capt.dave
Community Member
BACKGROUND: I have a Scribbled Rabbit Fish in QT with a pair of SW acclimated black mollies I was using as canaries. Then the mollies gave me 20+ fry, which are also now in their own QT within the QT. The mollies were showing some spots on their bellies, which I think may have been natural markings but not sure so I proceeded with Coppersafe, following @Humblefish QT protocol. Copper hit therapeutic levels on 2/24.
The adult mollies are pooping out 1 inch long strands so I started feeding the API General Cure soaked food recipe as directed in the protocol on 2/28.
They've already been through 2 doses of API GC in the water for flukes. I did that before copper because I also had a leopard wrasse in there and saw flukes from her after freshwater bath. She died.
ISSUE:
About 2 days ago, the rabbit fish, who had been extremely active and a massive eater (I've never seen a fish eat so much) went into hiding and no longer eats. He's turned on his camo (which is an amazing color change) and raised his spines and just sits inside a PVC pipe or behind the sponge filter all day. He's breathing a little heavy, I think, and is obviously stressed.
Ammonia is 0 by Red Sea. Nitrates yesterday were 25 by Salifert so I did a 25% water change, maintaining copper levels at 2.2 but that does not seem to have helped him. The water does seem a little cloudy. I have a powerhead pointed at the surface and I'm running a sponge filter with a good air stone so I think the water has plenty of oxygen and the fish is staying at the bottom rather than the top. The mollies are doing great: no spots, eating and swimming normally, and the fry are thriving and eating well in their screened off box away from the adults. None have died.
Could the rabbit fish have overdosed on GC in the food since he eats so much? He went nuts for it for the first 6 days. Now nothing for the last 2. Maybe flukes, again, despite 2 doses 1 week apart before copper? Any other thoughts?
The adult mollies are pooping out 1 inch long strands so I started feeding the API General Cure soaked food recipe as directed in the protocol on 2/28.
They've already been through 2 doses of API GC in the water for flukes. I did that before copper because I also had a leopard wrasse in there and saw flukes from her after freshwater bath. She died.
ISSUE:
About 2 days ago, the rabbit fish, who had been extremely active and a massive eater (I've never seen a fish eat so much) went into hiding and no longer eats. He's turned on his camo (which is an amazing color change) and raised his spines and just sits inside a PVC pipe or behind the sponge filter all day. He's breathing a little heavy, I think, and is obviously stressed.
Ammonia is 0 by Red Sea. Nitrates yesterday were 25 by Salifert so I did a 25% water change, maintaining copper levels at 2.2 but that does not seem to have helped him. The water does seem a little cloudy. I have a powerhead pointed at the surface and I'm running a sponge filter with a good air stone so I think the water has plenty of oxygen and the fish is staying at the bottom rather than the top. The mollies are doing great: no spots, eating and swimming normally, and the fry are thriving and eating well in their screened off box away from the adults. None have died.
Could the rabbit fish have overdosed on GC in the food since he eats so much? He went nuts for it for the first 6 days. Now nothing for the last 2. Maybe flukes, again, despite 2 doses 1 week apart before copper? Any other thoughts?
