Copperband Butterfly QT -- Sensitivity Level to Cupramine?

[SkullV]

I have a 3" Copperband coming in on Saturday which will be going into my QT system. I'm going to give it a week without any meds just to make sure it's eating well and then do some prophylactic treatments before it goes into the DT. I have never QT a butterfly fish before and would love to know what level of tolerance they have to Cupramine. I usually treat at .05ppm but may treat slightly lower with this fish. Thoughts?

The plan is:

1wk no meds --> Prazi --> 3wk Cupramine --> 1 wk no meds --> Display Tank

 

[Curious George]

I recently bought a Copperband. I feel lucky because he ate flakes the first feeding......admittedly, I put him directly into the DT. I know this is not recommended, but I have a different philosophy on disease. It has come and gone in my tanks. I have never lost a fish to it. My goal is to get and keep the fish eating and the water quality high. I feel that the fish's natural immunities are much more effective than any chemical that I can toss in the water.

I don't think I would treat a fish unless there was an obvious sign that his health was failing. Monitor during quarantine and getting him eating would be my initial goal.

 

[SkullV]

I recently bought a Copperband. I feel lucky because he ate flakes the first feeding......admittedly, I put him directly into the DT. I know this is not recommended, but I have a different philosophy on disease. It has come and gone in my tanks. I have never lost a fish to it. My goal is to get and keep the fish eating and the water quality high. I feel that the fish's natural immunities are much more effective than any chemical that I can toss in the water.

I don't think I would treat a fish unless there was an obvious sign that his health was failing. Monitor during quarantine and getting him eating would be my initial goal.

Thank you for the advice, however everything that goes into my tank gets QT, dipped, etc. I have no pest/disease problems and would like to keep it that way.

In addition to the first question, does anyone have any recommendations of food to have on hand to make sure the fish is eating? I have PE Mysis, Rods Original, NLS Ther-A+, and will be getting some clams. I also have Selcon and Garlic Xtreme to treat the food with. Anything else I should be looking for?

 

[geaux xman]

PE mysis might be too big for the BFF. I would pick up some Hikari or some of the smaller type mysis. Definitely some spirunila enhanced brine shrimp. You can also pick up a small $3 pack of blood worms.

BFF tends to be much more sensitive to copper. i would aim for about .3ppm cupramine 3weeks. Dose the cupramine slowly. directions says initial dose .25ppm, i would do that over 2 days. An easy way to keep the cupramine level steady is

ie. 15g QT: calculate and dose to .30ppm over 3 days for 15g. then every 3-5 days, do a 5g WC and dose that 5g to .3ppm. you can make up 20g of SW ahead, then every few days, go into with a 5g for the WC. That is a much better way than dosing after a copper reading, which you could easily overdose due to inaccurate readings. Still do your copper readings daily though.

For my QT, if the fish is eating good the first couple of days, i would dose prazi on day 3. i've never found prazi to affect any fish that i QT appetite. I also do 2 treatments of prazi.

 

[snorvich]

For food, live black worms. But if it is divers den, it will be eating mysis. If not, it may not be eating anything.

 

[SkullV]

For food, live black worms. But if it is divers den, it will be eating mysis. If not, it may not be eating anything.

It's just one of the normal ones from LA. I have heard good things about the Copperbands coming in from them eating right out of the bag. Hopefully I get lucky as I know it's all a luck thing with these fish. If not hopefully I can wean it onto prepared food.

 

[SkullV]

Fish is at .3ppm and still eating frozen food well. 2 more weeks and she can go into the DT.

 

[LargeAngels]

Did you treat for flukes using any meds, like Prazipro? If not I would HIGHLY recommend it.

 

[SkullV]

Did you treat for flukes using any meds, like Prazipro? If not I would HIGHLY recommend it.

Yes, my general medication regimen is posted in the OP. Prazi first, then copper.

 

[jhentr]

Good regiment (I wouldn't stray from the QT practice you have). Mines is simliar no matter if the fish looks healthy (2 weeks Prazi simultaneously with 4 weeks CU). I also never seen Prazi cause any appetite issues (maybe only a little during the first day of treatment).

I've Cupramine 1 CB and 2 Pearlesence before - for a month with Cupramine. One Pearlesence didn't make it though. Not sure if it was the Cu or something else since the other one seemed fine.

 

[LargeAngels]

Yes, my general medication regimen is posted in the OP. Prazi first, then copper.

Oops. I missed that.

 

[SkullV]

Here's a little video update. The fish is eating Spirulina Brine and Hikari Mysis with gusto. Copper is at .3ppm and will stay there for 2 more weeks. If you watch at 49sec you can see him grab a frozen mysis. That stuff is just leftovers from the feeding this evening. I siphon all leftovers through a filter sock every night.

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