HOME TREATMENTS FOR AQUARIUM FISH

Have you ever wondered how much more convenient and comfortable it would be to not have to search pet stores for remedies when your fish get sick? It turns out that there are home remedies for fish that are not only safe, but can handle most common fish diseases. Here are a few of them.

TREATING FISH WITH TABLE SALT

KITCHEN SALT (NaCl). Enriches the water with trace elements and iodine, which are sometimes deficient in freshwater aquariums. It also has a positive influence on water clarity and kills dangerous bacteria and parasites. It is suitable for taking care of fish bodies during recovery from thrush. It supports the treatment of some diseases, including ichthyophytosis (fish pox), saproleginosis and other fungal diseases. Salt is probably the safest type of home remedy. It is prepared from the following baths:

• (a) to enrich a freshwater aquarium and for fish in brackish water: 5 g (teaspoon) of common salt for every 10-15 liters of water is sufficient, a proportional amount is added to water changes.
• b) Short-term health-enhancing bath (outside the tank): bathe the fish for about 20 minutes, the solution is 2-5 g of salt per litre of water.
• c) healing bath (in the aquarium): add 5g of common salt to every 5-10l of water.
• d) short healing bath (outside the aquarium): add 15g of salt for every 1l of water, bathe the fish for 20 minutes. This bath can be used daily.

IODINE (KJO). One of the strongest drugs, poses a health risk when used in too large amounts. However, with proper dosage it will improve health of fish. Iodine can cure completely: saprolegniosis, childonellosis, ichthyophytosis, tetraonchosis and other diseases. It has strong acidic properties, so you must not forget about it when using larger doses. It has many uses.

• a) water enrichment: it is enough to add a few drops of iodine
• b) disinfecting petechiae on the body of large fish: prepare an iodine solution based on a 1:3 ratio. Place the fish on moist gauze, then pour the solution over the petechiae and place the fish in the aquarium. Avoid iodine around the fish's eyes and gills! The treatment can be applied daily.
• c) Aquarium bath: Add 10-15ml of iodine per 100l of water. The duration of the bath is 7-14 days.
• d) Short-term bath (outside the aquarium): add 1 ml of Iodine per 1l of water. The bath should be short, no longer than 15-20 minutes (in case of very weak fish only 10-15 minutes). Repeat every other day.

TREATMENT OF AQUARIUM FISH - HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

PEROXIDIZED WATER (H2O2). It is a very safe agent, disinfects the water, and also supplements the oxygen level, if only during transporting fish.

• a) Oxygenation during transporting fish: Add 1-2ml of oxygenated water for every liter of water. You can repeat the action after a few hours.
• b) Disinfecting bath in a general tank: Add 50ml of oxidized water per 100l of water. This can be repeated after a few days using half the dose.
• c) Short-term bath (outside the aquarium): add 5 ml of oxidised water for every litre of water. The bath should last half an hour and can be repeated daily.
• (d) Decontamination of petechiae: place the fish on a gauze pad and cover with water and hydrogen peroxide (2:1). May be repeated daily.

POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE - TREATMENT OF FISH

KALI (KMnO4). Safe when used in appropriate, very small amounts. Short-term baths are not recommended. However, in a general aquarium, one crystal of potassium permanganate should be added to every 5-10 l of water. This agent is very frequently used in aquariums for treatment purposes. It works well with internal and gill parasites, as well as bacterial and fungal diseases.

ZINC PASTE (ZnO 25%). Very safe, but insoluble in water. That is why it is used to protect the sick areas of large fish. Place the fish on wet gauze, dry the diseased area (the paste will not adhere to wet scales) and gently rub it with the zinc paste.

FISH TREATMENT - METRONIDAZOLE

ANTIBIOTIC OINTMENTS, SUCH AS METRONIDAZOLE. Preparations for treating skin infections in humans, are also applicable in fish. They perfectly cure thrush and other diseases. The ointment is applied on the affected area of the fish's skin.

IMPORTANT WATER TEMPERATURE. When fish get sick, it is good to increase the water temperature. For coldwater fish to about 26*C, and for tropical fish even to 30*C. High temperature inhibits or even kills parasites. But it has no influence on fish.

I hope that the above advice will help you to decide which agents are best to use.