Marine Velvet horribleness

[my2rotties]

Very good point indeed. Would the copper keep any bacteria at bay during treatment? After they are done treatment should they be put on anti biotics just in case? I just wonder what the typical protocol is for people that have a serious disease to deal with, since it seems so many things could go wrong. Now I wonder if I should treat any new fish with an anti biotic soak prior to going into the system.

Originally Posted by marie

Probably not a good idea while the fish are still undergoing copper treatment. Adding too many things to the water could make the water quality go south.

[marie]

Originally Posted by my2rotties

Very good point indeed. Would the copper keep any bacteria at bay during treatment? After they are done treatment should they be put on anti biotics just in case? I just wonder what the typical protocol is for people that have a serious disease to deal with, since it seems so many things could go wrong. Now I wonder if I should treat any new fish with an anti biotic soak prior to going into the system.

No please don't, using antibiotics as a prophylactic is a bad idea. There are enough problems with bacteria building immunity to available antibiotics.
Quarantining new fish for a full 8 weeks should give enough time for any problems to make themselves known. Once problems are known then they can be treated appropriately

[my2rotties]

Please don't think I am suggesting anything to Laurie... I just see fish at the LFS being treated with antibiotics, or other things in separate tanks quite often. This is why I made mention of it... I do often wonder what the immune systems will be like on my fish when they come home.

Originally Posted by marie

No please don't, using antibiotics as a prophylactic is a bad idea. There are enough problems with bacteria building immunity to available antibiotics.
Quarantining new fish for a full 8 weeks should give enough time for any problems to make themselves known. Once problems are known then they can be treated appropriately

[fishoholic]

Thanks Marie for answering Atomikk question for me, it's exactly what I would of said.

I will be doing only one treatment at a time. However I was wondering how to help the sohal heal his open wounds, if he makes it through the copper treatment.

Just called home (haven't left work yet) and my sailfin tang and my female clownfish are dead. I have to say this really sucks! Everyday for the past week it's like "who's turn it is to die today" I will be glad when this whole ordeal is over and I pray that some of them survive it.

[my2rotties]

This is why I mentioned antibiotics... I just didn't know what you do for that.

Originally Posted by fishoholic

I will be doing only one treatment at a time. However I was wondering how to help the sohal heal his open wounds, if he makes it through the copper treatment.

[fishoholic]

Originally Posted by my2rotties

This is why I mentioned antibiotics... I just didn't know what you do for that.

Ya that's why I figured you said that.

After the copper treatment is done does anyone know what heals open wounds? I know melafix works for wounds on FW fish just can't remember if it works for SW or not.

Sohal looks awful however he is eating and swimming around lots. King is slowing down, not quite on his side but almost and she hasn't eaten anything yesterday or today

It's also been a big PITA trying to keep ammonia in check, we're doing 25% to 50% W/C's everyday.

[marie]

Originally Posted by fishoholic

Ya that's why I figured you said that.

After the copper treatment is done does anyone know what heals open wounds? I know melafix works for wounds on FW fish just can't remember if it works for SW or not.

Sohal looks awful however he is eating and swimming around lots. King is slowing down, not quite on his side but almost and she hasn't eaten anything yesterday or today

It's also been a big PITA trying to keep ammonia in check, we're doing 25% to 50% W/C's everyday.

One of the side affects of copper is depressed appetite, I would feed sparingly until copper treatment is over...it will help with the ammonia levels as well

*edit* A well fed fish should last 10 days without eating with no problems but I would feed a good quality flake food (flakes soak up things up better and faster)that has been soaked in garlic juice and vitamins for the fish who are still eating

[GreenSpottedPuffer]

I know I said it a bunch of times already last week in the PM's but again, I am so sorry about your losses

Velvet has to be caught so fast and so often it's too late by the time you figure it out.

[fishoholic]

Originally Posted by marie

One of the side affects of copper is depressed appetite, I would feed sparingly until copper treatment is over...it will help with the ammonia levels as well

*edit* A well fed fish should last 10 days without eating with no problems but I would feed a good quality flake food (flakes soak up things up better and faster)that has been soaked in garlic juice and vitamins for the fish who are still eating

None of my fish have ever been offered flake not sure if they would eat it or not. We've been feeding pellets and mysis very sparingly (mysis soaked in garlic & selcon) and we try to scoop up any uneaten food 10-15 minutes after feeding. I was paranoid that if they stopped eating it was a signal that they were getting weaker and that the end was near. Good to know how long they can live for without eating. I'd say my king was well fed, I'd bet she's fatter then Doofus

Originally Posted by GreenSpottedPuffer

I know I said it a bunch of times already last week in the PM's but again, I am so sorry about your losses

Velvet has to be caught so fast and so often it's too late by the time you figure it out.

Thank-you again GSP for the pm's and kind words.

Unfortunately I do think you are right. I really believe that by the time we figured out what was really wrong with our fish, it was to late to save most of them.