Adding Meds to Aquarium

[MaxM]

Want to know if it worthwhile to add medication (the Tri-meds) from time to time just in case any fish are sick and it's unnoticed? Let's say once every six months or so.

[Phill D]

Oddly enough i just asked the almost exact question on a different thread so i'm curious about this too 

[MaxM]

That's weird that we would ask the same questions just minutes apart. 😀

[Sleepy]

I'd look at this way if you were feeling ok would you take antibiotics? Not meaning this in a sarcastic way this is just my thinking or approach I dont think we should medicate preventatively. If fish are acting normal things are good I would more focus on the tank itself and how things behave normally so you can be in tune when things arent normal.

[MaxM]

Sleepy - I hear you. However, there are some illnesses, like intestinal bacteria, that are not easily noticed. My fish have never been quarantined since I got them six months ago. I hear that some illnesses kill slowly over a period of many months. I'm just worried that there could be an illness present that can't be detected. 

[Eyeless Potato]

11 minutes ago, MaxM said:

Sleepy - I hear you. However, there are some illnesses, like intestinal bacteria, that are not easily noticed. My fish have never been quarantined since I got them six months ago. I hear that some illnesses kill slowly over a period of many months. I'm just worried that there could be an illness present that can't be detected. 

I am certainly not an expert on such things; however, there is a concern in the medical field of antibiotic resistant bacteria developing as a result of too much antibiotic use.  In theory, applying, low dose of medication every six months may result in the bacteria adapting and developing resistance to he medication.  If that were to happen, when a problem did become apparent, there are a lot less options for alternate antibiotics that are applicable for fish.  

Edited October 7, 2020 by Eyeless Potato
typo

[MaxM]

Eyeless Potato - thank you for your input. That's a point I hadn't considered. 🙂

[Sleepy]

5 minutes ago, Eyeless Potato said:

I am certainly not an expert on such things; however, there is a concern in the medical field of antibiotic resistant bacteria developing as a result of too much antibiotic use.  In theory, applying, low dose of medication every six months may result in the bacteria adapting and developing resistance to he medication.  If that were to happen, when a problem did become apparent, there are a lot less options for alternate antibiotics that are applicable for fish.  

This was pretty much where I was going with my original post was just keeping it short LOL

[Sleepy]

15 minutes ago, MaxM said:

Sleepy - I hear you. However, there are some illnesses, like intestinal bacteria, that are not easily noticed. My fish have never been quarantined since I got them six months ago. I hear that some illnesses kill slowly over a period of many months. I'm just worried that there could be an illness present that can't be detected. 

I get how you may want to do that but I would suggest that if you have never medicated your fish I for sure would do that and when/if you get new fish and use meds and quarantine the odds of something new being introduced is much less. With regards to things like worms etc. I think the majority of the time you will see a change in behavior like eating less or being lethargic or something you might not be able to cure at all and is genetic. Again I'm not saying I know it all by any means just speaking from my experience in fact I just started de worming a Rainbow fish I've had for a year now because he hasn't been eating and noticed some white stringy stuff hanging off him and he did get the full treatment when I got him.

[MaxM]

Sleepy - thanks for the info. Will take into consideration. 🙂

[ccurtis]

@Coryhas a video about this.  He explains this and his practice with medicating. In short, if you have never quarantined, it’s a good idea to run meds through your tanks just to make sure everyone is good. Follow the aquarium co-op trio quarantine  instructions, not the instructions on the box. The thought most fish coming from fish farms likely have internal tape worms. This will help with those. After all your fish are clear, make sure to quarantine using the med trio for all new additions. 

[fatblonde]

3 hours ago, MaxM said:

Eyeless Potato - thank you for your input. That's a point I hadn't considered. 🙂

I agree with @Eyeless Potato Treating a fish is already difficult and it's correct that continued use of antibiotics when they are not needed is harmful to nearly everything involved. They are able to develop resistance to antibiotics and when you *do* need them, the medication won't work. It's along the same lines of once you start treating with antibiotics you should always complete the entire treatment. Kind of like MRSA in people. 

It's one thing if you have just gotten them and you're treating in a QT tank and are observing and treating. If you've already had them in your tank for 6+ months just doing a round of antibiotics every 6 months can cause your cycle to crash, the bacteria to become resistant etc. Medications will stress your fish and if they're not stressed now you might be creating more issues than if you hadn't treated at all. 

Depending on what kind of fish you keep there are natural things that you can do to help keep them healthy and low/no stress such as Indian Almond Leaves with have antibacterial properties and antifungal properties. I believe they contain tannis,  fluvic acid, etc but I'm not quite sure. 

 

*edited* I should say though, using antibiotics is different than other treatment meds that aren't necessarily antibiotics. 

However, they are your fish and you can do what you think is best for them

Edited October 8, 2020 by fatblonde

[MaxM]

On 10/8/2020 at 12:36 AM, ccurtis said:

@Coryhas a video about this.  He explains this and his practice with medicating. In short, if you have never quarantined, it’s a good idea to run meds through your tanks just to make sure everyone is good. Follow the aquarium co-op trio quarantine  instructions, not the instructions on the box. The thought most fish coming from fish farms likely have internal tape worms. This will help with those. After all your fish are clear, make sure to quarantine using the med trio for all new additions. 

Thanks for your guidance. 🙂

[MaxM]

On 10/8/2020 at 3:54 AM, fatblonde said:

I agree with @Eyeless Potato Treating a fish is already difficult and it's correct that continued use of antibiotics when they are not needed is harmful to nearly everything involved. They are able to develop resistance to antibiotics and when you *do* need them, the medication won't work. It's along the same lines of once you start treating with antibiotics you should always complete the entire treatment. Kind of like MRSA in people. 

It's one thing if you have just gotten them and you're treating in a QT tank and are observing and treating. If you've already had them in your tank for 6+ months just doing a round of antibiotics every 6 months can cause your cycle to crash, the bacteria to become resistant etc. Medications will stress your fish and if they're not stressed now you might be creating more issues than if you hadn't treated at all. 

Depending on what kind of fish you keep there are natural things that you can do to help keep them healthy and low/no stress such as Indian Almond Leaves with have antibacterial properties and antifungal properties. I believe they contain tannis,  fluvic acid, etc but I'm not quite sure. 

 

*edited* I should say though, using antibiotics is different than other treatment meds that aren't necessarily antibiotics. 

However, they are your fish and you can do what you think is best for them

Thanks for taken the time out to give me a thorough answer. Just one question for you. In your opinion, is adding salt a safe alternative to the meds (negating the problem of plants in tank)?