Puffer with Ich, need copper power help.

F i s h y · Jul 11, 2020

Bought a blue spot puffer on Thursday. Today it has white spots, that I believe are Ich. It has not eaten much since it was purchased. We @cmiller5617 have tried krill, clam on the half shell, mysis, chroma boost. Some small bites here and there..
I have read varying opinions on how to treat puffers, and what dosing levels. Can someone provide me with a step by step? I need to know what level to raise the tank to, how quickly, and how long to keep it there. Puffer is currently in QT in a 20g. We have a Hanna copper checker.

Copper power says 2.5 ppm but everything i read is 1.5 ppm. Copper power says to dose 1 oz (29.5 ml) to 20 gallons. Quick math says 17.4 ml to get to 1.5ppm in 20 gallons? Does this sound right?

I'm thinking 5 days to raise to 1.5 ppm. So, approx 3.48 ml per day.

Hold at 1.5 ppm for 14 days

Then transfer to a new sterile tank for 14 days.

What other treatment is available if it is copper sensitive?

What are some tips to getting it to eat more? There are no live foods available locally.
Anything I'm missing?

Fishbird · Jul 11, 2020

Have you read up on copper and puffers specifically? I think @lion king has documented many instances of copper being bad/fatal for puffers.

Hopefully lion king can step in or barring that hopefully somebody else knows how to safely treat puffers!

#reefsquad

F i s h y · Jul 11, 2020

Fishbird said:
Have you read up on copper and puffers specifically? I think @lion king has documented many instances of copper being bad/fatal for puffers.

Hopefully lion king can step in or barring that hopefully somebody else knows how to safely treat puffers!

#reefsquad

I've heard its very rough on them

lion king · Jul 11, 2020

@Big G may have more insight than I on this. My experience is with treating Arothron puffers at a lesser dose, but still a delicate operation. Canthigaster genus may be different.

fishguy242 · Jul 11, 2020

@vetteguy53081 ??

F i s h y · Jul 11, 2020

Sorry to bump so quick but hoping to start treatment tonight if I can

lion king · Jul 11, 2020

To my knowledge copper power is a chelated copper, that I would not use on an arothron puffer, to repeat your puffer is from the Canthigaster genus, I'm not sure if that makes a difference. If I were to use a copper on a puffer it would Seachem cupramine and I would dose to .3 no higher than .4, I would also have a copper test kit. I would not start any copper treatment without a test kit, and all test kits are not accurate for varying types of copper, so you need to check that.

F i s h y · Jul 11, 2020

lion king said:
To my knowledge copper power is a chelated copper, that I would not use on an arothron puffer, to repeat your puffer is from the Canthigaster genus, I'm not sure if that makes a difference. If I were to use a copper on a puffer it would Seachem cupramine and I would dose to .3 no higher than .4, I would also have a copper test kit. I would not start any copper treatment without a test kit, and all test kits are not accurate for varying types of copper, so you need to check that.

Thank you for the info. Have a Hanna tester, so definitely prepared there.

F i s h y · Jul 11, 2020

What about Paragaurd?

fishguy242 · Jul 11, 2020

vetteguy53081 · Jul 11, 2020

Paraguard will work but use cautiously. Start with a freshwater dip.
Thereafter , treat and remove carbon and plan on water change after treatment. Any other fish in tank ?

F i s h y · Jul 11, 2020

vetteguy53081 said:
Paraguard will work but use cautiously. Start with a freshwater dip.
Thereafter , treat and remove carbon and plan on water change after treatment. Any other fish in tank ?

One small yellow tail damsel

vetteguy53081 · Jul 11, 2020

Fishy65 said:
One small yellow tail damsel

BEFORE . . . and BEFORE you treat with Paraguard, try AFTER freshwater bath, giving it an epsom salt bath. They respond well to epsom. IF, no avail, then give paraguard a go. Treat paraguard at 80% of recommended dosage.

Big G · Jul 11, 2020

I've successfully treated Blue Spots with Copper Power. Using the Hanna and holding steady at 1.75 for 30 days. Slowly dosing to 1.75 over 5 days with the doses spread out throughout the day. Can expect the fish's eating to drop off for a couple of days when nearing 1.75 ppm.

Have always fed a fish "smoothie" that uses an assortment of 7-8 frozen fish cubes: chopped clams, chopped mussel, etc. Let the cubes slump in the fridge. Mix the cubes and then strain off the excess liquid it will spike the nitrates and phosphates. Mix with a 1/2 capsule of Beta Glucan + Focus (1 scoop) + a bit of tank water. The mix will stay good in the fridge for a few days.

F i s h y · Jul 11, 2020

vetteguy53081 said:
BEFORE . . . and BEFORE you treat with Paraguard, try AFTER freshwater bath, giving it an epsom salt bath. They respond well to epsom. IF, no avail, then give paraguard a go. Treat paraguard at 80% of recommended dosage.

Copper scares me never used it before. I think we will try a dip and paragaurd how long should we treat? The bottle doesn't really say