Flame angel and copper

[tapm]

Will a flame angel tolerate a copper like cupermine. It is supposed to be ok for copper sensitive fish. Or is hypo the way to go with these guys?

Thanks

 

[andrewsmart]

hypo is always a better option.

 

[LargeAngels]

What are you trying to treat?

Hypo is only good to cure ich, not velvet. Cupramine, IME, is safe for all types of pygmy angels (flames, multicolor, venustus, multibarr, potters, etc.)

 

[tapm]

I don't even have the fish yet. I just have heard that angels are copper sensitive and not to use copper sulfate on them. I am leaning towards getting one and always qt first. I normally freshwater dip first, check it for flukes and put the fish through a copper sulfate treatment for two weeks. I wait another one to two weeks then move them to the display tank. I just really don't want to get ick in my main tank. I won't use copper on it if they can't tolerate it.
Largeangels, you obviously have angels. Have you used cupramine on flames? How long did you keep them in the copper?
Thanks for the info.

 

[TerryB]

Cupramine is the only copper that I trust with angels and other sensitive fish. You should test the copper level twice a day though, because the level will keep falling. I rarely use copper anymore since hypo works well for ich.

Terry B

 

[LargeAngels]

I agree with Terry on only trusting Cupramine with Angels. I've used Cupramine with flames for 6 weeks with no adverse affects.

One caution about Cupramine. Myself along with others have had real problems with Seachem's copper test kit and they have admitted to problems with the test kit so I would advise against using it. I use the Red Sea test kit. It only works up to 0.4 ppm, but that has been shown to be an affective level. Seachem states Cupramine is affective between 0.2 and 0.5 ppm. But the do recommend 0.5 ppm.