The following list explains how to use the most commonly recommended cures/medications. Remove carbon prior to dosing the water with medications and turn off UV sterilizer. If feeding medicated food only, add fresh carbon to remove residual medication from the water.

Salt

• Use salt with no additives. Rock salt is fine. Table salt is fine as long as it doesn't contain Yellow Prussiate of Soda.
• Pre-dissolve salt in some tank-water.
• Measure carefully.
• For a tonic to ease stress add 1 flat tsp per gallon (or one rounded tablespoon per 5 gallons).
• For parasites (some are resistant) use 3 flat teaspoons per gallon (1 tsp per gallon added every 12 hours so not to shock the fish and the filter). Keep aeration high.
• For short-time saltbaths (parasites) use 5 tsp per gallon.

Meds for Parasites

Rid Ich (combination of malachite green and formalin)

• Remove carbon.
• Perform a small water change before all dosages.
• Dose at 1 tsp per 10 gallons.
• Dose everyday for 7 days and three days after last ich spot if you are treating for ich.
• Keep lights low or off during treatment.

Quick Cure (formaldehyde and malachite green)

• Remove carbon
• Perform waterchange
• Have plenty of aeration
• Observe fish closely the first hour and have a container ready if you have to pull them
• First day dose 1 drop per gallon
• Second day perform 30% waterchange or more but add no medication
• Third day dose 1 drop per gallon
• Fourth day perform a waterchange 30% or more, add no medication
• Fifth day add quick cure (1 drop per gallon)
• Sixth day perform big waterchange and put fresh carbon in filter.

Praziquantel (Sources: PondRx, Drs Foster and Smith, Goldfish Utopia)

• Remove carbon.
• Add 2.5 milligrams per liter of water.
• If you are using the powdered version, it is difficult to dissolve. Predissolve in tank water by shaking it up in a small container.
• Dosing
  Day 1 -- remove carbon, perform water change with vacuuming, and add Prazi to tank
  Day 2 -- add Prazi
  Day 3 -- do nothing
  Day 4 -- do nothing
  Day 5 -- do nothing
  Day 6 -- add Prazi
  Day 7 -- add Prazi
  Day 8 -- normal partial water change with vacuuming
  Day 14 - normal partial water change, then add prazi
  Day 21 - normal partial water change, then add prazi
  Day 28 - normal partial water change, then add prazi
  Day 35 - normal partial water change, add carbon, treatment is complete

Flagyl (Metronidazole)

Metronidazole is a bactericidal antibiotic effective against anaerobic bacteria and certain protozoan parasites including Hexamita. It also reduces inflammation in the GI tract. Seachem makes a powdered form of Metronidazole that can be dosed in the water and can be fed in a medicated gel food.

• Can be combined with many other antibiotics.
• If used in the water (bath) use 250 mg per 10gallons of water daily for 5 days.
• Perform 50% water change before each new dose.
• Remove carbon prior to dosing.

Jungle Anti-Parasite Medicated Fish Food

• contains metronidazole, praziquantel, levamisole
• fed if internal parasites are suspected
• must be used exclusively
• feed for three days in a row- repeat for 4 weeks

Meds for Bacterial Infections

Medi-Gold (Medicated food containing Ormetoprim, Sulfadimethoxine, Kanamycin and Oxolinic Acid)

• Feed twice a day.
• Do not feed other food.
• Use for a minimum of fourteen days.

Metromed (Medicated food containing Metronidazole, Ormetoprim-sulfa and Oxytetracycline)

• Feed twice a day.
• Do not feed other food.
• Use for a minimum of fourteen days.

Tricide Neo or Neocide 3 (Neomycin based short term bath)

• Needs to be used carefully (can be fatal if fish is weak).
• The entire gallon is usually not needed for treating one fish. You can weigh out 1/4 of the package and use 1 quart of distilled water in a gallon ziplock freezer baggie.

Shake and Bake method:

• Insert an airstone and set the baggie in warm water to adjust the temperature to that of the tank.
• Use an airstone while treating.
• Dip the fish in the mixture for 5 minutes. If the fish shows any distress remove them from the solution immediately.
• Place the fish in a separate container with tankwater before re-adding to your tank. Rinsing is essential because tricide will kill your biofilter bacteria.

Spray method:

• Spray the affected areas while fish is either sedated or held.

Repeat every day or every other day for AT LEAST THREE treatments.

The mixture can be reused (filter thru coffee filter if there's too much debris). Store reconstituted tricide neo in a covered, child-and-animal-proof container in a cool, dark location. Discard reconstituted tricide neo solution after one week.

Kanacyn (Kanamycin or kannamycin)
Broad spectrum water antibiotic. Can be bought in many forms. Aquatronics is common source but is rumoured to be going out of business. Aquatrol is another a source of Kanacyn capsules or it can be bought in powder form (kanamycin sulphate). It can also be made into a medicated gel food.

• Remove Carbon.
• Do a small water change.
• Add recommended dose (if it is by Aquatronics we recommend daily doses).

Maracyn (erythromycin)
Used for gram positive bacteria generally, but found to be effective against some gram negative infections such as flex as well.

• Dose according to package instructions.
• Use at least for 5 days.
• Will harm the biofilter
• Can be combined with Maracyn 2.

Maracyn 2 (minocycline)
Used for gram negative bacteria generally (Most fish bacterial pathogens are gram negative). Is affected by light as well as water hardness. See UF IFAS publication: Use of Antibiotics in Ornamental Fish Aquaculture

• Dose according to package instructions.
• Use at least for 5 days.
• Can be combined with Maracyn.

Maracyn Plus (sulfadimidine and trimethoprin )
Water antibiotic effective against gram negative bacteria (Most fish bacterial pathogens are gram negative). Marketed by Mardel. May be preferable to the other two Maracyns as resistance to erythromycin (maracyn 1) and minocycline (maracyn 2) may be increasing.

• Dose according to package instructions.
• Use for at least 5 days.
• Can be combined with Metromed or Medigold.

Antibac-Bath (Nitrofurazone based anti-bacterial bath)

• Use in a hospital tank.
• Remove Carbon.
• Will hurt biofilter.
• Use without light/cover tank.
• Dose according to instructions.
• 1 capsule per 10 gallons.
• Dissolve medication in some tankwater before adding it.
• Day 1: 50% water change - add meds
• Day 2: 25% water change - add meds
• Day 3: 75% water change - done

Note: For our friends in Canada Mail Order Pet Supplies and The Fish Sempai carry some of the products listed.

Other Medications

Maroxy (Sources: Most local fish stores) A chloride oxide compound used to treat true fungus.

• Move the sick fish to a Hospital Tank if possible
• Dose half teaspoon per 10 gallons
• Reapply if needed
• Do not use more than 5 times.

Clove Oil (Sources: PondRx) Used to sedate the fish, so you can treat it.

• Place 5 drops in a ziplock freezer bag for every gallon of water needed to submerge the fish.
• Shake well, then pour into container where fish will be sedated. Use water from the tank if possible and match tank temperature.
• Place fish in the solution. When it turns over on its side and gill movements slow, remove it from the solution, perform the procedure and then return it to its tank. If the fish doesn't flip over in 5 minutes, then add another drop per gallon (shake it up in water before adding).
• Perform the desired procedure (e.g. clean the ulcer or finrot)
• Transport the fish back to its tank. You may need to support the fish for a little while in an area where fresh water is moving through its gills (e.g. by the outflow of the filter).

Note: Finquel (MS-222) can also be used for sedation (or for euthanasia). Sources: PondRx.

See also:
Diagnosing by Symptoms
Over-the-Counter Fish Medication

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