Fishy First Aid Kit..?

[NannaLou]

Afternoon,
New member with no live fishy things (lots of snails but that’s another story ?).
Should I have a first aid kit for fish in case of something happening - if so what should I keep in it..?

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Aquarium salt is always something I have on hand. API General cure and Seachem MetroPlex/Kanaplex is also something else I would keep on hand.

 

[Sgooosh]

Aquarium salt is always something I have on hand. API General cure and Seachem MetroPlex/Kanaplex is also something else I would keep on hand.

i have prazipro and melafix

 

[PheonixKingZ]

i have prazipro and melafix

I still have Melifix, but I never use it anymore, after reading it’s bad for Betta/Gourami’s.

Here are all the medications I have:

 

[Essjay]

@NannaLou You'll find a lot of those medications are not available in the UK as they contain prescription only ingredients, and finding a vet who deals with fish is not an easy job.

Salt is the best 'cure' for a lot of mild infections of various types. It needs to be 'pure' salt, and table/cooking salt has anti-caking agents. Aquarium salt is pure salt, though expensive.

Melafix is more like dettol, fine to keep a wound clean but not to cure an infection. But if you do get another betta, none of the -fix medications are advisable (including bettafix which is just dilute melafix) as they contain aromatic oils which can interfere with their labyrinth organs.

Most medications have a use by date, and once opened should not be used after 12 months regardless of the use by.

 

[Colin_T]

Aquarium salt is always something I have on hand. API General cure and Seachem MetroPlex/Kanaplex is also something else I would keep on hand.

Seachem Metroplex contains Metronidazole, which is an anti-biotic/ anti-protozoan medication.

API General Cure contains Metronidazole and Praziquantel. Praziquantel is a deworming medication that treats tapeworm.

Kanaplex is Kanamycin, an anti-biotic.

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You should not have anti-biotics sitting around because they break down over time. They break down faster in warm, humid or bright conditions.

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The only thing you want for fish first aid is salt, water conditioner/ dechlorinator, and a digital camera.

Most fish health issues are caused by poor water quality. If the fish look off colour, do a big water change and gravel clean the substrate every day until you find out what is wrong with the fish.
Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it's added to the tank.

Salt treats lots of things ranging from minor bacterial and fungal infections, some external protozoan infections, gill flukes, anchorworm, microsporidian, etc.

The digital camera is to take pictures of the fish and post them on here so we can identify the problem.

The following link is pinned to the top of the emergency section of this forum and tells you what to do if your fish get sick. It's long and boring but worth a read when you have spare time.

What to do if your fish gets sick

If your fish ever looks sick or unwell, then the following steps might help. Test the Water and Clean the Tank. Test the water quality for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH and write the results down in numbers. Check it for general hardness (GH) and carbonate hardness (KH) too if you can, but...

www.fishforums.net

 

[Essjay]

Seachem Metroplex contains Metronidazole, which is an anti-biotic/ anti-protozoan medication.

API General Cure contains Metronidazole and Praziquantel. Praziquantel is a deworming medication that treats tapeworm.

Kanaplex is Kanamycin, an anti-biotic.

Metronidazole and antibiotics are the ones that need a prescription in the UK

 

[PheonixKingZ]

You should not have anti-biotics sitting around because they break down over time. They break down faster in warm, humid or bright conditions.

So I should put them in the freezer?

 

[NannaLou]

Thank you all for this information. I’m not keen on the antibiotic/chemicals generally but having lost fish though I should have something in “just in case”... I though it would be safer than having to wait for 12+ hours for a shop to open. I’ll probably get a small jar of salt and be ready for the emergency water change...

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Water and salt is all you basically need. Unless something drastic happens, you should be good with that.

 

[Naughts]

If you have an adjustable heater you can use the heat method to deal with ich.

 

[Colin_T]

So I should put them in the freezer?

You don't want to freeze medications either because that can cause problems to them. The best way to keep them in good condition is to put them in an airtight container and keep them in a cool, dry, dark place. You can keep them in the bottom of the fridge but make sure nobody can get them and accidentally swallow them.

The same applies to liquid fish medications and test kits. Keep them cool, dry and in a dark box so they last longer.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

You don't want to freeze medications either because that can cause problems to them. The best way to keep them in good condition is to put them in an airtight container and keep them in a cool, dry, dark place. You can keep them in the bottom of the fridge but make sure nobody can get them and accidentally swallow them.

The same applies to liquid fish medications and test kits. Keep them cool, dry and in a dark box so they last longer.

Interesting, ok. My closet is dark and kinda cold, so I’ll keel them in there from now on.

 

[Sgooosh]

I still have Melifix, but I never use it anymore, after reading it’s bad for Betta/Gourami’s.

Here are all the medications I have:
View attachment 133966

that looks different where i live, idk why,
DONT use it on labrynth fish!!!!
it is bad for them as they breathe air