COPPER SENSITIVITY: some don't tolerate it well.

Sk8r · 05/06/2017, 09:43 AM

The list of aquatic species it may kill outright:
corals
anemones
invertebrates of all sorts
live rock bacteria
bannerfish
clownfish
lionfish
wrasses
angel fish
sharks
rays
seahorse
dragonets: mandarin, scooter blenny, etc.
jawfish
eels are iffy.

Considerations when using copper:
1. is the species sensitive? if so, look for another med.
2. is the fish in a weakened condition already? Unless copper is the ONLY treatment for the ailment, try to find another med.
3. is the fish already refusing food? Copper depresses appetite.
4. do you have absolute regulation of evaporation in the treatment tank? Evaporation can raise the dosage too high.
5. is there carbon in your filter? Carbon will remove the med.
6. is it a clown with a nem? Once treatment is done, let the clown recover for a week and build back his slime coat: copper strips it, and he could be stung to death by his own nem.

Note that the slime coat is a fish's natural protection against parasites and infection. It functions much like our own outer skin. Once copper treatment is done, take measures to build the fish's general health back up.

05/06/2017, 09:43 AM	#1
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	COPPER SENSITIVITY: some don't tolerate it well. The list of aquatic species it may kill outright: corals anemones invertebrates of all sorts live rock bacteria bannerfish clownfish lionfish wrasses angel fish sharks rays seahorse dragonets: mandarin, scooter blenny, etc. jawfish eels are iffy. Considerations when using copper: 1. is the species sensitive? if so, look for another med. 2. is the fish in a weakened condition already? Unless copper is the ONLY treatment for the ailment, try to find another med. 3. is the fish already refusing food? Copper depresses appetite. 4. do you have absolute regulation of evaporation in the treatment tank? Evaporation can raise the dosage too high. 5. is there carbon in your filter? Carbon will remove the med. 6. is it a clown with a nem? Once treatment is done, let the clown recover for a week and build back his slime coat: copper strips it, and he could be stung to death by his own nem. Note that the slime coat is a fish's natural protection against parasites and infection. It functions much like our own outer skin. Once copper treatment is done, take measures to build the fish's general health back up. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%. Last edited by Sk8r; 06/28/2020 at 10:47 AM.