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Help needed to save a hippo tang

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Help needed to save a hippo tang larap 03-15-2005
Posted by larap on March 15, 2005, 8:38 am
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4 days ago my hippo tang developed what appeared to be ick after being in my
reef tank for almost 6 months. She is now quarintined with her tank mate, a
percula clown fish who has showed no signs of infestation. Initially I did a
freshwater bath and placed them in a small tank with a
cooper/formalin/malchite mix to treat them. On day 2 the hippo tang looked
better and was feeding. Suddenly on day 4 the hippo is now covered with what
appears to be ick and now also has clouded eyes, the percula looks fine.
What am I doing wrong? Urgent help needed! I really want to save this fish.
Thanks to anyone who can offer suggestions.



Posted by Ray Martini on March 15, 2005, 9:39 am
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Lost my entire stock to Ich with the exception of 1 fish. My Yellow Tang who
showed the same signs as your Hippo Tang. Covered in white spots with cloudy
eyes. Out of desperation I bought a 15w UV sterilizer and attached it to the
system (major PITA since plumbing is not exactly my thing).

Dude I have never seen this fish look better. Within 24 hours he showed big
signs of improvement. Within 48 hours he was ich free and looking
outrageous. Now he is strong, fins way up, and feeding like a madman. Not to
mention the water is crystal clear like I've never seen it. I plan to keep
the UV running 24/7 for another week or two and then go to 8 hour a day
shifts with it.

The sterilizer kills free swimming bacteria and parasites not the ones on
the fish. But as they fall off the fish to do their reproductive thing, they
get sucked into the filter and passed through the sterilizer. I know I've
read that UV effectiveness is minimal at best, but IMO and experience it
saved the fish from the same death as his mates and other aquarists that I
talk to tell me that their system with UV lights in the mix run for years
problem free.

I did read that UV's under 15w are not effective against parasites.

Hope this was a little help because I totally feel your pain.


>4 days ago my hippo tang developed what appeared to be ick after being in
>my
> reef tank for almost 6 months. She is now quarintined with her tank mate,
> a
> percula clown fish who has showed no signs of infestation. Initially I did
> a
> freshwater bath and placed them in a small tank with a
> cooper/formalin/malchite mix to treat them. On day 2 the hippo tang looked
> better and was feeding. Suddenly on day 4 the hippo is now covered with
> what
> appears to be ick and now also has clouded eyes, the percula looks fine.
> What am I doing wrong? Urgent help needed! I really want to save this
> fish.
> Thanks to anyone who can offer suggestions.
>
>



Posted by George on March 15, 2005, 1:55 pm
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>4 days ago my hippo tang developed what appeared to be ick after being in my
> reef tank for almost 6 months. She is now quarintined with her tank mate, a
> percula clown fish who has showed no signs of infestation. Initially I did a
> freshwater bath and placed them in a small tank with a
> cooper/formalin/malchite mix to treat them. On day 2 the hippo tang looked
> better and was feeding. Suddenly on day 4 the hippo is now covered with what
> appears to be ick and now also has clouded eyes, the percula looks fine.
> What am I doing wrong? Urgent help needed! I really want to save this fish.
> Thanks to anyone who can offer suggestions.
>

Sounds like a bacterial infection instead of ick. I would treat the quarantine
tank with maracyn and maracyn II for at least a week.



Posted by Terry L Pierson on March 16, 2005, 9:21 pm
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I agree with fishnut regarding lowering the SG but you should also raise the
temperature. In my experience, this quickens the life cycle of the
parasite. I run my QT at 82 degrees when I have this problem.

Posted by George on March 17, 2005, 2:04 am
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> wrote:
>
>>4 days ago my hippo tang developed what appeared to be ick after being in my
>>reef tank for almost 6 months. She is now quarintined with her tank mate, a
>>percula clown fish who has showed no signs of infestation. Initially I did a
>>freshwater bath and placed them in a small tank with a
>>cooper/formalin/malchite mix to treat them. On day 2 the hippo tang looked
>>better and was feeding. Suddenly on day 4 the hippo is now covered with what
>>appears to be ick and now also has clouded eyes, the percula looks fine.
>>What am I doing wrong? Urgent help needed! I really want to save this fish.
>>Thanks to anyone who can offer suggestions.
>>
> Hello larap,
>
> I note that you say "a copper/formalin/machchite mix". (What is
> malchite ?) I don't think you should be mixing chemicals, as they may
> interact, giving a totally undesired effect.

I think he meant malachite, which is a water-soluble form of copper carbonate.

> If they are both still alive, I would gradually reduce the specific
> gravity to 1.012, over several days i.e. take out some saltwater and
> add R.O. or freshwater, to reduce the SG by (say) 0.002 each day. This
> may kill any pathogens and be less stress on the fish. If you begin to
> see an improvement, keep this SG level for (say) 4 weeks, then
> gradually increase the SG back to where it was. Make sure there is
> some algae for the hippo. Keep posting the progress.
>
> Regards, Fishnut.



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