Hypo' for 6 weeks.. now turbellarian infestation' (pics)

F

Frogspawn

I've had an unexpected surprise during hyposalinity treatment. I have a regal tang who had contracted moderate ich (white spots on and under the skin) a few days after purchase.

After considering the options I decided to go the hypo' routine to just get rid of it for good. So, after about 4 days in hypo', the ich fell off. Now, five (5) weeks into it all of a sudden more ich shows up on this fish! It lasted two days and is now gone. I was planning on treatment for six (6) full weeks which is coming up but now I'm wondering if I should extend it another six weeks.

The tang is only about 3 inches and being hypo'd in a 10 gallon tank. I'm using RO/DI at 1.009 salinity. I perform a 50% water change twice weekly.

Everything has progressed well to this point and the fish is eating good and is active, although she hides all the time with the stress of it all I guess. I've read to extend Hypo' six weeks after seeing the last signs so I'm planning on that at the moment. Anyone have any insight on this occurence?

Thanks,
 
Have you been testing the hypo water with a properly calibrated refractometer?

From my meager understanding of Ich, if the salinity's just a little high, the parasite can survive...
 
Yes, I'm using a refrac'. Good quality and bought new just for this. Although it hasn't officially been calibrated other than from the factory.
 
Eric:

Definately check calibration on your refract with distilled water. Also, are you sure what you saw was ich, not micro bubbles or dust particles (Debris from the bare bottom.) I really don't think ich can survive in 1.009 for five weeks. Are you perhaps using a sponge filter or water from another system for water changes? I wouldn't put the fish through the stress of another 6 weeks unless you absolutely have too. But then again, I wouldn't chance infecting a 215 gallon system with one three inch fish either.

Good luck, & Keep us posted.
 
I have calibrated the ref' with my RO/DI water but not with the solution made for calibration. This is my first experience with ich so this is new to me. The 'new' ich seems to look almost like something under the skin has burst and left particles of loose skin. It's better today but I'll keep watching. Thanks for the reply.

I want to get her out of the 10 gal asap.
 
I am not sure but can ich be under the skin? I always thought it was on top of the skin(scales). You might have another parasite that is causing the current problem.

For me, at some point in a Hypo treatment I have to treat for generic parasite and bacteria.
 
Ich burrows under the skin, then erupts as it progresses.

You may have ich that is hypo resistant, or have a refractometer that isn't calibrated correctly.

I'd check the refractometer first.
 
For me said:
More details about this please.

You may have ich that is hypo resistant said:
Resistant ich?! Are you kidding me! Geez, I sure hope not.
I'm pretty comfortable with the reliability of the refrac'. But I'll check it again. Is distilled water acceptable for calibration? Factory says so but I've seen some comments on here about that being questionable as well.

Thanks,
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I think someone was going to bring the calibration fluid to the meeting. you might want to search the forums and msg that person.
 
I have had Mouth Fungus, Ulcers and popeye while my fish have been in Hypo. So I have used Maracyn, Maracyn Plus, and Maracyn-Two (depends on what I have on hand) to help fight these. The fish all appeared healthy upon entering Hypo


@Frogspawn wrote:
[quote="For me said:
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More details about this please.


Quote:
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Yes, I'll bring some calibration fluid to the next meeting.

Thing is, it's calibration fluid for 35ppt (1.0264). If your refractometer is off, it may be closer at 0ppt than it is at 35ppt (when calibrating with RO).
 
I had a blue tang that showed some spots after two weeks in hypo. It was discouraging, but I extended the hypo to eight weeks to be safe. I think after 6-8 weeks you should slowly raises the salinity back up and watch for ich. I don't think extended hypo is good for fish.

Kay
 
Update to this;

I have finished six weeks of hypo' and am now raising the salinity to normal. The tang is worsening with white spots on the head area that are different from the ich that it had entering hypo'.

I am beginning anti-fungal and anti-bacterial treatment tonight. The fish is still behaving and eating normally so that's a good sign. While this has been a strain on 'us' it has been a valuable learning experience as I plan to QT all new arrivals from now on.

I hope I don't lose this fish but I have to say this is new territory here and I'm beginning to wonder. I'm glad for the experience, I just hope it's a happy ending. I'll keep you posted.
 
Are you offering the blue tang some green algae every day? I know that hypo is hard on them. When mine finally came out of it he looked like he had that hlle disease, but when I got him back in the main tank that went away and he looks very healthy and ich free. One thing on the bacterial meds. When I used them, they destroyed my bio filter in the qt tank within 3 days and I had to do a lot of water changes. Finally I just put him back in the main tank and fed him well and he recovered. Now I put vitamins and beta glucans in my fish food. It's an immune system booster that you can get at a health food store, and Terry B. on RC gave me that idea when my angel had a spot that wouldn't go away.

Kay
 
Good idea's thanks. Yes, I am feeding green algea every day. By luck only, I didn't know that would help treatment.

The HLLE disease you spoke of; is this something that sounds like my previous description? Do I need to medicate and worry about it or is it just a stress thing that will go away when the stress of QT is removed?

Also, did you notice any scarring from the disease?

Thanks,
 
If he is in a separate quarantine tank without corals then try the copper treatment. I went this route when my entire tank got infected and it worked great.
 
Eric, it sounds like you have done a great job thus far. Are you sure the reinfection is ich? What anti-fungal/bacterial are you using?
Don't bring your salinity all the way back up. Keep it at about 1.018 when you are not in hypo. This helps the fish relax and his body doesn't have to work so hard (osmoregulation).

If it is ich for sure...
Go ahead and finish the treatments that you already have started.
Run some carbon and do a water change when they are complete.
I would then suggest a copper treatment with Cupramine, you will also need the Seachem test to go with it. I can supply more info when you get to this step.

How is the filtration, oxygenation of the water?

Azoo makes a flake food with Beta Glucan already in it. I am not sure of the concentration, but we are trying it out here, and if nothing else the fish love it. Hopefully it turns out to be a good method of getting some BG in their system without working so hard for it.
 
Amanda,

Thanks so much for responding. I'm almost sure the new infection IS NOT ich. My salinity is up to about 1.019 now. I use a small bio wheel for filtration and aeration. I do 50% water changes twice a week due to the tank being only 10g.
Tomorrow I start with Gel-tek's tetracylcine and penicillin treatment. Not sure if I can do both at once. I don't think so. They are both bacterial as I'm sure you know.
I'm treating the water with "Prevent-Ich", which seems to be anti-fungal and anti-parasitic. The LFS was very limited on anti-fungal products. My gut feeling is this is a fungal infection.

Any more insight will be greatly appreciated.

Oh, what is BG?

Thanks,
 
Ok, if I had my druthers.... I would have you pick up some different antibiotics. I will add some links at the bottom.
Stop using the Prevent-Ich. It is 95% "water" and 5% minerals.... These are the ingredients:
"5% active ingredients (multiple natural herbals containing Naphthoquinone), 95% inert ingredients."

Why do you think it is a fungus? Can you get some pictures??
Fungal infections are pretty uncommon in saltwater fish and are usually mistaken for something else. Often it is a virus that only requires really pristine water to clear up.

If you need some antibiotics here are some good ones:
http://www.seachem.com/products/product_pages/NeoPlex.html

http://www.seachem.com/products/product_pages/KanaPlex.html

Both of these will help with fungus as well, if needed. Most LFS in the area are carrying these Seachem products. Exotic Aquatics and DNA should have them.

BG - Beta Glucan

Try to post some pics ;)
 
Okay, Thanks for the recommendations. I'll try to get some pictures. I've been gone most of the day today. I'll take some tomorrow and try to post for you. No particular reason I feel about fungus other than looks. I have no background to base this on.

Get back to you soon with updates.

Thanks again,
 
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