[bguile]

Hi Lee,

I have 5 Royal Grammas in a 40G QT that I purchased from the same LFS a few weeks ago. I started a Cupramine treatment after observing flashing and a few white spots on the fish. I completed the 2 week treatment at a .5ppm level as recommended. I then continued to watch them for another two weeks.

On Friday after watching them closely, I captured them all for a final up-close observation before beginning to acclimate and add them to the display tank. I placed them one by one in a specimen cup and examined them under 10x magnifying glass for any seeable parasites. All but one appeared totally clear with no evidence of white trophonts. This is what I was looking for in particular.

The one fish that I did see something strange on only has a single object on it's caudal fin. Even with the magnifying glass, I can't tell if its actually some sort of parasite or frayed skin material. After debate with myself, I decided to not chance it and put all 5 fish back in the QT and restarted Cupramine treatment. Today, (2 days later) I captured the same fish and examined him again. The same "blemish" is there.

Do you think this was the proper thing to do? I'm sure you don't want to carelessly subject fish to copper treatment. Are there other suggestions you'd like to offer? Also, can a fish have an MI trophont on its tail? Could it really get what it needs to continue its life cycle there and even be protected by the fish's outer coating?

[leebca]

Thanks for posting.

Usually, a single spot is not any sign of a problem. I have gotten to the point of being able to separate MI from other 'white spots.' But, I don't expect (nor would I want hobbyists to have that much bad experiences) hobbyists to be able to do this.

Normally: After the Cupramine treatment the fish are still held in quarantine 4 more weeks. Remember that it isn't only MI and MV that are the enemy here. A full 6-week quarantine is needed no matter whether or not the fish was treated for any specific problem. Other pathogens or problems may appear during that time. ALSO: After any treatment, you want to allow about 4 more weeks (even if the treatment was at the end of the full 6-week quarantine) to verify that the treatment was successful.

So, after the treatment and continuing on the with the quarantine another 4 weeks you will observe to see if anything else displays. MI will attack anywhere where there is a blood and 'food' source, fins included. I think the most likely situation here is either a small injury or secondary bacteria trying to setup housekeeping or the fish's reaction to either of the above. I would give it time and monitor it (without a magnifying glass).

[bguile]

Thanks. Call me paranoid, but even after the 4 week observation following the Cupramine treatment I want to make sure that I'm not releasing any known parasites into my main tank. That's really the reason for the magnifying glass.

[leebca]

I understand your perspective. I don't think it's paranoia. But the magnifying glass is not definitive -- that is, you won't be able to confirm the absence of many parasites by the use of it. Since it is not a definitive tool, you still want to hold the fish after treatment.