Yellow Tang and Copper

[AQD_ottawa]

Lost 3 tangs all separate incidents while trying to QT them with copper, levels repeatedly checked on various kits, only at half dose.

All other fish fine, and the stores yellow tangs swimming happy.

Any ideas if Yellows have an issue with copper?

 

[HumbleFish]

Ionic (i.e. Cupramine) or chelated (i.e. Coppersafe)? I haven't owned a YT in a long time, so I've only used Coppersafe on them. Don't remember any loses.

 

[kv2wr1]

I have used cupramine, but ramped it up very slowly and only went to 0.35-0.4 ppm. They can develop hlle from this (at least mine did) so be sure to feed them a variety of foods and use vitamin suppliments as well.

 

[AQD_ottawa]

yep using cupramine, at .25ppm fish came from same batch just weird dealers fish still in their system is fine. I even did 100% water change before adding the replacement. all parameters as expected and other fish in QT are fine.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Almost all tangs handle Cu very well; Yellow Tangs included. Why use 1/2 dose of Cupramine m(.25)? I use Cupramine at about .35-.40 and its very effective. Cupramine at .25 does nothing to kill common parasites. Many LFS use it it at .25, primarily for algae control and the hope it may get a free swimming isopod or any other unusual bugs.

 

[AQD_ottawa]

I was using half dose as per the instructions and acclimatize, it did not last long enough for the dose to be increased.

 

[atonaltheory]

I have also been successful in treating the same YT on two separate occasions but I use coppersafe and follow the exact dosing instructions on the bottle. Also, after treatment, the fish remains in my hospital tank and must prove to be disease free for 60 days following a 30 day treatment. So that's 90 days total. Patience pays. This fish has been alive for 10 years.

 

[AQD_ottawa]

I think this is a batch of fish that have some gill issues, the 3 that have died all put in the QT at different times have died one week after being put in, however the same batch not in copper are still alive. The other fish in QT are fine.

My gut instinct is there is something weak about these fish that are not allowing them to take the medication. Burnt gills comes to mind from possible previous treatment. Who knows, very odd though as one day they are absolutely fine the next morning cardboard.

 

[atonaltheory]

Are you using any other meds? The only time I've experienced sudden death as you've described, is when I was experimenting with antibiotics, which I no longer use.

 

[AQD_ottawa]

nope nothing.

 

[MrTuskfish]

I think this is a batch of fish that have some gill issues, the 3 that have died all put in the QT at different times have died one week after being put in, however the same batch not in copper are still alive. The other fish in QT are fine.

My gut instinct is there is something weak about these fish that are not allowing them to take the medication. Burnt gills comes to mind from possible previous treatment. Who knows, very odd though as one day they are absolutely fine the next morning cardboard.

A good "gut instinct" is a valuable asset to have; especially in our hobby. IMO, we have just scratched the surface with the real science of fish health. Hell; we're diagnosing fish, and often quite accurately, with nothing but a brief, second-hand description.

Any chance the gill problem fish could have been expose to ammonia? Ammonia, even at low levels, can burn a fish's gills an cause permanent harm (in some cases).