need ideas for a makeshift QT tank

[mcliffy2]

Well, its been one of those weeks in reefing for me...as I mentioned to some of you, I think there is, what i can only guess is some kind of internal parasite that has been picking off my fish one by one, now my saddleback clown female seems to have it. I'll paste the full description below so hoping you folks can help

My plan of action is trying to get her to QT, but as my nano cracked I don't really have a QT, so here are my questions:

1. Any tips for catching a somewhat lethargic non-eating fish? Physically, tearing down the rock work is not an option.

2. I've siliconed the large crack in the nano cube, but I'm not sure it will hold water yet. Can I use a salt bucket with a little PVC for hiding and a maxijet w/ sponge as a filter for my QT for now?

3. Assuming I can get her to QT, what treatment should I use for what I'm guessing is an internal parasite? meds? hypo?




About 2 months ago my sargassum trigger, who had been healthy for 6 months, suddenly started behaving weirdly. he would come out at feeding time, but wouldn't actually eat. He almost acted as if he was blind and would only eat something if it literally hit him in the mouth. No external signs of anything except that he got skinnier. Two days later he passed. I did not add anything else to the tank, but a few weeks later the exact same thing happened and my sailfin tang passed away. Now it is about a month after the sailfin, and the same thing seems to be happening to my black saddleback clown. No outside visible signs, she comes out as if she wants to eat but doesn't. No other fish are affected. Whatever it is seems to be picking off fish one by one, which I would guess is characteristic of some type of internal parasite? What can I do? I am in the process of upgrading tanks and was going to acquire a QT tank this weekend, but I fear that might be too late. I have a cracked nano cube that I could possibly silicon up tonight so I could try to catch the clownfish (hoping there is a chance I can catch the guy since he seems a bit lethargic due to lack of food). So obviously, the first thing is to try and get her out of the main tank, but then what, not sure what meds I could use? Do I do hypo?

[chrischris]

theres a company that i see every time i go to the lfs they make a very strong med for parasites ill try and find the name of them
as far as catching them drop the net in the tank and lie it on the bottom fo 2-3 days so the fish get used to it wait till the lights havve been off for atleast 1 hour and use a red light/ light with a red filter on it (fish cant see red light) and find the particular fish and sneak up on it a catch it

[mcliffy2]

Originally Posted by chrischris

theres a company that i see every time i go to the lfs they make a very strong med for parasites ill try and find the name of them
as far as catching them drop the net in the tank and lie it on the bottom fo 2-3 days so the fish get used to it wait till the lights havve been off for atleast 1 hour and use a red light/ light with a red filter on it (fish cant see red light) and find the particular fish and sneak up on it a catch it

I wish I could use that technique but a) no way to lie a net in my tank - odd shape, massive eurobracing, and top access through the hood, plus too much rock. All things I've corrected in designing my new system (plus the big correction that nothing will go in without a month in QT).

Also, this needs to be done quick, when the sargassum and sailfin showed signs, they were gone in 2 days.

I just turned out the lights and am hoping I can catch her napping on her favorite coral.

Definitely let me know the name of that med - if I can get her out, hopefully she'll make it long enough that I can get to the LFS after work tomorrow.

[OneDummHikk]

Originally Posted by mcliffy2

My plan of action is trying to get her to QT, but as my nano cracked I don't really have a QT, so here are my questions:


2. I've siliconed the large crack in the nano cube, but I'm not sure it will hold water yet. Can I use a salt bucket with a little PVC for hiding and a maxijet w/ sponge as a filter for my QT for now?

Go to Walmart and pick up a 10G tank. They are 8-10 dollars. Not worth taking the chance with a cracked nano tank when a 10G is so cheap.

Heater, PH for flow, and whatever medication you decide on.

[mcliffy2]

good call - so I think a tank is not a big deal, but getting the fish out is. Sadly, I'm not sure its possible, unless I tear the tank down. Also I think I figured out what it is, but I'm not sure how to medicate:

I think I figured out the disease, but now I don't really get how I'm supposed to administer the treatment. This sounds like exactly what I'm experiencing:

Digenean Trematodes
These internal worm infections are actually quite common in the wild. Most fish appear to be oblivious to the presence of these parasites unless they are in an otherwise weakened condition. It is surprising how many of these parasites a fish can host and still appear to be healthy. It has been reported that Trematodes, Metacercaria, or Nematodes are found in up to 85 percent of marine fish examined. At the risk of spoiling someone's appetite for fish, try soaking a freshwater fish fillet in saltwater or the saltwater fish fillet you are planning on as dinner in freshwater. You may discover that some types of worm infestations are more common than you would like to know about.

Some possible symptoms are as follow:

• Weight loss, even though the fish eats normally in early stages
• Usually only one or two fish seem to be affected
• Loss of appetite in advanced stages
• Fish become listless
• White spots that are most easily seen in clear fins appear to be imbedded in the fin rays
• Dark spots under the skin that do not respond to treatment with Formaldehyde
• Exophthalmos (popeye), or blindness
• Secondary bacterial infections in late stages

And here is the treatment:
For Digenean trematode infections Piperazine is a good choice, which should be administered in food at 4.5 mg per pound of body weight each day for three days (Post, 1983). This can be a little difficult to measure for most aquarists and treatment is not always warranted; therefore, improving environmental conditions should be the first approach.

My water quality is very good. All params are good, and I do religious weekly water changes (my corals have been growing like mad lately). But how on earth am I supposed to figure out how much my fish weigh??? And if you can determine body weight how do you administer such an exact amount by food? If you do it by food, can you just feed in the regular display....ugh, this is not pretty...

[OneDummHikk]

Originally Posted by mcliffy2

My water quality is very good. All params are good, and I do religious weekly water changes (my corals have been growing like mad lately). But how on earth am I supposed to figure out how much my fish weigh??? And if you can determine body weight how do you administer such an exact amount by food? If you do it by food, can you just feed in the regular display....ugh, this is not pretty...

Kill him and weigh him No, that was a bad attempt at a bad joke.

After you catch it, put it in a container with water and weigh it. Then, remove the fish and re-weigh. The difference is the weight of the fish. I have a postal scale that reads in ounces and that is about the kind of scale you would need. I think the scale I have I paid about 10 dollars for it at Walmart. You could pick one up when you go get the QT tank

[chrischris]

well a clownfish shouldnt weight more than 1 lb if adult so depending on what stage of life its in id say adult 3mg adolecent 2mg and juvinial 1-.5 mg