First Post / Question

[Keith M]

Hello Everyone,
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I’m enjoying reading the threads…great stuff. My present problem is I have purchased 2 new fish (Copper Banded Butterfly / Hippo Tang) for my 120 gallon reef tank. They have been in my quarantine tank (20 gallon) for 10 days now and I have hypo salinity (1.016) and Cupramine treatment going on. My main tank has not had any new fish or lost any for 2 ˝ years and I learned the hard way…………. Quarantine a MUST !!!!!!!!!!!!! They both are eating well now…but the Copper Banded Butterfly on his back/closer to his tail area (side) has developed what looks like dead skin (white cotton appearance) 2 spots…the skin in this area is also a bit discolored (brownish).
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Any ideas….I can’t seem too fined or identify this on any disease charts. The dealer I purchased them from said it could be caused by hypo salinity? I don’t believe him.
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Thanks, Keith

[Keith M]

ttt

[dobejazz]

Hi Keith Welcome to TRT!!
Any chance of getting a picture of the affected area?

[Keith M]

Sorry...No, I have a new digital camera coming....good old Air Miles. Week or two away. I know it will be hard with out the picture..I just though this might just jump out a someone.

The Copper Band is eatting well....I'm surprised and looks good other than as described..but I'm no fool...this may kill him ?

[dobejazz]

I'm really quite ignorant on fish diseases and or parasites. I'm sure someone will chime in with a better idea.

[theplatypus]

Read this page on wetwebmedia. Apparently Copperbanded butterflies and copper don't play nicely.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/bfdisfaq2.htm

[Keith M]

I checked WWM and missed that one....I have been decreasing the % of copper for a week now, I've been told that Tangs don't fair very well with copper either, but I've had good luck treating with Cuprimine. Formalin II has been out lawed in Canada...can't get it anywhere.

I'm going to gradually bring up the SG and clear out the copper and see if this condition improves. I had to do something about the Ick.

Thanks for your help,

Keith

P.S. You think this is a result of copper treatment ?

[theplatypus]

I can't really say, but that would be my first guess.

[Twitterbait]

if it has a fuzzy appearance then it may be a fungus not a bacteria.

[theplatypus]

Originally Posted by Twitterbait

if it has a fuzzy appearance then it may be a fungus not a bacteria.

But, the problem didn't arise until after he started treating with copper. Being that these fish don't do well with copper it's a reasonable guess that the copper is the root of the problem.

[Keith M]

Thanks for the input....but my memory is getting worse with age, the what ever it is was their before the copper, the marks showed up the second day I got the fish and the reason I Cupramined was because the Hippo Tang had white spots (third day), the cycle is now gone....I only dose very low amounts to begin with. Their is now no sign of Ick. As I said they are doing very well other than the mentioned skin condition on the Butterfly. Again, this does concern me...I don't want to loose this fish, I got him to rid the tank of aptisia. I'm sick of Kalking those little devils. He will clean them out if he makes it....I sacrificed a peice of rock with aptisia and he cleaned it right up. Nice addition also.

Thanks, Keith

[tims]

keith it does sound like the Fungus infection. i would look in to the meds for that. Looks like cotton right?

[Keith M]

I guess the best way to describe it as it is now is like as if you were sunburned and a week later you began to peel, its approx. 1/6" x 1/8" in size....it really hasn't changed in size since it came out. I think I'm being optimistic and thinking its getting better.

This is why I haven't added any fish in 2 1/2 years..its a pain. I agree with Wet Web Media all the way...if you don't have parasites...you don't have them.....I AGREE.. I enjoy this now in the main tank. NO FEAR !!!

Keith