Copper and prime

[ibrat82]

I know the two are a big no no. So my question is if I buy fIsh from a store that runs copper and I bring that fish home and use prime will that affect the fish? Does the copper stay in there system? And for how long? I like prime not only for ammonia control but the slime coat and to help with any injuries stress so I want to know if it's safe to use on a fish that came from a store that had copper in there tanks.

Also if an lfs claims to dose prazi and does copper is it safe to do TTM and prazi again? Or is that too much for the fish to go through?

 

[Sgt Jonny Cat]

I always question how much copper the LFS is treating if at all. The store I use keeps the fish in somewhat hypo salinity. I find if this is done correctly then I feel its least stressful on the fish. When I get a new fish, I let him relax in clean water for about 2 weeks until he starts eating etc then I treat him with what ever method I feel is appropriate. I generally like hypo salinity but will also use copper when appropriate, and if the species can tolerate it.

 

[ceslane13]

I know the two are a big no no. So my question is if I buy fIsh from a store that runs copper and I bring that fish home and use prime will that affect the fish? Does the copper stay in there system? And for how long? I like prime not only for ammonia control but the slime coat and to help with any injuries stress so I want to know if it's safe to use on a fish that came from a store that had copper in there tanks.

Also if an lfs claims to dose prazi and does copper is it safe to do TTM and prazi again? Or is that too much for the fish to go through?

my understanding and the way i have always done it is you don't put prime in a qt that has copperin it. The fact that the fish was previously in copper does not matter if your are putting them in a tank that is not dosing copper

 

[CStrickland]

I have never seen any indication that prime is working on the fish internally. It treats the water only AFAIK. So if you are taking the normal precautions to keep lfs water out of your tank there is no reason to worry.

As far as what you are putting the fish through, prazi and ttm are both very gentle if done right. But it's not a bad idea to let a fish settle in before you start fussing with it. If you can get it eating and calm then any appetite suppression or stress from transfer will be lessened. It's not that the treatments are cumulative, it's just good to take it easy. A few days of eating and adjustment to the sounds of your house and the food you are offering will act as a buffer against all the stress it's been through. That can minimize secondary infections and just make the fish stronger generally. Not because prazi will hurt it, but because moving sucks.

 

[Deinonych]

You'll be fine in a clean QT with Prime. The reason Cupramine + Prime is a deadly combination is because Prime breaks the copper-amine bond and significantly increases the amount of free copper in solution.