Please help freaking out, Purple Tang..

[hogsnapper07]

Please if you have any suggestions let me know, I have a newly added purple tang to my system (been in tank for about 3 weeks to a month) and has ick. He has been going up and down and each day is either good or bad. I make sure he is well fed and happy but cant cure him, I have added pics so you can see roughly his condition as there are certain very frequent members that try to sell and post tings without pics and I feel without a pic it should not be posted. Anyways the problem is that I am leaving for Belize for a week as of Friday morning and my employee who will be watching the tank will be only feeding them and knows absolutely nothing about this hobby. I'm scared he will get worse and cant decide to leave him or sacrifice him to not take the chance while I'm gone. As you will see my cleaner shrimps are attempting to save him and he is super cool as he has the best personality and basically begs for help when i come to the tank and is not afraid of anything including my hands, net, etc. I really dont want to toss him but dont know what to do and know no fish store will be open tomorrow for suggestions. I value anyone's suggestions and help:unsure:

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By http://profile.imageshack.us/user/hogsnapper7">hogsnapper7</a> at 2011-11-23
[IMG]http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/300/purp2.jpg alt="" />
By http://profile.imageshack.us/user/hogsnapper7">hogsnapper7</a> at 2011-11-23
[IMG]http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/43/purp3.jpg alt="" />
By http://profile.imageshack.us/user/hogsnapper7">hogsnapper7</a> at 2011-11-23

Edit: sorry these are iphone pics and he is a bit worse than the pics show

 

[dawgface]

He's alive.... Why would you toss him? I'll take him, I'f that's the only option.

Otherwise if he's eating make sure whoever is feeding is doing do on a regular basis while your gone.

 

[seth the wine guy]

HogSnapper07;707133 wrote: I have added pics so you can see roughly his condition as there are certain very frequent members that try to sell and post tings without pics and I feel without a pic it should not be posted.

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By

So, this panoramic pic of your tank is to better help us understand the condition of the fish? I think you are better off using that one for POTM entry. Can't tell a darn thing from it.
While some should share more pics the same argument could be made that some need to share less.

I wouldn't count on the cleaner shrimp helping out any. They can't pull the parasite out of the fish once it's burrowed in.

 

[miami dolfan]

Man, I hate to see a fish in this condition. You may want to take him to a lfs that will quarantine him while you're away and can treat him.

 

[dakota9]

I'm guilty of not posting pics, but always felt that one should use proper paragraphing, sentence structure and SpellCheck in their post before picking other people about pictures.

Why would you add a fish 3 weeks before leaving the country?

Anywho, at what temp is the tank set? Ick becomes free swimmers at what, 82 degrees?

 

[jennm]

Best solution is remove him and quarantine, treat, and hope your other fish don't come down with it .

Jenn

 

[jmaneyapanda]

Seth The Wine Guy;707145 wrote:

I wouldn't count on the cleaner shrimp helping out any. They can't pull the parasite out of the fish once it's burrowed in.

Agreed. A cleaner shrimp will do NOTHING to treat ick., It will, at best, make your fish feel a little better.

JennM;707167 wrote: Best solution is remove him and quarantine, treat, and hope your other fish don't come down with it .

Jenn

Agreed, save, if that fish has it to this degree, the others have already been exposed to it.

 

[jennm]

Yes, all have been exposed... whether they become infested though is a variable.

I suppose it would be prudent (but perhaps not practical) to remove, quarantine and treat all the fish.

Jenn

 

[hogsnapper07]

Thanks for the help I will try to see who or where I can take it or just leave it. It's such a beautiful fish it's hard to just give up.