Andy, may I ask what treatments you use? I have been looking in to cupramine, paraguard and melafix as part of a long term QT routine
Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice
Not all the meds I used to use are still available but ones I did use that you can still get are:
Metronidazole for internal parasites and internal bacterial or fungal conditions. This is a good first course for wild fish to help clean them out. The product "General cure" by API also contains Praziquantel which also treats some types of flukes and internal worms. This product was not available when I was importing so we just used straight Metronidazole.
For external bacterial conditions we used a few types of meds: kanamycin, nitrofurazone, neomycin based on results from our sensitivity cultures. Most often used was Nitrofurazone or Kanamycin as these treat typical gram negative diseases which are most common in marine fish however, some fish actually required meds for gram positive bacteria, which is very uncommon, which is why I suggest having Furan -2 on hand when you are not sure as it treats both gram+ & gram - bacteria externally and Kanamycin for internal.
Many of our fish when first received and acclimated were treated with Quick Cure ( no longer available in the States) and a freshwater bath. This killed whatever parasites were on the fish at the moment and helped prevent outbreaks from sneaking up on us.
As for copper, I am from the Coppersafe generation but I see today, better options. I know people who have used cupramine but I have no first hand experience to offer.
As for melafix, I believe that is a freshwater tonic and not good in marine setups. To my understanding, it's more a general preventative and not a good curative. I wouldn't use it.
I think that covers it all.
Hope this helps.