How Do I Give A Salt Bath?

[This Old Spouse]

I'd like to treat my poor little tiger barb for the fungus it's developed. I'm thinking a salt bath is the way (since I can't afford any medication, plus I'd have to order it online) and here's what I'm thinking:
 
Take some tank water from the existing tank.
 
Add aquarium salt (but how much for about half a gallon?)
 
Place affected fish in the salt bath. But for how long? A minute? Ten minutes?
 
Put fish back in main tank.
 
Should I do this more than once? 

 

[eaglesaquarium]

A quick internet search popped up this little nugget:
 

Protozoa (one celled parasites) on skin, gills, and fins can effectively be removed by a salt bath. For the record, some fish do not respond well to a salt bath (i.e. some barbs, tetras, catfish and koi). A heavy concentration can make them loose their equilibrium and they simply "roll over". At this point the fish has to be moved to clear water very quickly.

 
http/www.algone.com/articles/fish-health/aquarium-fish-dips
 
Just an FYI - personally, I have no experience with salt baths for tiger barbs, but it seems quite cautionary.  Unless you know of someone who did it successfully, it might just be best to keep the water as pristine as possible, rather than the salt bath route.  This "guy" has been through enough already, I'd hate to find out that your intended treatment would cause more damage.  The first rule of the Hypocratic Oath is: Do no harm.  With that in mind, I'd stick to pristine water, until you hear from someone who has successfully given a salt bath to a tiger.
 
 
Sorry for all the trouble you've been having with them.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Thanks so much for this info. See, this is why I love this forum. I'll be doing another water change this afternoon, then, and probably smaller ones all week. 
 
I'm sorry for these poor fish. I'm still not certain what initially set all this off, either. 

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I'm certainly not an expert, and that's just one source.  I'd research it a bit more if I were you to see if that's the only word of caution for tigers, or if there are more.  You can't trust a single source on the internet.    But, you can use it as a guideline to seek more information before proceeding.

 

[This Old Spouse]

I understand that, but even one source cautioning against salt baths for barbs is enough to make me not do it. The fish is actually improving it seems, so I think in order to save it any more stress I'll just be doing daily water changes for a while. I just did one and all is well, nobody is stressed (including me) and it certainly does no harm.
 
Thanks for your help.