I seem to have two sick clowns. They have had 5 days of Maracyn and Maracyn 2 and now on the 2nd day of copper. They are not looking any better. These pictures are not great but maybe someone will know.
Jamie they either have clown desease aka velvet, or brooklynella. What is really hard is to distinquish between the two. I would guess you have them in QT. Are you using Coppersafe or Cupermine???, both are chelated forms. Use a API copper test kit to test the levels. It is very important to keep the levels as high as needed without going over. I would keep it kinda in the middle of the range, so you know it is enough and not to much. One good thing is clowns are basically damsels and being so are pretty tuff. This is just a GUESS, but I would say it is probably velvet desease [Oodinium] as if it was brooklynella they would be dead in 2 days. You are treating right, Coppersafe, Maracyn and Maracyn 2, very good. Just make sure of the copper level, as it needs to be what they say or it won't work. If there is any live rock or substrate in the QT it well asborb the copper until it gets saturated, so test often till the levels start to stay steady. I would highly recommend Coppersafe by Mardell also. Just make sure the temp stays steady and water conditions are good and stable. You well also need to keep an eye on any of the others in the DT for it, clowns are really prone to getting it, but others can too. If the other inhabinets don't show getting it, then I would leave the clowns in QT for 6 weeks before putting back. I would also make sure of the DT's water conditions, as there is some reason they got it to begin with.
Jamie looking again at the pics, it could also be ich, some ich comes in bigger pieces then others and are on the fish in fewer nbrs., but ich can also be smaller and greater in nbrs. It is hard to tell from the pics, but I would guess it is velvet [Oodinium]. No matter the treatment is the same.
yes im using coppersafe. I have a copper test kit but dont reall know what the levels should be and wonder about the coloration of the water due to maracyn that would skew the results. Also would you still continue the maracyn after 5 days? I thought it was velvet at fist glance also. I did have a purple pseudo that i notices had some ragged fins. that was my first indication there was a problem. I watched him for a day then came back and the clowns had this...no pseudo to be found and never has been found. i guess the brittle star laid claim! I did the maracyn and maracyn 2 treatment in the DT for the first 3 days then moved the clows to QT finished maracyn and started copper. There is a small amy of substrate and no rock in the QT. I hate to lose this pair but they are not responding to treatment yet. forgot to add the only thing that was added to this tank was an anemone crab from reefs to go
Jamie The litature that is in the coppersafe box well tell you how to treat and at what levels. I can't stress enough that you need to have the levels right, to high and they are dead and to low and it won't do any good. The coloration of the Maracyn doesn't enter into it. You need to have an API copper test kit. Unless the levels are correct you won't see any results. I would probably continue the Maracyns until you see some results from the copper, then you could try stopping them, until then I would keep using them.
got my copper test kit out and even with my lack of color perception i could see levels were low. im out of coppersafe but tomorrow i will get more and someone with more color sensitive eyes to read the test and try and get levels up. thanks
Jamie I see you posted on RC also, good move, it's wise to get more imput. From what your answers were, most asked what your levels were and didn't think they were high enough, I agree?? As I stated before, try to be acturate and somewhere in the middle of the range. Glad to see you got the test kit. Having the water yellow from the Maracyn won't effect at all the copper level color from the test kit, so your eyesight should be fine. Keep atleast the Maracyn2 going as it well help sustain them and help them retain an appetite. Glad to hear they are still eating.
Thanks John. Getting more coppersafe today and on with the fish chemo!! Looking forward to meeting you in Feb if you make the meeting.
good and bad news....wife came home today and the starry blenny that never looked sick to me and found it dead...guess i chould have treated everything in the tank. So thats two fish dead and two in the hospital. Clowns are getting the copper levels raised and look somewhat better today to me. I dont know if the anemone crab carried in the ick or if temperature fluctuations caused it to come up. Going to do some studying on the temps while its fishless. Any more suggestions once i start it back up besides a few larger water changes
Jamie sorry to hear about the other guy. It was probably temp changes or water conditions Jamie. Ich attaches and bites into the skin. How much of a temp change was you having?? Fish can take 3 or4 degrees between morning and night as long as its somewhere within say 77 to 82 deg.'s. Make sure to bring the fresh mixed stuff up to matching temp. on smaller tanks, don't remember what size yours is. How often you changing water??
they look slightly better. I think now that the copper level is up they will really respond....well i hope. Where you watching the game? You are more than welcome over...just a few folks coming over...ill have beer and food...bring Cindy too if she wants to come
