Okay.... I Got The Medicated Food....

[fry_forever!]

Hi. Today I finally received the anti-internal parasite medicated fish food to treat my fish. I'm following the directions, but one thing it doesn't say: am I supposed to remove the carbon from my filter while using medicated fish food? Because if there is some food left over for a couple minutes, wouldn't the medication leech out, and then wouldn't the carbon absorb it? I'm just wondering, because I wouldn't want this food to be completely useless. Also, will it harm beneficial bacteria? This is the kind of food I'm using:
[URL="http/www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod...fm?pcatid=12788"]http/www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod...fm?pcatid=12788[/URL]
(The parasite one.)
Has anyone ever used this stuff before? If so, can you please tell me if this worked for you or not?

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[saz326]

with medicated food, the medicine is bound well into the food. It wont rinse out in a short period of time.

What happens is the food is eaten and then the fishes body breaks down the food releasing the medicine. Repeated feedings over the time stated on the pack ensures the fish has a good dose. It is low concentration medication because it goes directly into the body of the fish - it isnt absorbed through the skin or gills like water-borne medicines are.

Just follow the instructions and ensure the fish doesnt eat anything else first (i.e. if you put flake in the tank for other fish - the fish that needs medicine is gonna eat it and then not be hungry enough to eat the medicated food) If the fish doesnt want to eat the food it may be simply that it "smells" funny. Let the fish go hungry for a while and then it will want the food.

edited as i didnt answer your question: typical of me! Leave the activated carbon in if it is in already. It will help mop up any medicine that passes out in the fishes waste. As the medicine is only in small quantities the carbon will mop any escaped stuff up before it could pose any kind of threat to the filter bacteria.

Good questions - but worry ye not.

 

[WILDER]

Most worming med don't alter water stats.

Black carbon only good for removing meds so using it all the time is a complete waste of money.
It only works for 2 to 9 days.

 

[fry_forever!]

Thanks guys! Most of the time my carbon is out anyways, so it doesn't matter much! Thanks though!
Are these medications (food) good? Like, do they work well?

ALSO! (Important!) Should I gravel vac the tank more often while treating the next month, since the fish are pooping out those worms still? Because, I'm just thinking, if the fish are still pooping out worms early in treatment, than wouldn't the fish eat the worms that are pooped out and get the disease all over again if I don't gravel vac more often? Or are these worms they are pooping out dead now, because of the medication? Help! Please! I want this treatment to be as effective as possible! Thanks!

-fry_forever!

P.S. Also, why would you feed them three consecutive days a week, for 4 weeks?(As per instructions.) Why can't you just feed it all in one shot, for 12 days in a row? Because, if you fed 3 consecutive days, wouldn't the parasites be able to make a recovery again before the next treatment? I'm really doubting this medication now. Can someone please answer both my questions. Please, it's an emergency! Thanks!

 

[WILDER]

I think the med company know what they are doing. Just follow med instructions.
If you have to do a water change do one.
Good Luck.

 

[fry_forever!]

I think the med company know what they are doing. Just follow med instructions.
If you have to do a water change do one.
Good Luck.

Thank you very much! But would it help if I did a water change? Like to remove any floating worms? Or are the worms they are pooping out now dead, because of the meds? Thanks for the help so far!

 

[WILDER]

Try to do a water change and gravelvac before you use the medicated food.
Just remove the dead worms with a net.

 

[fry_forever!]

Try to do a water change and gravelvac before you use the medicated food.
Just remove the dead worms with a net.

Okay, thanks. So they'd all be dead, right? (the worms)

 

[WILDER]

Yes the should be dead or dying.
How are the fish fry forever.

 

[fry_forever!]

Yes the should be dead or dying.
How are the fish fry forever.

They are doing great now! (2 weeks of treatment so far...) They are gaining weight, and I haven't seen any white/clear worms in over a week. There were a couple fish that I wasn't able to save, as their spines were already displaced.
Thanks for the help so far!
P.S> Do you think the female live bearers will start having babies again when all the diseases are gone?

 

[WILDER]

Yes they should start to have fry if the parasites havent damage there organs.
Glad the fish are on the mend.
Well Done.
Good Luck.

 

[fry_forever!]

Yes they should start to have fry if the parasites havent damage there organs.
Glad the fish are on the mend.
Well Done.
Good Luck.

Thank you very much!
But I have a question. (That you may not know the answer to...)
I want to get a sponge filter for my 10 gallon fry tank, but I can't find them anywhere. Some Mod on the forums told me to buy an AC70 sponge and slit a hole on it, then put it onto my filter intake. Apparently it would then act as a sponge filter. That doesn't make sense though, because first of all, how would an AC70 sponge fit between the filter intake and the aquarium wall? Also, wouldn't it clog very easily or not have good enough suction power with the sponge on it? Or, what if it had too much and the babies got stuck to the holes?

Thanks in advance if you know the answer!

 

[WILDER]

You put a hole in the filter sponge so it goes over the outlet flow.
If the sponge is to big you can always cut it to size.
Hope that helps.
How big are the holes in the sponge.

 

[fry_forever!]

You put a hole in the filter sponge so it goes over the outlet flow.
If the sponge is to big you can always cut it to size.
Hope that helps.
How big are the holes in the sponge.

Over the outlet flow? I was told to put it on the filter intake.
The holes are kind of big, about big enough for a baby to swim through, (almost) but the sponge is too big for them to get sucked up. This is what it looks like:


(Click on to make bigger.)
Thanks for the help!

 

[WILDER]

I would maybe post in tropical discussion and ask over there.
I know you can add sponges to airstones.