FW baths while in copper too, although I want to avoid netting and transferring him, as tilefish just don't do great with those.

During feeding:


A few shots of him flashing and head twitching (sorry, it's a webcam, so the quality is worse):


Thank you in advance!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hello fish medics! I just acquired a new tilefish on Sunday (my skunk is still well and I'm hoping to bond them later). He's been doing great so far, feeding and everything, but I noticed some head shaking, twitching, yawning, and just now I saw him flash against the sand bed a few times in a row (I know they hunt in the sand, but this seemed targeted at the gills).

I was about to start him on copper, but now I'm wondering if this plan would be better:

1. Run 1 round of Prazi with a 50% water change after 72h
3. Run 2.25 ppm copper for 21 days (I transfer the fish to a completely new tank afterwards, hence the shortened period)
4. Run 2-3 more rounds of Prazi in observation tank

My reasoning is that I want to buy some time knocking off flukes with the first round of Prazi, but also run copper as soon as possible to address anything like ich or velvet, and then resume treating for flukes. I can do additional FW baths while in copper too, although I want to avoid netting and transferring him, as tilefish just don't do great with those.

During feeding:


A few shots of him flashing and head twitching (sorry, it's a webcam, so the quality is worse):


Thank you in advance!

Suggested is Coppersafe at 2.25 ppm for 30 days and level monitored with a Hanna Brand copper test kit

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hello fish medics! I just acquired a new tilefish on Sunday (my skunk is still well and I'm hoping to bond them later). He's been doing great so far, feeding and everything, but I noticed some head shaking, twitching, yawning, and just now I saw him flash against the sand bed a few times in a row (I know they hunt in the sand, but this seemed targeted at the gills).

I was about to start him on copper, but now I'm wondering if this plan would be better:

1. Run 1 round of Prazi with a 50% water change after 72h
3. Run 2.25 ppm copper for 21 days (I transfer the fish to a completely new tank afterwards, hence the shortened period)
4. Run 2-3 more rounds of Prazi in observation tank

My reasoning is that I want to buy some time knocking off flukes with the first round of Prazi, but also run copper as soon as possible to address anything like ich or velvet, and then resume treating for flukes. I can do additional FW baths while in copper too, although I want to avoid netting and transferring him, as tilefish just don't do great with those.

During feeding:


A few shots of him flashing and head twitching (sorry, it's a webcam, so the quality is worse):


Thank you in advance!

I agree with that plan - the tilefish does look like it has flukes, scratching, twitching and is breathing a bit fast, but still feeding.

If you plan to use Prazipro, be sure to aerate the tank well during and after the treatment.

 

[christinna77]

Hello fish medics! I just acquired a new tilefish on Sunday (my skunk is still well and I'm hoping to bond them later). He's been doing great so far, feeding and everything, but I noticed some head shaking, twitching, yawning, and just now I saw him flash against the sand bed a few times in a row (I know they hunt in the sand, but this seemed targeted at the gills).

I was about to start him on copper, but now I'm wondering if this plan would be better:

1. Run 1 round of Prazi with a 50% water change after 72h
3. Run 2.25 ppm copper for 21 days (I transfer the fish to a completely new tank afterwards, hence the shortened period)
4. Run 2-3 more rounds of Prazi in observation tank

My reasoning is that I want to buy some time knocking off flukes with the first round of Prazi, but also run copper as soon as possible to address anything like ich or velvet, and then resume treating for flukes. I can do additional FW baths while in copper too, although I want to avoid netting and transferring him, as tilefish just don't do great with those.

During feeding:


A few shots of him flashing and head twitching (sorry, it's a webcam, so the quality is worse):


Thank you in advance!

I agree with that plan - the tilefish does look like it has flukes, scratching, twitching and is breathing a bit fast, but still feeding.

If you plan to use Prazipro, be sure to aerate the tank well during and after the treatment.

Thank you both, will proceed with the plan :)