Hybrid TTM to treat more parasites!

[Warfielder]

What's the range of time that ich trophonts fall from a fish in that 76-78 degree 1.024-1.025 range? I feel like I've seen 5-7 and 10 days. Copper is used for 14 days if transferring to a sterile QT...

I'm wondering how much cushion is baked into TTM/HTTM and whether or not an additional transfer on day 16 really does anything unless you messed up the first transfer somehow. My first time with it I just kept doing transfers because I was afraid I screwed something up or ammonia would rise too quickly... really just paranoia.

 

[Humblefish]

What's the range of time that ich trophonts fall from a fish in that 76-78 degree 1.024-1.025 range? I feel like I've seen 5-7 and 10 days. Copper is used for 14 days if transferring to a sterile QT...

It should take no longer than 7 days max.

I'm wondering how much cushion is baked into TTM/HTTM and whether or not an additional transfer on day 16 really does anything unless you messed up the first transfer somehow. My first time with it I just kept doing transfers because I was afraid I screwed something up or ammonia would rise too quickly... really just paranoia.

Technically, the fish should be ich free following the second to last transfer. The final transfer is the fail-safe.

 

[Warfielder]

It should take no longer than 7 days max.


Technically, the fish should be ich free following the second to last transfer. The final transfer is the fail-safe.

Thank you kindly! Trying to reduce the stress I put on my 2nd set of fish, so I will cease additional transfers and maybe throw a cycled biosphere in there.

If I observed the fish for 1 week prior to HTTM + 2fenben baths, and medicated foods, and saw no symptoms of any disease before and throughout treatment, would you still advise a 2 week post-HTTM observation period?

 

[Humblefish]

If I observed the fish for 1 week prior to HTTM + 2fenben baths, and medicated foods, and saw no symptoms of any disease before and throughout treatment, would you still advise a 2 week post-HTTM observation period?

Yes, absolutely. In fact, a 4 week observation period is even better if you have the patience for that.

 

[MeshmeZ]

@Humblefish it looks like general cure has been removed from the non h2o2 transfers. Is there a problem with still doing it?

 

[Humblefish]

@Humblefish it looks like general cure has been removed from the non h2o2 transfers. Is there a problem with still doing it?

No, I just made some edits to simplify the HTTM process itself. You can still dose GC 2x during HTTM (6 days apart) provided that timeframe lines up with the treatment calendar: Marine Parasites

 

[Trickman2]

This might be a dumb question but if you are doing Tank Transfer method and you have water already setup. Why not just dose the water that you are about to change 30 minutes before with H202?

 

[Humblefish]

This might be a dumb question but if you are doing Tank Transfer method and you have water already setup. Why not just dose the water that you are about to change 30 minutes before with H202?

Because a 3 day old tank will contain microbes which may (or may not) rapidly degrade the peroxide. This is less likely to occur with a "sterile" bucket + fresh saltwater in-between a transfer. If you wish to dose H2O2 directly into the transfer tank, 30 minutes prior to making a transfer... I highly recommend using these test strips to ensure that the peroxide level is still at least 100ppm before the fish exits the tank: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005XTZMWY/?tag=humblefish-20

 

[drawman]

@Humblefish and @Dierks how do you feel about the Hybrid TTM for Fairy Wrasses? I've been eyeing one at a LFS but not sure how they do with all of the catching and transfering.

 

[Humblefish]

@Humblefish and @Dierks how do you feel about the Hybrid TTM for Fairy Wrasses? I've been eyeing one at a LFS but not sure how they do with all of the catching and transfering.

If you checkout the fish/peroxide compatibility list, you will see that it has been successfully done many times with several different fairy wrasses: Fish + peroxide compatibility list

You will also probably notice that wrasses (in general) have the highest failure rate. But that is pretty much true of all wrasses + all quarantine procedures.

 

[drawman]

If you checkout the fish/peroxide compatibility list, you will see that it has been successfully done many times with several different fairy wrasses: Fish + peroxide compatibility list

You will also probably notice that wrasses (in general) have the highest failure rate. But that is pretty much true of all wrasses + all quarantine procedures.

I can just imagine them getting spooked and breaking their spine in a small tank

 

[Humblefish]

I can just imagine them getting spooked and breaking their spine in a small tank

Exactly. They seem to do best in a QT with a light layer of sand, plastic plants, lots of hiding places, etc. They don't seem to be negatively impacted by chelated copper (e.g. Copper Power, Coppersafe). It's Prazipro you have to be careful with. DO NOT overdose it with wrasses, or use General Cure (or Fritz Paracleanse) which contains a lower concentration of praziquantel (2.0 mg/L).

 

[Tamberav]

@Humblefish and @Dierks how do you feel about the Hybrid TTM for Fairy Wrasses? I've been eyeing one at a LFS but not sure how they do with all of the catching and transfering.

I hated it with fairys.. those suckers stress and freak out too much. Loved it with sand sleepers.

I do not recommend TTM with fairies.

 

[JellyfishBrain]

Apologies if this was answered previously, I didn't want to go through all 37 pages. But why do the first H2O2/formalin bath on day 4 instead of day 1? If I'm dealing with brook or velvet, don't I want to begin treating that immediately?

 

[Jessican]

Apologies if this was answered previously, I didn't want to go through all 37 pages. But why do the first H2O2/formalin bath on day 4 instead of day 1? If I'm dealing with brook or velvet, don't I want to begin treating that immediately?

You can do it on days 1 & 7 instead of 4 & 10. That's noted here in the OP:

The two H2O2 or Formalin baths MUST be done exactly 6 days apart. (This is very important!) You can adjust the timing of the baths, if you wish. For example, if the fish is in good condition when received, the first bath can occur before the fish ever enters QT (Day 1) provided the second bath is administered 6 days later (before the transfer on Day 7). Everything else about doing TTM stays exactly the same!

The reason you might want to wait is if you are performing this on shipped fish, sometimes they need a couple of days to chill and adjust before starting bath treatments.

 

[JellyfishBrain]

You can do it on days 1 & 7 instead of 4 & 10. That's noted here in the OP:



The reason you might want to wait is if you are performing this on shipped fish, sometimes they need a couple of days to chill and adjust before starting bath treatments.

Ah okay thanks, somehow missed that in OP. I chose this username for a reason.

 

[JellyfishBrain]

Another (possibly dumb) question:

Rather than sterilizing the tank with vinegar, could isopropyl alcohol be used? Seems like it would be more effective than vinegar, while not as risky as bleach.

 

[Humblefish]

Rather than sterilizing the tank with vinegar, could isopropyl alcohol be used? Seems like it would be more effective than vinegar, while not as risky as bleach.

That should be fine.

 

[Warfielder]

I noticed the optional prazipro treatment was removed from the original post. Is 24 hours prior to the transfer still sufficient? I initially used fenbendazole prophylactically on day 7, but the fish has not acted the same since (firefish that never hide, only hides now and barely moves) and I'm cautious of doing another. Trying to decide if switching to prazi for the 2nd treatment would be a better route.

 

[drstardust]

I noticed the optional prazipro treatment was removed from the original post. Is 24 hours prior to the transfer still sufficient? I initially used fenbendazole prophylactically on day 7, but the fish has not acted the same since (firefish that never hide, only hides now and barely moves) and I'm cautious of doing another. Trying to decide if switching to prazi for the 2nd treatment would be a better route.

Oh interesting, I didn't notice that, but now am wondering as well why Prazipro would be eliminated as an option