copper in a reef tank

[Rhonda.J]

I have been looking for a real small foxface. I finally found one. The only problem is I noticed he was breathing heavily. So I watched for awhile and I did notice a few specks on him that I assume is ick. I brought it to the attention of the store and they said they would treat him with copper. I planned to go back and buy him after he is treated and looks ok. I know that when I aclimate him I need to get all the water from the store out. I usually do that anyway just to be careful. My question is after a fish is treated with copper are they toxic for awhile also. Like when they use the bathroom does it contain copper for awhile? Would you recommend buying this fish after it has been treated with copper? I really don't like to use copper and I never do even in a FO tank.

[Biomanjcs72]

Yes, he could be "toxic" so to speak, but the concentration in his body (probably ) wouldn't be large enough to affect the system, but just to be on the safe side, you may want to Q him for a week or two W/carbon on the system and a few water changes, just to make sure he gets most of it out of his system.

[Reinhold]

I don't think one fish could retain enough copper in its body to cause a problem with toxicity in an average size tank. Certainly, there would be no harm (only good) in quarantining the fish, but I don't think it's necessary.