Coppering White Face Tang.( Acanthurus japonicus). Crypt... And flukes...   10/23/07
Last Monday I purchased what appeared to be a healthy, eating and active white face tang from my LFS. After bringing him home, giving a FW dip with Methylene blue, acclimating and placing in my QT. I noticed a small thread like thing hanging from his fin. I believe this was an anchor worm.
<Mmm>
Over the next four days I did 2 more FW dips (I always use Methylene blue). The worm never detached. But I did notice a few small critters in the rinse container afterwards. I've got pics of these and will attach them for you. I was able to view them through my handy dandy kiddy CSI lab microscope at 200 mag.
<Neat!>
Even able to get a pic through the microscope with my wife's digital camera on macro setting. Kinda neat to see. I'll post it also. But these aren't really the subject of my question, as Friday afternoon I noticed the spots indicative of ick. I began coppering Saturday morning. Using Cupramine. I am now up to the recommended .50 ppm dosage and want to be sure I do this delicate fish right. Is this what dosage you would suggest for this fish with this product?
<For this product, how the active ingredient is measured, this is about right>
Or do I need to lower it down? I noticed somewhere here you recommended a lower dosage? But with Cupramine? The directions say .50.
<Keep it near this... measure at least daily>
I brought that up over 48 hours as directed. Also I though I saw where you recommended not using continuous copper on this fish.
<Yes... there are other/better medicants to use on/with Acanthuroids>
Does that mean only with baths?
<Another viable approach, yes>
Or can I continue with the 14 day treatment as indicated?
<You can... will be debilitating>
I would like to actually remove the fish as soon as possible from the QT to the DT. Not in a rush here, but trying to do the right thing and limit exposure. As well as guaranteeing an Ick free DT. I do not want to go down that road again! I'll do whatever it takes to guarantee my 125 and 65 stays ick free. But If I treated the powder brown for 7 days and then removed him and placed it in the 125. Would that cover my bases here.
<I would at least add a pH adjusted FW and Formalin dip/bath twixt the QT/TT and DT here>
It seems to me I would be killing any ick that are free swimming (I forget the term). Trying to attach now. So in 7 days then all ick would have dropped off and not allowed to attach again. Thereby assuring a properly timed "transfer". Of course I'll continue the treatment of the QT for the duration to guarantee its safe for the next addition. If this looks like a viable option, I would like to use it. But wont risk the infestation of the 125. If its OK to treat it for the 14 days and this isn't a viable option, I'll continue this coarse.
<course>
Thank You so very much for your help. You site has been an incredible contribution to my success in this hobby.
Charlie Bunch
<In the meanwhile I'd read re the causative organism, it's treatment... Here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ichart2mar.htm
and the many linked files above. Bob Fenner>