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RE: Killie Fry and velvet & Copper

On 29 Jun 2001, at 14:39, -RJ- wrote:
 
> I suspect that the truth about copper is that it can be used on Nothos with
> velvet very effectively. But most of all VERY CAREFULLY! And preferably with
> a copper test kit. The copper level has to be high enough to kill the velvet
> but not high enough to kill the fish. This is not a treatment of choice for
> beginners. Acriflavine is much safer and should be tried first where
> possible.

At one stage I had a nasty hydra infestation in my 
foerschi tank. Out came the 9V battery and some copper 
wires. Silly me forgot about the battery which was 
pumming current through my tank... When I got back to 
the tank (some 15 min past the official cutoff point) 
the foerschi were already look bad. Some rapid water 
changes to dilute the copper and a few hours and they 
were all dead. Typical copper toxicity symptoms too: 
gasping for air, lack of energy etc...

Incidently the hydra survived...

Copper is a killer! Even in trace amounts. I have heard 
and seen the stories where copper medications have 
killed nothos even after the tank was drained and washed 
out before they were put in.

You rachovii are by far the exception. Personally I  
doubt the accuracy of your test kit also. It more than 
likely measures total copper (in the form of Copper II). 
YOur water chemisty may be such that the copper was in a 
hamrless complex etc... 

Then again rachovii may just have an innate tollerance 
for copper.
 
I would still be very careful though...

Regarding salt baths:
1) I think it would kill fry.
2) the concentration should be 35% mass:volume (this is 
about sea water concentrations)
3) it is an excellent idea

Bye


Tyrone Genade
Southern African Killifish Society Coastal & Offshore Coordinator
AKA 08248
tyronegenade at yahoo_com
http://www.geocities.com/tyronegenade

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