Quarantined Coral Beauty won't eat

[jam.jo]

I just purchased a Coral Beauty on Monday (2 days ago) from Petco and it has ich. I put it in a 10 gallon and added copper treatment Monday and today as directed on the bottle to .5 mg/L. Used Seachem Cupramine and tested with API copper test kit. I have tried to feed it mysis shrimp (frozen), formula 2 (frozen), I tried green seaweed in a clip, I have tried Omega One mini marine pellets, and Formula 1 (frozen).. I don't know what Petco was feeding this fish and I don't know why it is not eating. It is not swimming all over the tank.. it tends to keep in certain areas and kind of stays in that area for a while, then moves and keeps in the other area. It is not gasping at the surface, no rapid breathing that I can tell.. and it has been kind of flashing or flicking it's tail here and there I presume from the irritation from ich. How do I get it to eat?

 

[Brieninsac]

I've had two CBAs and both took several days to eat. I think a small amount of frozen Mysis shrimp dissolved in tank water would be the best way to get him eating. I just finished TTM my current CBA and within a day of being back in his observation tank he's eating and swimming. He should be going into the DT in another week or so.

 

[CafeReef]

do you have PVC fittings in your QT for your CBA to have hiding places?

 

[Pufferfish3]

You could try live food. It might get it eating.

 

[jam.jo]

I have a dark purple glass in there right now that I never use, it is definitely hiding in there. LOL. I am just worried because it's not eating and I don't want the fish to starve.

 

[GimpyFin]

Op

Did Api test kit detect cupramine properly? I read by googling that Api does not work with cupramine.

API will work with all types of copper.

To the OP, You're fine for now as far as eating goes. It will take him significantly longer than 2 days to starve, unless the fish was in pretty bad shape when you got it. Once you get past a week of not eating, I'd maybe get a little concerned.

 

[jd371]

You will need to get another type of test kit. The API is for testing chelated copper which is found in Coppersafe. For Cupramine you need Salifert or Seachem test kit.
Oooops! I stand corrected. I thought API was only for chelated.

 

[gone fishin]

Since your using copper I am not surprised the fish is not eating. Copper is tough on fish, it is a poison after all. It is not uncommon for the appetite to be suppressed when using copper and when the fish is sick. Good luck just my 2 cents.

 

[Brieninsac]

Since your using copper I am not surprised the fish is not eating. Copper is tough on fish, it is a poison after all. It is not uncommon for the appetite to be suppressed when using copper and when the fish is sick. Good luck just my 2 cents.

That's why I started doing the TTM. The recovery time is remarkably quicker.

 

[gone fishin]

That's why I started doing the TTM. The recovery time is remarkably quicker.

Me as well. I have not used copper in quite a few years.

 

[GimpyFin]

Hey Brian,

Thanks for posting. But in reefcentral also, there are threads saying Api test kit does not work with cupramine. There are conflicting opinions.

Yes there are, and I can understand why. APIs tests in general don't seem to be the most consistent. I haven't used one of their copper kits in quite a while, but when I did, I had to buy 2 of them to get one that actually registered something. Haven't used the Seachem, but supposedly it works for all types too.

 

[hkgar]

I would STOP copper treatment by doing water changes to get the levels down to immeasurable. Or just tossing all your now contaminate and start him on TTM. Angels just do not do well with copper and it is known to suppress appetite for most fish.

I used to do Cupramine, but now only TTM