Medicate Anyways?

[SJ2K]

So I know a few of my fish have there problems, trying to fully diagnose is a pain as some seem to have potential in many fields of illness One possibility is the early stages of white spot (flicking etc), my question is, would it be detremental to the fish to medicate if that wasnt indeed the problem? I mean, is treating fish without white spot with that medication actually harmfull? I cant imagine it is but im no expert

 

[MermaidMel]

So I know a few of my fish have there problems, trying to fully diagnose is a pain as some seem to have potential in many fields of illness One possibility is the early stages of white spot (flicking etc), my question is, would it be detremental to the fish to medicate if that wasnt indeed the problem? I mean, is treating fish without white spot with that medication actually harmfull? I cant imagine it is but im no expert

No it's fine, treat anyway, just follow the dosing to the T

 

[SJ2K]

Will do thanks , just need to make sure ive got the old carbon ready

 

[Bignose]

Well, medication is stressful and possibly dangerous for the fish. Lots of medications use the oxygen in the water, or interfere with some of the functions of fish's body. Medication stresses everything in the water, with the idea that the lower forms of life, like the parasites and bacteria and whatnot will die under a lower amount of stress than the fish. Lots of medications destroy your biological filter, too.

Unfortunately, I don't think that there is a quick and easy answer to this. If the fish have ich, the earlier you treat, the quicker the infection will go away, and the less likely the ich will be able to kill any fish. If it isn't ich, you subject your fish to stress unnecessarily -- which may let whatever disease they have attack even better because the fish's immune system will be weaker from the stress! -- and you'll probably destroy your biological filter.

It is were me, I'd try to wait as long as I could to get as accurate a diagnosis as possible. There are many reasons they could be flicking. They could have gill flukes, or high nitrite/nitrates in the water. Or they could have velvet. If you don't see any white spots, I'd wait. But, if you have a good strong suspicion it is ich, then go ahead and treat.

 

[MermaidMel]

I think with white spot and other severe problems that can usually be quickly treated, I would treat. The beauty of the white spot treatment is you do it once, then again 4 days later, so it's not over the top treatment if it turns out not to be what you thought (not that you would know if it got treated!)