How does copper kill ick

[mitek2]

I've been researching the lifecycle of the ick parasite and so far I am having wonderful luck treating any new fish in my quarantine tank.
I'm curious however how the copper actually kills the parasite. Does it kill on contact when the parasite leave the fish to go to the substrate; does it invade the cyst phase and kill the eggs; or does it interfere with the cell metabolism of the parasite itself?

I've read that copper will not affect the parasite while it's attached to the fish, so I know it's something in the cyst or free swimming stage.

I guess I'm really just wondering how does copper work?

Thanks!!

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I'm not sure. But I am sure of the fact that TTM works better, and is less stressful on the fish. I won't use copper.

 

[MondoBongo]

here is something interesting i found, not many citations in it, but it sounds legit:

https://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/pkuno/why_are_invertebrates_sensitive_to_copper/

here is a paper detailing some of the effects on three different marine inverts:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...QTDErfVXCAKI0iT2A&sig2=Zjw8Vcxv4yj84HX_LDEtGw