Coppersafe with Paraguard?

[shoelaceike]

Anyone have issues using these together? I'm treating my fish with coppersafe and I see some bacterial issues. Can I use these 2 together?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I would not. The aldehydes and malachite green in the Paraguard will combine with the stress on the fish from the copper. Besides, despite what the bottle says, Paraguard is not a primary antibiotic. If you are confirmed that the fish have a bacterial disease, I would treat with a true broad spectrum, gram negative antibiotic. Neoplex or Maracyn 2 for example.

Jay

 

[shoelaceike]

I would not. The aldehydes and malachite green in the Paraguard will combine with the stress on the fish from the copper. Besides, despite what the bottle says, Paraguard is not a primary antibiotic. If you are confirmed that the fish have a bacterial disease, I would treat with a true broad spectrum, gram negative antibiotic. Neoplex or Maracyn 2 for example.

Jay

Ok thank you! Would metroplex work?

 

[shoelaceike]

Fish are really not looking good since I put them in QT. (Friday)

 

[shoelaceike]

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

So - those pictures are tough to diagnose. Could be bacteria, could be a reaction to copper (unlikely) or it could be advanced ich.

Are the fish breathing hard?
Are they still eating?
What is your ammonia level?

Jay

 

[shoelaceike]

So - those pictures are tough to diagnose. Could be bacteria, could be a reaction to copper (unlikely) or it could be advanced ich.

Are the fish breathing hard?
Are they still eating?
What is your ammonia level?

Jay

Some are eating. All are breathing pretty hard. I just picked up neoplex and metroplex. Would those be good. According to seachem badge, ammonia is 0

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Normally, I would say skip the metroplex, but with the rapid breathing, I think you need to treat both. Trouble is, antibiotics take around 5 days to really work, and the fish are in a pretty bad way...
I didn’t ask before, are you confident that you are at a full dose of coppersafe?
Jay

 

[shoelaceike]

Normally, I would say skip the metroplex, but with the rapid breathing, I think you need to treat both. Trouble is, antibiotics take around 5 days to really work, and the fish are in a pretty bad way...
I didn’t ask before, are you confident that you are at a full dose of coppersafe?
Jay

Yes, I'm at about 1.6