fishmaven
08-06-2006, 2:18 AM
"When treating
diseases in marine fish, the following points should be considered:
-the sooner diseases are
discovered, the greater the chances of curing them;
-it is vital to determine whether
environmental factors are actually primary causes for diseases (e.g. too low pH, too much ammonia
or nitrite, not enough dissolved oxygen);
-if antibacterial drugs are administered, fish
should be isolated in recovery tanks;
-invertebrates should sometimes be removed from the
aquarium (e.g. when treating with copper sulfate or trichlorfon);
-before starting treatment,
20-35% of the aquarium water should be changed;
-during treatment with drugs, activated carbon
filters should not be used in the aquarium;
-the exact volume of the aquarium should be known
so that drugs can be administered in the proper doses.
from_Diseases in Marine Aquarium
Fish_ by Gerald Bassleer
I know, that's a saltwater book. I could have shared the
same info but wouldn't have worded it as well. The info is true in the realm of freshwater fish
also.
I'd append that you DON'T want to DECREASE the filtration when treating a
sick fish, so, only remove the carbon from your filters, rather removing the filter. If you've
got an another spare filter consider adding it to the system during treatment.
You can
do testing to find the actual water parameters or just do the water change. Time may be of essence,
so rather than wasting time do the water change. I know, I repeated that. It's that important.
Test the water later, if it's bad, it was worse before the water change.
If you feel
oxygen depletion is the problem OR if the power is out, you can increase the dissolved oxygen
content of a bowl or aquarium by using standard hydrogen peroxide at the rate of 1 teaspoon for 10
gallons of volume (raises oxygen level 4mg/liter). You can repeat this every couple of hours..
DON'T dump more than the measured amount into your tank (e.g. 3 teaspoons (small t) for 30
gallons)(3ts=1T (tablespoon) 100 gallons=3Ts + 1t). If you add too much it won't dissolve.
Interaction of multiple therapeutics could harm your fish. If you've been treating with
chemical therapeutics do a larger water change. Combining copper sulfate with neomycin or
sulfonamides will result in poisoning your fish.
It's been pointed out to me that I
didn't mention the threat of losing fish from overdosing or sensitivity of the fish to the med.
e.g. malachite green and scaleless fish. In that instance use half the dose twice as often (rather
than a drop a day per gallon use a drop per 2 gallons twice a day.
PLEASE, IF YOU POST
A PROBLEM, CHECK BACK FOR A RESPONSE. ALSO, PLEASE POST THE RESOLUTION TO YOUR PROBLEM. DID THE
FISH DIE? GET BETTER? WHAT WORKED? WHAT DIDN'T? SOME WILL WANT TO READ ABOUT YOUR TROUBLE TO
SOLVE THEIR PROBLEM. FOLLOWING UP WILL HELP US ALL. THANK YOU.
PLEASE POST RESPONSES ON
THE RESPONSE THREAD I'VE CREATED, NOT HERE. Thanks, Dan
diseases in marine fish, the following points should be considered:
-the sooner diseases are
discovered, the greater the chances of curing them;
-it is vital to determine whether
environmental factors are actually primary causes for diseases (e.g. too low pH, too much ammonia
or nitrite, not enough dissolved oxygen);
-if antibacterial drugs are administered, fish
should be isolated in recovery tanks;
-invertebrates should sometimes be removed from the
aquarium (e.g. when treating with copper sulfate or trichlorfon);
-before starting treatment,
20-35% of the aquarium water should be changed;
-during treatment with drugs, activated carbon
filters should not be used in the aquarium;
-the exact volume of the aquarium should be known
so that drugs can be administered in the proper doses.
from_Diseases in Marine Aquarium
Fish_ by Gerald Bassleer
I know, that's a saltwater book. I could have shared the
same info but wouldn't have worded it as well. The info is true in the realm of freshwater fish
also.
I'd append that you DON'T want to DECREASE the filtration when treating a
sick fish, so, only remove the carbon from your filters, rather removing the filter. If you've
got an another spare filter consider adding it to the system during treatment.
You can
do testing to find the actual water parameters or just do the water change. Time may be of essence,
so rather than wasting time do the water change. I know, I repeated that. It's that important.
Test the water later, if it's bad, it was worse before the water change.
If you feel
oxygen depletion is the problem OR if the power is out, you can increase the dissolved oxygen
content of a bowl or aquarium by using standard hydrogen peroxide at the rate of 1 teaspoon for 10
gallons of volume (raises oxygen level 4mg/liter). You can repeat this every couple of hours..
DON'T dump more than the measured amount into your tank (e.g. 3 teaspoons (small t) for 30
gallons)(3ts=1T (tablespoon) 100 gallons=3Ts + 1t). If you add too much it won't dissolve.
Interaction of multiple therapeutics could harm your fish. If you've been treating with
chemical therapeutics do a larger water change. Combining copper sulfate with neomycin or
sulfonamides will result in poisoning your fish.
It's been pointed out to me that I
didn't mention the threat of losing fish from overdosing or sensitivity of the fish to the med.
e.g. malachite green and scaleless fish. In that instance use half the dose twice as often (rather
than a drop a day per gallon use a drop per 2 gallons twice a day.
PLEASE, IF YOU POST
A PROBLEM, CHECK BACK FOR A RESPONSE. ALSO, PLEASE POST THE RESOLUTION TO YOUR PROBLEM. DID THE
FISH DIE? GET BETTER? WHAT WORKED? WHAT DIDN'T? SOME WILL WANT TO READ ABOUT YOUR TROUBLE TO
SOLVE THEIR PROBLEM. FOLLOWING UP WILL HELP US ALL. THANK YOU.
PLEASE POST RESPONSES ON
THE RESPONSE THREAD I'VE CREATED, NOT HERE. Thanks, Dan