Re: [RML] A Question
Gary Lange (gwlange at stlnet.com)
Sat, 1 Feb 1997 09:33:58 -0600
It would be easier on you and your plant tank if you could move all
of your fish to a smaller tank for treatment. You didn't mention
exactly how many fish you had in this tank though, just the rainbows.
They're not overcrowded are they? Depending on how many you have in
that tank if you could move them to a 20 you would have an easier
time treating them. Don't forget to bring a biological filter, a pad
out of the power filter, the sponge filter etc. Maracide is really
going to mess up your plant tank as it is very blue. This stains the
seals of the silicone too, if I'm not mistaken. Tetracycline isn't
the nicest of antibiotics. The pet shop owner(s) have suggested that
to ward off secondary infections. If your fish are moved to a
treatment tank you could forgo the tetracycline and just use an
increase in salt (again depending on what else is in the tank). If
you don't have a second tank, it's really time to go out and buy one
because you run the risk of going through this every time you buy new
fish, you really need an isolation tank. If indeed you do have
velvet I have used Mardel's copper safe quite effectively on young
rainbowfish (1/4" to 2" size). Velvet is often the sign of a water
problem. On small juvenile tanks usually a good water change,
changing the activated carbon, (if it's in the system) is usually
enough to get rid of it. If you can pull out all of the fish in this
tank and move them just raising the temperature on the 90 gallon,
along with a 50% water change should get rid of the parasites. After
three weeks, without fish for a host they'll die. If you've treated
your other fish effectively then you can move them back and your
planted tank won't be destroyed. Tetracycline has a nasty way of
really setting back the biological filter. If you have to use an
anti-bacterial try maracyn two (not maracyn one - it is for gram
postive bacteria which are not factors in fish diseases). In
treating your isolated fish I would go with a teaspoon of salt per
gallon (can be increased to 2 teas/gallon - could be a problem with
corydoras), & Mardel's copper safe. Your water is hard enough not to
have any problems with the copper safe (quoted 190 ppm for hardness).
Keep plenty of air on the isolation tank and keep changing the water
(and redosing the amount of medicine removed). I really can't tell
where you hail from by your email address nor from your intro but I'm
guessing it's the US. Unless someone has found a really obscure
source, quinine isn't available as a fish medication. I've been told
now that it's become difficult to even obtain w/o a doctors script
for human consumption too. Good luck.
Gary Lange
Rainbowfish Study Group of North America
----------
> From: Larry Stein <lstein at ids2.idsonline.com>
> To: rainbowfish at pcug.org.au
> Subject: Re: [RML] A Question
> Date: Saturday, February 01, 1997 7:52 AM
>
> At 04:07 PM 2/1/97 +1100, you wrote:
> >G'day Larry,
> >
> >I have a nasty feeling that your tank has "velvet" (Oodinium) and
that is
> >what happened to your smaller fish. Perhaps they died and were
eaten by the
> >snails or decomposed. there are a multitude of "cures" but many
have dyes
> >in them which may be damaging to your plants. Quinine is a popular
> >treatment. Also the parasite is to some degree light dependent so
> >blanketing will help.
> >
> OK.... I am going to treat the tank with the only cure recommended
by 2
> other fish store owners a compound called MARACIDE, this turns my
tank
> green but I suppose if the one fish lives and /or does not infect
all the
> other fish it will be worth while. However, in the Maracide
package it
> also recommends a concurrent treatment of Tetracycline or Maracyn
tablets,
> is this a standard protocol?
>
> Above you mentioned blanketing, I assume this to mean a complete
black out
> light to the tank? Where I have my tank if I turn off the tank
lights it
> only recieves a small dose of ambiant light from the room, and for
the time
> I can keep the window shades down to minimize on sun light. Will
this help
> or does it have to be COMPLETE darkness? and for how long?
>
> In your opinion how long should I dose the tank with Maracide and
> tetracycline (or other preparation)?
>
> Thanks Again
>
> Larry