debbieraptors
New Member
Dear Terry:
For the past three months I have been fighting
either ick or velvet with this racoon butterfly fish.
this fish is in a hospital tank for over three months now and I have tried the following:
I took your advice on cupramine...bought the multi
test kit for cupramine and treated the fish accordingly for 14 days. About a week later the fish came down again with small white spots and blotchy looking fins and tail. ( but still eating well).
Then upon attending the local fish club meeting and speaking to various fish vets, they told me that copper sulfate was the sure way to go. So then, I
did a water change, bought Sea Cure form Seachem which is ionized copper sulfate. I also
monitored the copper level with the fast test kit, check
twice a day to maintain a .15 ppm copper level.
Have done this for the past three weeks now and
today, the fish is just loaded with small white dots,
ragged looking fins and tail, and now cloudy eyes.
I began antibiotic therapy (Maracyn two) treatments for this secondary bacterial infection.
I have bought three copper test kits: aquarium pharmacueticals, multi-test for cupramine, dry tab
and fast test. All these test kits have a very poor
color match. It is next to impossible to maintain
this narrow margin of .15 to .20 ppm.
Even with sea cure, I have to add copper every day
since it goes out of solution so easy. Note: this is in a bare hospital tank, with just a power filter and no carbon.
As we speak, the poor butterfly fish is breathing very hard and is covered with small particles. It has
never shown the large saltlike granules or exhibited any itching.....like ick.
I just gave the fish a 10 minute hydoplex dip by
ruby reef and it just stressed out the fish more.
My next step is to try hyposalinity. I do have an accurate hydrometer and will read more about the hypo method. My question is:
Can I still treat with antibiotics and do the hypo
saline method at the same time?
I know you cannot do a copper treatment and hypo
at the same time.
Please advise.
Debbie.
I will also post this message on the board for others
to benefit.
Tank parameter: ph = 8.3 ammonia = 0 nitrite = 0
nitrate 0 salinity = 1.020 temp. 75 F
copper level .15 ppm
For the past three months I have been fighting
either ick or velvet with this racoon butterfly fish.
this fish is in a hospital tank for over three months now and I have tried the following:
I took your advice on cupramine...bought the multi
test kit for cupramine and treated the fish accordingly for 14 days. About a week later the fish came down again with small white spots and blotchy looking fins and tail. ( but still eating well).
Then upon attending the local fish club meeting and speaking to various fish vets, they told me that copper sulfate was the sure way to go. So then, I
did a water change, bought Sea Cure form Seachem which is ionized copper sulfate. I also
monitored the copper level with the fast test kit, check
twice a day to maintain a .15 ppm copper level.
Have done this for the past three weeks now and
today, the fish is just loaded with small white dots,
ragged looking fins and tail, and now cloudy eyes.
I began antibiotic therapy (Maracyn two) treatments for this secondary bacterial infection.
I have bought three copper test kits: aquarium pharmacueticals, multi-test for cupramine, dry tab
and fast test. All these test kits have a very poor
color match. It is next to impossible to maintain
this narrow margin of .15 to .20 ppm.
Even with sea cure, I have to add copper every day
since it goes out of solution so easy. Note: this is in a bare hospital tank, with just a power filter and no carbon.
As we speak, the poor butterfly fish is breathing very hard and is covered with small particles. It has
never shown the large saltlike granules or exhibited any itching.....like ick.
I just gave the fish a 10 minute hydoplex dip by
ruby reef and it just stressed out the fish more.
My next step is to try hyposalinity. I do have an accurate hydrometer and will read more about the hypo method. My question is:
Can I still treat with antibiotics and do the hypo
saline method at the same time?
I know you cannot do a copper treatment and hypo
at the same time.
Please advise.
Debbie.
I will also post this message on the board for others
to benefit.
Tank parameter: ph = 8.3 ammonia = 0 nitrite = 0
nitrate 0 salinity = 1.020 temp. 75 F
copper level .15 ppm