Tips for treating with cupramine?

[ConnorG]

Is this what you ment by it getting worse before it gets better? So the clowns were doing GREAT after about 3-4 days at 2 drops per gallon. They were breathing normal and eating great. Now since I added the 3rd dose they hav been breathing heavy and their color is fading as well as white spots are comming back. The little one (male) is the worst as he is the most dull I have ever seen him an hanging near the bottom. No ammonias copper is about .3. Is thi normal?? Here is what I mean by dull. And it doesn't look at bad in the pic but it is bad and he is breathing extremely heavily! I am worried should I begin taking it out it is the 11th day. Tank is at 80.0 degrees

 

[ConnorG]

Is this what you ment by it getting worse before it gets better? So the clowns were doing GREAT after about 3-4 days at 2 drops per gallon. They were breathing normal and eating great. Now since I added the 3rd dose they hav been breathing heavy and their color is fading as well as white spots are comming back. The little one (male) is the worst as he is the most dull I have ever seen him an hanging near the bottom. No ammonias copper is about .3. Is thi normal?? Here is what I mean by dull. And it doesn't look at bad in the pic but it is bad and he is breathing extremely heavily! I am worried should I begin taking it out it is the 11th day. Tank is at 80.0 degrees

 

[ConnorG]

Unfortunately the little clown died last night:,( the one in the picture. And now I am beginning to see the signs in the big clown. Fading color. Is it ok the remove the coper?

 

[ConnorG]

Bump I need to know what to do with the other clown

 

[MrTuskfish]

What brand of copper and copper test kit are you using? The pic above isn't very clear. Does this fish have salt-like spots, of peeling/sloughing skin?

 

[ConnorG]

Salifert and kind of yes

 

[MrTuskfish]

Salifert and kind of yes

Based on the pic and your description, I think its very possible the fish has Brooklynella, not ich. Google "Marine Ich'' and "marine brooklynella", include images. Most pics to see will be extreme cases, but make your best guess based on symptoms and description. Brook is extremely deadly, contagious, and quick. This parasite/disease is especially common in clownfish. Tank-bred clowns usually don't carry it, but any fish in the dealers tank or system could spread it. The only cure is Formalin.

 

[SomeDude12]

Also what is the BEST test kit? I have heard 3 different answers, Red Sea, seachem, and Salifert. I am hesitant about the seachem cuz it looks like there are a lot of areas to mess up or make a mistake? Is Red Sea ok? What do you guys use?

I would highly recommend Seachem's. I constantly run Cupramine in a 40 breeder and the kit works very well to aid in maintaining the proper levels. Especially after a water change.

 

[ConnorG]

Well then do I remove all copper and begin with that medicine?

 

[MrTuskfish]

Tough call; if you're sure its brooklynella then remove copper with Cuprisorb, carbon or WCs. You may better off just replacing all of the water. Copper and Formalin are deadly when mixed. If you're not sure if its velvet; you can try formalin dips and just return the fish to the copper tank. A 3RD option is just assume its ich and continue the fish with the copper. A lot of brook-infected fish are doomed, no matter what you do. From just the pic and your description of the skin, it does appear to be brooklynella. On the other hand; brook kills quickly (usually, not always) and this fish has been fighting something for a long time, that suggests ich.

 

[ConnorG]

So I just ordered a bottle of formalin and I have been doing fw dips and they seem to help a lot although he hasn't eaten for about 4 days now but has still been swimming around. I'm nervous the formalin won't get here in time. My question is what else does formalin kill?

 

[ConnorG]

Bump? Anyone?

 

[kv2wr1]

If this is a small tank, and you know the volume pretty exactly, I like using the drops per gallon method with cupramine, since I am forever unable to see the color on the test kits at the low levels I use it...

Day 1: 1 drop per gallon.

Day 3: 1 drop per gallon.

Day 5: 1 drop per gallon (half that if sensitive fish like butterflies). Then I just wait.

I write everything in sharpie on the tank, so I know how many total drops are in there. When I do water changes, I replace the total drops from the volume I change out. Example: If I change 10 gallons, I will add 30 drops to the new water (25 drops if butterflies)... hope that makes sense...

I always keep full strength salinity in my QT. I run the temperature at 80F.

This method has worked very well for me with butterflies. I killed a few at first, following the directions on the bottle

This is great advice! I wish I could give karma points for this.