collare butterfly QT – 09/19/09
Hello Wise Ones:
<Mmm, okay>
Thanks for all your great advice.? I've been a reader? for the past year, ever since I began my recent foray into marine aquaria.?
At the end of last year I set up a 125 gallon? FOWLR system.? It houses a 5" annularis angel,
<Will need more room... actually now>
two small Heniochus Bannerfish, and about 165 pounds of very purple live rock with here and there a snail, a stow-away limpet, a bristle worm and some cool red macroalgae.
Two days ago, I received a pair of 3" collare butterflies? Via FedEx.? I did a long gradual acclimation and put them in a bare QT tank where they began, almost immediately, to nibble on mysis and frozen brine shrimp.? I planned on putting them through a typical two or three week quarantine. Then, gleaning your site, specifically for anything having to do with Collares, the advice given to "Matt" (who, like me, acquired some Collares by mail order), baffled me. In lieu of quarantine, Matt was told to do a pH adjusted freshwater dip and place his BFs in his main system right away so as to avoid inflicting too much stress on them. It was suggested that the threat of disease transmission was low and that, probably, they would succumb to disease were they to endure a typical? quarantine.
<Yes>
Know that I've regarded your words about quarantine as gospel.
<Not an absolute... there are exceptions in other words...>
Early on, my angel had to endure a long separation from the main tank as it lay fallow after an outbreak of some nasty ecto-parasitic combo platter.
<I'll have the Mac and Cheese please>
It took three months after purchase before he was finally home, noshing on lifeline cubes and marine cuisine in the big tank.? I therefore followed your advice to the letter when I added the Henis. Everything went fine.?
The purple peaceful tank gets more beautiful by the day.? The Henis peck at the live rock and steal mouthfuls of food from the spoiled angel.? Needless to say, I? fear placing? the Collares too quickly only to end up yanking the whole crew ten days later as I? frantically hunt for my Cupramine and copper
test kit. Either I'm not much of a gambler,? or these incredibly beautiful creatures have, for me, so much more value than the money they cost.? So, could you elaborate a bit on the relative risks and benefits of how best to proceed?
Thanks again,
Randy
<Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/quarfaqs13.htm
and the linked files above till you understand my position. Bob Fenner>

Infection? of copper banded butterfly fish    7/28/09
Hi,
<Howdy... "act excited and you'll be excited, Bob">
Thank you all for such a great site for us novices, we appreciate you.
I've checked the FAQs and the web in general but find no comments about a white "mass" on the lower jaw of my copper banded butterfly fish. I first thought it was food stuck on the mouth but now notice that it is enlarging so I'm concerned about contagion and of course the health of this fish.
<A pic?>
I called the LFS where I bought this fish and was advised to net it, remove it from the general population and treat it with Neosporin.
<? Nah>
I asked what kind and was not advised that there is fish-specific Neosporin. There was no suggestion about where to house this fish in the interim but certainly I wouldn't add it back to the display tank until it improved.
Is there hope for this fish?
<Yes>
Is his problem really a problem? If it's an infection is it likely contagious?
<Can't tell from the data presented, but doubtful that "treating" it will be efficacious... Perhaps this is just a transitory viral expression... Or something else that will just "go" of its own accord. Likely any handling,
moving would be deleterious... Perhaps the addition of a cleaner organism would be of use... Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/clnrfaqs.htm>
Thanks for "being there".
Jayne in Tucson
<Glad to share. Siaynoq! Bob Fenner>