How to use copper

dromo2189 · May 24, 2017

So my blue hippo still has his one spot maybe two it looks like. He's eating a good amount now and swimming like everything is okay. I haven't seen him rub or anything different. Do you think I should pull him and treat with cooper or just keep feeding good and maybe add a cleaner shrimp to fight it odd

melypr1985 · May 24, 2017

Is it in the same place? You're sure? If it is the same white spot and its in the same exact place and hasn't gotten bigger, then wait another couple days. Ich will drop off by now usually but it can take up to 7 days. If it's still there after 7 days then it shouldn't be ich.

dromo2189 · May 24, 2017

Would a peppermint shrimp help? I heard they eat ich? I will try to take a picture of it.

Brew12 · May 24, 2017

dromo2189 said:
Would a peppermint shrimp help? I heard they eat ich? I will try to take a picture of it.

Unfortunately, peppermint shrimp and cleaner shrimp don't eat ich. That speculation started because they do eat the damaged skin cells at the location the ich parasite attached.

dromo2189 · May 25, 2017

So it has to be ich today I saw him rubbing against a rock. Now I have two different types of cooper I have ich-x and also cooper power wondering which you guys think is better?

dromo2189 · May 25, 2017

Also cooper power says use 2.5 ppm per 20 gallons. I have a problem 10 gallon qt tank so how would you go about to treat with this product? Like how much per a day

melypr1985 · May 25, 2017

I like copper safe better than the rest. You'll need to test the water daily to be sure you are dosing the correct amount. Therapeutic levels for chelated copper (like coppersafe) is 1.5-2ppm. You'll need to use the API test kit for that.

dromo2189 · May 26, 2017

Now last night I put her in the qt and this morning she looked discolor. Is this possible just cause the stress? Is it still safe to put copper in it?

Brew12 · May 26, 2017

dromo2189 said:
Now last night I put her in the qt and this morning she looked discolor. Is this possible just cause the stress? Is it still safe to put copper in it?

If she is eating then yes, it is safe to start slowly ramping up copper. I like to add it in the morning and evening over a few days until I get to the recommended level.

dromo2189 · May 26, 2017

And what if she isn't it? Do I wait?

Brew12 · May 26, 2017

dromo2189 said:
And what if she isn't it? Do I wait?

That becomes more challenging. A fish won't survive if it won't eat. Then again, if the illness is what is keeping the fish from eating you need to treat it. Some medications can make a fish less likely to eat.

I apologize for not being able to give you a straight answer, but I just don't know enough about your particular situation to give you good advice.

Has the fish stopped eating since your post on Tuesday? Any other visible signs other than the discoloration?

ngoodermuth · May 26, 2017

dromo2189 said:
Now last night I put her in the qt and this morning she looked discolor. Is this possible just cause the stress? Is it still safe to put copper in it?

Could you maybe post a picture? Has the color improved throughout the day or does it still look off?

dromo2189 · May 26, 2017

melypr1985 · May 26, 2017

Are the white spots still there? In the same place as before? No new ones have shown up and the ones that were there before haven't gone away?

dromo2189 · May 26, 2017

I don't really see the white spots anymore but I saw him rubbing against the rock and he seems to be staying close to the heater in the qt tank. The heater hasn't been on so idk if he's just trying to hide or what there. And he ate good when I feed him

dromo2189 · May 26, 2017

Can this maybe not be ich? Should I still treat with cooper just in case?

melypr1985 · May 26, 2017

Still treat with the copper. Keep an eye on that light patch on his back and if it gets worse after starting copper, we can talk about adding kanaplex to the mix.