Amyloodinium

[reef-rookie]

I allready know that many of the people on this site warned me about doing the things the way I did, but since Im used to hearing, "I told you so" and I need help, I have to ask.

After looking at tons of sites and reading as much as I can today. I May be more confused than I was. First of all is in figuring out what I have. I found this http://www.peteducation.com/article....+1992&aid=2420 , site and judging specifically from the picture (just a little ways down on right) I believe it to be Amyloodinium. LAst night when I went to bed, there was nothing on a single fish. They were all swimming around fine, eating and being normal fishies. This morning the yellow tang had spots all over him, the bi-color angel has a few, and luckily the clowns have nothing. (yet)

My main problem here is that everything I read creates another problem. The most popular technique so far, seems to be the quarintine tank then treatment. I dont have another tank setup nor an extra filter, pump, and skimmer. I have no corals but do have live rock and sand.

Is there any hope for my fishies or did I make bad decissions and now the poor little fishies have to pay for it? The only important thing to me is the fish, I'll do whatever neccessary to make up for my stupid hasty fish buying. But I feel so bad for the tang (even though he is swimming around and eating) just cause it looks like he has the chiken poks and cant be comfortable.

[jenglish]

We have all made mistakes so let's look forward and not worry currently about how we have gotten here but where we are going.

A FW dip can kill the Amy dinos but cannot kill the encysted stage. THe front line treatment is copper. It seems in my reading to be the only effective cure and can't be done with liverock and sand.

If they are showing it on their outer skin then they are porbably too sick to survive the copper treatment. I might look at getting a QT set up and cycled and keeping stress to a minimum to see if the fish's immune system can play catch up.

[reef-rookie]

in this QT, what all will I need? I think i have found a friend with a 40 gallon tank thats empty. I think i have a filter off an old fresh water tank. Do i need another skimmer and powerhead? Im guessing I cant use the ones from the infected tank...

LAst question about this 40 gallon tank, is that its undersized for these fish long term but will it be ok for however long this takes?

Thanks for your help!


*** How long does this tank need to be set up before moving fish over. Are they better off in the infected tank or in a new tnak that might not be cycled all the way?

[jenglish]

In an ideal world it is nice to have seperate equipment for your QT. In the real world it does not always work that way. Copper binds very well to things like sand and LR but not so well to things like plastic, acrylic and glass. These things can be cleaned with vinegar to remove copper. Even LR can be cleaned with muriatic acid to remove copper but it is much better to simply avoid esposing the rock to copper. But I would use the powerhead and skimmer and just be prepared to clean them very well with pure white vinegar before using them on the main tank. I would get the QT tank set up with salt water and getting it cycled while keeping stress to a minimum. If a fish looks very bad you can think about FW dips. You have to balance the stress of the dip with the effect of killing off the amyloodium currently on it.

As far as the size issue, how big is your tang? how many fish do you have total.

[reef-rookie]

As far as the size issue, how big is your tang? how many fish do you have total.[/quote]

the yellow tang is about 2.5 inches. The other fish are two maroons that are 2 inches each and one bi-color angel thats about 3 inches.

[jenglish]

I think for the amount of time they will need to be in there they will be fine. Unfortunately I do not know how long the main tank will need to go without fish for it to die out in there.

[reef-rookie]

If it is the tang and or angel that brought this in to my tank, if I got rid of them, is there any chance this goes away or once in a tank is it spreading so fast that its allready attached to everything?

ALso whats the process for the LR? You said that the copper would be bad for it, but if i put the LR into my QT wouldnt it bring the infection with it?

[jenglish]

Amyloodium is very contagious, they likely all have it. Unfortunately it is not like a vampire where you just take care of the original and the rest return to normal

It is best not to use LR in a QT. Yes it would bring the infection with it but the copper would kill the infection on everything eventually.

The reasons you want to avoid LR or sand with your copper is that it absorbs copper. First it make it difficult to keep copper levels constant. It also makes it difficult to rid the tank of copper. It can be cleaned with acid but that is dissolving the outer layer of rock and killing anything on it. You are better off using some type of sponge or plastic bioball for your QT biological filter. These are not reactive with copper. HTH

[reef-rookie]

Is there anyway to tell if I have Cryptocaryon or Amyloodinium? I found a few sites that say follow this link and during a freshwater dip and you'll be able to tell which one you have. Then the link doesnt work anymore.

[jenglish]

Can you get a picture?

Also while I am thinking about it, can you post a fish list. There are some species of fish that do not tolerate copper medications well.

Copper will treat either Velvet or Ich. If you knew it was marine ich you would have the additional option of hyposalinity (something you could do in your display, though it woudl cause some damage to the bacteria in the sand and rock).

[reef-rookie]

Originally Posted by jenglish

Can you get a picture?

Also while I am thinking about it, can you post a fish list. There are some species of fish that do not tolerate copper medications well.

Copper will treat either Velvet or Ich. If you knew it was marine ich you would have the additional option of hyposalinity (something you could do in your display, though it woudl cause some damage to the bacteria in the sand and rock).

I have 4 fish in the tank:

2 maroon clowns (bought as a maited pair)
1 yellow tang
1 bi-color angel
oh and a pepermint shrimp that I havent seen in a while.

[reef-rookie]

Originally Posted by reef-rookie

I have 4 fish in the tank:

2 maroon clowns (bought as a maited pair)
1 yellow tang
1 bi-color angel
oh and a pepermint shrimp that I havent seen in a while.

make that 2 maroons
1 bi-color angel
and 1 pepermint shrimp

the tang was dead when i got home from work. the good news is, if there is such a thing, the rest of the fish look perfect now! Not a single spot. A little rubbing still from the angel but I stoppped and picked up the garlic crap to add to the food. After just one doce of that, they seem to be swimming around and feeling better. I know that this isnt over, but Im thinking the yellow tang was the culprit.

[jenglish]

Tangs have a thinner mucus coat than other fish adn are more susceptible to external parasites. Pay special attention to the rest of your fish's gills. Watch for inflammation and trouble breathing.

[reef-rookie]

Well this morning was another dis appointing one. The angel sems to have gotten a few spots back and is not eating. He is swimming around and swims at the food but doesnt seem capable or willing to even open his mouth. I have prepared a 10 gallon tank and once its to the same tep (as my main tank), im considering a fresh water dip. Any advice or is this a good method to atleast give some temp. help to the angel?

BTW the clowns still seem fine.

[jenglish]

try to match temp and ph as close as you can. Only leave it in for 3-4 minutes. If you have amquel or other ammonia nuetralizer it may not be a bad idea to add that.