Carpenters Wrasse with ich

[cst0215]

I currently have a Carpenter s Wrasse, purple firefish,and flame angel in a 10 gallon QT tank. The y have all been in from 7-10days.

Tonight I see what I believe is icy on the wrasse. I have heard they are quite sensitive to copper. I have chelated copper safe that I would like to begin treatment with.

How should I proceed? My thoughts were to dose at half strength (approximately 1 ppm) for 24 hours and then go up to 2.25 ppm.

Any suggestions and advice as always are appreciated

 

[vetteguy53081]

I currently have a Carpenter s Wrasse, purple firefish,and flame angel in a 10 gallon QT tank. The y have all been in from 7-10days.

Tonight I see what I believe is icy on the wrasse. I have heard they are quite sensitive to copper. I have chelated copper safe that I would like to begin treatment with.

How should I proceed? My thoughts were to dose at half strength (approximately 1 ppm) for 24 hours and then go up to 2.25 ppm.

Any suggestions and advice as always are appreciated

Yes, this looks like ich. You can safely use Coppersafe or Copper Power at therapeutic level 2.2 for a FULL 30 days (do not interrupt this 30 day period) monitored with a Hanna Brand copper test kit- No API brand. Also monitor Ammonia levels while in quarantine with a reliable test kit and add aeration during treatment using an air stone. All other fish in with it should also be removed as they have also been exposed to the parasites and placed in quarantine tank.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I currently have a Carpenter s Wrasse, purple firefish,and flame angel in a 10 gallon QT tank. The y have all been in from 7-10days.

Tonight I see what I believe is icy on the wrasse. I have heard they are quite sensitive to copper. I have chelated copper safe that I would like to begin treatment with.

How should I proceed? My thoughts were to dose at half strength (approximately 1 ppm) for 24 hours and then go up to 2.25 ppm.

Any suggestions and advice as always are appreciated

That’s a moderately severe case of ich. Which copper product and test kit do you have?

 

[cst0215]

That’s a moderately severe case of ich. Which copper product and test kit do you have?

I am using Fritz Coppersafe (chelated copper) and testing with a Hanna tester. I introduced the copper last night hoping to prevent a worsening of the outbreak. The copper copper was slightly high (2.56 ppm) so I replaced approximately 1/2 gallon of saltwater with new saltwater.

The flame angel and purple firefish are not showing any signs of infection. All 3 fish ate mysis shrimp this morning.

I will test copper level when I get home tonight. I’m also considering picking up the Hanna ammonia tester today.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I am using Fritz Coppersafe (chelated copper) and testing with a Hanna tester. I introduced the copper last night hoping to prevent a worsening of the outbreak. The copper copper was slightly high (2.56 ppm) so I replaced approximately 1/2 gallon of saltwater with new saltwater.

The flame angel and purple firefish are not showing any signs of infection. All 3 fish ate mysis shrimp this morning.

I will test copper level when I get home tonight. I’m also considering picking up the Hanna ammonia tester today.

Don’t forget coppersafe produces about 0.50 ppm of “ghost” ammonia, so deduct that amount from any readings you get to figure the dangerous amount of ammonia. I start to worry at around 0.50 ppm, so with Coppersafe, your action level would be around 1 ppm

 

[cst0215]

I picked up the Hanna ammonia checker tonight and it is reading .16 ppm of ammonia. All 3 fish ate well also.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I picked up the Hanna ammonia checker tonight and it is reading .16 ppm of ammonia. All 3 fish ate well also.

Is the copper still below 2.25?

 

[cst0215]

Copper is 2.5 ppm