Is copper necessary for a betta?

[graye]

Wait, so you're saying velvet isn't super common in Austflakeia? I was envisioning these massive marsupial spiders roaming the outback, carrying velvet and just dropping it on unsuspecting fish tanks from the trees - like some sort of arachnid velvet-bombing campaign.

[coltin]

I'm not a fan of copper, despite its effectiveness. The issue is, it lingers and is nearly impossible to remove. There's also evidence linking it to infertility in some fish. I'm not averse to using chemicals, but I prefer to have control over their removal.

Catappa leaves and salt have opposing effects, so combining them seems counterintuitive. I prefer using Catappa leaves, as they provide a more natural approach. Salt, like copper and flour, is difficult to remove, so I only use it when absolutely necessary.

Velvet is a challenging parasite to deal with. As a killie keeper, I'm constantly on the lookout for it. I believe it's always present, waiting to hitch a ride into our tanks on a fish, plant, or other means. Our fish can usually control it, but we can inadvertently create an environment that allows it to thrive.

We cultivate velvet by providing moderate lighting, slow-moving acidic water, and decaying mulm. Overfeeding and neglecting regular water changes can also contribute to its growth. It's a silent killer, often unseen until it's too late.

Breeders may use salt to combat velvet, but I prefer a more targeted approach. Outbreaks can be managed with a combination of treatments, such as malachite green formalin mixes or acriflavene, but these must be used judiciously. The key is maintaining a clean tank, removing debris, and avoiding overfeeding.

I recall a time when research suggested velvet photosynthesized like plants, leading some to believe that darkness could kill it. This idea was later extended to Ich, but it was a misguided notion. Darkness may slow velvet's growth, but it won't eradicate it. Ich is a different organism altogether.

The medications that work against velvet are harsh on our fish, but the parasite is even harsher. We should only use these medications when we've identified the problem directly, not as a precautionary measure.

Nope, the closest we have to weird things in velvet is some of the fluxe queens at mardi gras. Drop bears won't wear velvet, they say it clashes with their fur.