Mayday! Clowns look terrible

outtafocus · #1 06-28-2005, 01:57 AM

I have had my 2 true perc clowns in my Quarentine tank for a week now. I have been using Seachem Cupramine per the directions on the bottle. I have added no more than suggested.
All signs of ich disapeared a few days in, now both clowns are looking very nasty.
I believe this is marine velvet, but I could be wrong.
Can anyone suggest a proper course of action to bring them back?
Both seem to be eating ok, they dont appear to be gasping. However the little guy keeps doing a head pointed down swimming action.

I have them in a 2gal tank with a little hang on filter. (similar to azoo razzle dazzle)
Temp is at 80F, I havent tested the SG because I am affraid of contaminating the hydrometer with copper. It was at 1.023-1.024 on the day I added the cupramine. I have been religous about toping off also.

[img]

[/img]

outtafocus · #2 06-28-2005, 04:27 AM

The clowns are gasping now. They also look alot worse. Their skin is almost grey.
I gaurantee they will be dead by morning.
I dont know what went wrong. The cupramine should have killed any remaining parasites by now.
Help?

AndyL · #3 06-28-2005, 04:29 AM

Water change first, ask questions later...

That small volume of water, 2 clowns... I'm guessing no live rock or other biofilter... I'll guess on ammonia myself.

Andy

monza · #4 06-28-2005, 04:34 AM

Big water change?? What ever that means in a 2G?? Looks like velvet to me or massive nitrates, ammonia. How about a bigger tank if they make it to the morning.

Good luck.

Dave

outtafocus · #5 06-28-2005, 04:35 AM

water change now, ask questions later thanks

outtafocus · #6 06-28-2005, 04:48 AM

50% water change complete. The benefit of having a vat of salt water at the ready.
I also just ran an ammonia test. I have never even seen this colour before.
1.0 ppm. ouch

I will probably do another smaller water change in the morning.
I dont know what to dose the cupramine. I still want to rid them of the ich.

EmilyB · #7 06-28-2005, 04:51 AM

Brookynella or a really bad pH IMO

OCDP · #8 06-28-2005, 02:37 PM

Can you give us an update? Are they still alive?

A bigger sized tank would definitely do some good on it's own.. 2 gal. is after all pretty tiny (a qtank is a qtank none the less...) but I personally would get a 10g tank.

I really wish I could give you some input and advice to help.. but I have never treated fish before.

Hopefully someone can come along with some advice . I hope they can make it through this for you. Best of luck,

danny zubot · #9 06-28-2005, 04:21 PM

To save these little guys you could try dropping yor salinity a bit, it will help their osmotic response.(breathing) If you think this is ick, continue to drop the slainity slowly over the next few days down to about 12 PPT to see if it clears up. If it does, it was ick, then you can continue with hyposlainty treatment. If it isn't ick and in fact marine velvet, you could try treating with methylene blue, for bacterial infections. Or feed with garlic to boost thier immune systems.

OCDP · #10 06-28-2005, 04:25 PM

Does marine velvet and brook and ich all look alike??