Treating Aquarium Diseases
Heat Therapy, Formalin Bath, Salt Bath and Malachite Treatment
Learn how to treat some of the more common fish diseases such as ich, ectoparasites, velvet disease, fungal infestations, skin and gill fluke.
Disease can attack fish very quickly. If you are observant and notice your fish are sick, you may be able to save them by using the following treatments.
Heat Therapy
This treatment can be done in the regular aquarium where the fish are accustomed to their surroundings. Heat therapy is best done in an aquarium with very clean water and a good aeration.
For ichthyophtirius and other ectoparasites, raise the water temperature by one degree per hour until you reach 86F. Keep the temperature at 86 degrees for ten days then slowly bring it back down to the normal temperature you maintain in the tank.
For Oodinium (velvet disease), take your tank water temperature up to 94F for no longer than 36 hours. Be sure to raise the temperature one degree per hour and then hold it steady at 94 degrees up to 36 hours and slowly bring the temperature back down again.
Formalin Bath
This treatment method should only be done by the advanced hobbyist. A formalin bath has to be done in a separate pail or hospital tank. You can get a formalin mix of 30% to 50% at most drugstores. This treatment is good for most gill flukes and many other types of ectoparasites.
Put 5 ml of formalin at 30% to 50% in 12 quarts of water and place fish in pail or hospital tank for no longer than 60 minutes. If the fish shows any bad signs or ill effects, stop right away and put fish back in aquarium.
Caution: formalin is very harmful to your health and is also very caustic. Store where children cannot get near it.
Very Important: When removing the sick fish from the pail or hospital tank, use a net. After using the net, keep it only for the handling of sick fish.
Salt Bath
This treatment is good against fungal infestations and skin and gill fluke. A salt bath is done in a separate pail or hospital tank. Add ½ to ¾ ounce of salt to 20 gallons of water. Keep fish in this solution no longer than ½ hour. Watch the fish the entire time. If you see any ill effects, stop treatment right away.
In the case of ichthyophtirius, there has to be two follow up treatments at 48 hours later and 72 hours later. All fish in the tank have to be treated.
Malachite Treatment
Treatments with Malachite solutions can be done in the regular tank. This treatment is used for fighting off fungal based diseases such as ich.
If one fish has ich then chances are all fish in the tank have caught it. It’s best to treat all fish and it can be done in their existing tank. After the first treatment, do one 24 hours later and another treatment at 72 hours. This medication is available at most retailers and all you have to do is follow the directions on the container.
While doing these treatments, watch fish very closely for any side effects and if any are seen, discontinue right away.
