How Long Until I Move to the Hospital?

texhorns98 · 12/17/2008, 08:05 AM

I just noticed a few white specks on my flame angel (mainly on tail and towards the rear) and I'm wondering how long I need to wait until I drag out the hospital tank and try and catch this bugger up. Very poor timing with the holidays being upon us as I will be gone for the better part of 3 days and unable to do a WC on the HT during that time.

Is it possible for a fish to fight off ich on it's own? If so, how long do you give them before you try and medicate, and what can one do in the meantime to help him along? A friend of mine's Potter's Angel was able to kick it in a couple of weeks. He tried to catch him up, but was stressing the whole tank out, gave up for a few days, and noticed his fish looking better. I realize all situations can be different, or course.

I just found out my dog has cancer yesterday too, not a good day for the animals in my house

der_wille_zur_macht · 12/17/2008, 08:57 AM

See this thread:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1500214

Opinions will vary, but IMHO immediate treatment is best. What other livestock do you have in the tank?

texhorns98 · 12/17/2008, 08:59 AM

There's a kole tang, 2 clowns, and a watchman. A few corals are in there as well with a small CUC. I've read that thread before, but perhaps I need to revisit it. I don't recall it saying anything about how long to wait.

j4mypets · 12/17/2008, 09:07 AM

I am so very sorry about your dog

I lost mine to cancer in June and I see it everyday at work- it NEVER gets any easier.

My thoughts are with you and your loved companion.

texhorns98 · 12/17/2008, 09:19 AM

Thanks j4,

My dog was diagnosed with a mast cell tumor (stage 2). It was removed last week and was diagnosed as of yesterday. We have an oncologist appointment next week, but I'm unsure about how they treat these types of things. It was a very small tumor located right in the crease of his ear. I'm hoping a little radiation might get rid of whatever might have been left after surgery. He just turned 4 and is otherwise healthy as a horse! We'll see...

hoosierpat · 12/17/2008, 09:43 AM

If you have had the angel in the tank for more than a month, I would avoid pulling it out of the display. If you have to set up a QT then chances are that you will do the fish more harm than good by putting it in there. What I mean is that you will be setting up a biologically bare tank and by your own admission, you probably won't have time to do the water changes necessary to maintain water quality. If the fish is eating and otherwise acting normal, allow it to fight off the parasite itself. Add some vitamins or garlic, or both, to the food and try and make things as stress free for the fish as possible. If it begins to look worse, then think about the hospital tank.

texhorns98 · 12/17/2008, 10:18 AM

Thanks hoosier,

My actinics just kicked on and all the white spots are gone!? I have a few shrimp in there, so maybe the angel went in for a cleaning. The angel has been in the display only 2 weeks. It was in QT at the fish store for two weeks (by himself), and in QT at my house for two weeks. In retrospect, the LFS QT probably shouldn't have counted! He's eating like a horse and not glancing on any rocks or anything yet. What vitamins would you recommend? Currently, they all eat Ocean Nutrition formula 1 and 2. Not sure about the vitamin content in those foods. Can I pick up vitamins at PetSmart or do I need to go to the LFS, I wonder?

Edit: I might end up changing my travel plans now due to the dog. If I can be around for the daily WC, should I go for the hospital tank? It has a heater, small terra cotta pot, and a little HOT filter running bare.

hoosierpat · 12/17/2008, 10:56 AM

Leave it be. Ich cycles and what you saw was the end of the cycle where the cysts are apparent on the outside of the body. They have probably dropped off onto the sand to start the cycle again so there's nothing you can really do at this point.

The vitamins that I have used are Boyd's Vitachem and Selcon. Of the two I prefer Selcon. You won't find it at Petsmart, probably only at a decent LFS

texhorns98 · 12/17/2008, 11:05 AM

Will do! I'll check and see if my LFS has any selcon. I may have to order it online though. Should I creep the temp up on the tank a bit? It's currently at 78 and goes to 79 or 80 after the lights are on for a few hours.

jenglish · 12/17/2008, 11:38 AM

my .02 fwiw is to do as Hooiser has said for now in the tank and make preperation to get the qt tank setup. Fish can fight ich off in good conditions to the point that it is not immediately life threatening and some even develop a degree of immunity to that strain. WHen your QT is setup and cycled and you are going to be able to watch the tank carefully after the holidays then you should do the actual treatment. I am from the school of thought that the best time to treat for ich is when it looks like you don't have it.

sorry to hear about your fish and your dog. Good luck

12/17/2008, 08:05 AM	#1
texhorns98 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 732	How Long Until I Move to the Hospital? I just noticed a few white specks on my flame angel (mainly on tail and towards the rear) and I'm wondering how long I need to wait until I drag out the hospital tank and try and catch this bugger up. Very poor timing with the holidays being upon us as I will be gone for the better part of 3 days and unable to do a WC on the HT during that time. Is it possible for a fish to fight off ich on it's own? If so, how long do you give them before you try and medicate, and what can one do in the meantime to help him along? A friend of mine's Potter's Angel was able to kick it in a couple of weeks. He tried to catch him up, but was stressing the whole tank out, gave up for a few days, and noticed his fish looking better. I realize all situations can be different, or course. I just found out my dog has cancer yesterday too, not a good day for the animals in my house

12/17/2008, 08:57 AM	#2
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	See this thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1500214 Opinions will vary, but IMHO immediate treatment is best. What other livestock do you have in the tank? __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

12/17/2008, 11:38 AM	#10
jenglish Marquis de Carabas Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,523	my .02 fwiw is to do as Hooiser has said for now in the tank and make preperation to get the qt tank setup. Fish can fight ich off in good conditions to the point that it is not immediately life threatening and some even develop a degree of immunity to that strain. WHen your QT is setup and cycled and you are going to be able to watch the tank carefully after the holidays then you should do the actual treatment. I am from the school of thought that the best time to treat for ich is when it looks like you don't have it. sorry to hear about your fish and your dog. Good luck __________________ Jeremy Brown liquor never hurt anybody “Je n'ai pas besoin de cette hypothèse" Pierre-Simon Laplace I should want to cook him a simple meal, but I shouldn't want to cut into him, to tear the flesh, to wear the flesh, to be born unto new worlds where his flesh becomes my key. Current Tank Info: broken and dry

12/17/2008, 08:59 AM	#3
texhorns98 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 732	There's a kole tang, 2 clowns, and a watchman. A few corals are in there as well with a small CUC. I've read that thread before, but perhaps I need to revisit it. I don't recall it saying anything about how long to wait.

12/17/2008, 09:07 AM	#4
j4mypets Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Maine Posts: 452	I am so very sorry about your dog I lost mine to cancer in June and I see it everyday at work- it NEVER gets any easier. My thoughts are with you and your loved companion.

12/17/2008, 09:19 AM	#5
texhorns98 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 732	Thanks j4, My dog was diagnosed with a mast cell tumor (stage 2). It was removed last week and was diagnosed as of yesterday. We have an oncologist appointment next week, but I'm unsure about how they treat these types of things. It was a very small tumor located right in the crease of his ear. I'm hoping a little radiation might get rid of whatever might have been left after surgery. He just turned 4 and is otherwise healthy as a horse! We'll see...

12/17/2008, 09:43 AM	#6
hoosierpat Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Crete, IL Posts: 862	If you have had the angel in the tank for more than a month, I would avoid pulling it out of the display. If you have to set up a QT then chances are that you will do the fish more harm than good by putting it in there. What I mean is that you will be setting up a biologically bare tank and by your own admission, you probably won't have time to do the water changes necessary to maintain water quality. If the fish is eating and otherwise acting normal, allow it to fight off the parasite itself. Add some vitamins or garlic, or both, to the food and try and make things as stress free for the fish as possible. If it begins to look worse, then think about the hospital tank.

12/17/2008, 10:18 AM	#7
texhorns98 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 732	Thanks hoosier, My actinics just kicked on and all the white spots are gone!? I have a few shrimp in there, so maybe the angel went in for a cleaning. The angel has been in the display only 2 weeks. It was in QT at the fish store for two weeks (by himself), and in QT at my house for two weeks. In retrospect, the LFS QT probably shouldn't have counted! He's eating like a horse and not glancing on any rocks or anything yet. What vitamins would you recommend? Currently, they all eat Ocean Nutrition formula 1 and 2. Not sure about the vitamin content in those foods. Can I pick up vitamins at PetSmart or do I need to go to the LFS, I wonder? Edit: I might end up changing my travel plans now due to the dog. If I can be around for the daily WC, should I go for the hospital tank? It has a heater, small terra cotta pot, and a little HOT filter running bare.

12/17/2008, 10:56 AM	#8
hoosierpat Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Crete, IL Posts: 862	Leave it be. Ich cycles and what you saw was the end of the cycle where the cysts are apparent on the outside of the body. They have probably dropped off onto the sand to start the cycle again so there's nothing you can really do at this point. The vitamins that I have used are Boyd's Vitachem and Selcon. Of the two I prefer Selcon. You won't find it at Petsmart, probably only at a decent LFS

12/17/2008, 11:05 AM	#9
texhorns98 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 732	Will do! I'll check and see if my LFS has any selcon. I may have to order it online though. Should I creep the temp up on the tank a bit? It's currently at 78 and goes to 79 or 80 after the lights are on for a few hours.