Aquarium salt

[SarahBravo]

I know you're not supposed to use salt with catfish, but I'm getting confused.... (I know, it happens a lot!) Can I use a background level of salt in a tank with zebra loaches (botia striata), singapore wood shrimps, and various other community fish? (Check out my sig)

My other tank has one bulldog plec, 2 agassizi cories and 3 panda cories - I'm not adding salt to this one because of the bulldog plec? Is this right?

Sorry, my brain seems to have died and turned to mush this week!

Sarah

 

[clutterydrawer]

you're not adding salt to the other tnak cos of the plec AND the cories. cories are cats too y'know.

I don't think the loaches would like salt much, aren't they scaleless?

 

[Mogurako]

I talked to Shannon one of the girls who work at my LPS (I was also concerned about using salt in the tanks with my cories), she is a very good source of info when it comes to fish. Shannon said that as long as you dont put massive amounts of salt in the tank you'll be fine. it will actually be benifical to all fish in the tank, the general rule of thumb is 1 table spoon per every 10 gallons.

Jesse

 

[enchanted]

Almost everyone here and every site related to Corys, plecs, and other catfish will disagree with that statement.

Although corys, plecs, and other catfish can tolerate salt in small amounts, they DEFINITELY can not tolerate the recommend amount of salt.

 

[clutterydrawer]

jsut cos they don't die, doesn't mean they like it.

 

[Teelie]

Almost everyone here and every site related to Corys, plecs, and other catfish will disagree with that statement.

Although corys, plecs, and other catfish can tolerate salt in small amounts, they DEFINITELY can not tolerate the recommend amount of salt.

And most could be wrong. Depending on what experts you ask, they can withstand a variable amount of salt. I've used salt with my Cories before to no ill effect and I've seen this stated numerous times on other sites as well. There's also a specialist in Cories who can attest to it though it'll take me time to find his site and the article on it. Too many people run with assumptions as facts.

 

[blue_ram]

When I treat my fish with salt, I add 1 table spoon of salt per 5 gallon (US) of water. If scaleless/small-scaled fish can only handle half the typical medications, I don't see why they can't handle 1 table spoon per 10 gallon.

Although I've been curious as to why scaleless fish can't handle salt, I've been reluctant to experiment. Is there a good scientific explanation for this, other than "they are sensitive to salt" argument? Do they "dry out" or something?

 

[enchanted]

Scaleless fish will absorb more salt through their skin than fish with scales. Basically it is equivalent to the same thing that happens when we get too much salt.

I personally experienced the difference between salt and no salt in my aquarium with my corys. With salt they were hiding and inactive and did not look to well.

Since I have stopped adding salt they have colored up extremely well and are very active.

 

[Teelie]

Cories aren't scaleless exactly. They have large plates covering their skin.