Disease Control - Methods of Treatment
Contents
You will probably find in the diseases section of many aquarist
books that they list the traditional methods of treatment that involve
direct use of the base drugs that are effective in combating the common
infectious organisms and diseases in aquaria. These drugs require some
knowledge of preparation so that they can be used safely and effectively,
and in some instances a particular drug may not be too favourable with
some species of fish and /or plants.
However, it is my opinion that the availability of
reliable, pre-mixed, ready-to-use medications is such nowadays that
it is far better to identify the aquarium and /or fish problem, then
seek out the appropriate ready-to-use remedy from your local aquatic
store. On this basis I will recommend this method of treatment in all
instances, unless otherwise stated.
For illustration purposes, or if you feel you need
to know what these base drugs are, a brief overview of some them are
listed here:
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- Acriflavine
(Trypaflavine): a derivative of acridine (a source of synthetic
dyes and drugs) used as an antiseptic. Effective against:
White-Spot, Velvet, Costia, Chilodonella, Trichodina, Fin-Rot,
Tail-Rot, fungal diseases. Stock solution: 0.001%
using neutral (single chloride) acriflavine. Must be kept in darkness.
Treatment: 10ml. of stock solution added to each
imperial gallon. Treatment may need to be extended for several days.
Precaution: Toxic to fishes and to some aquatic
plants if treatment is too prolonged.
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- Chloramine:
derived from ammonia used as an antiseptic. Effective against:
White-Spot, Costia, Chilodonella, Trichodina, Gyrodactylus.
Stock solution: 1% Use freshly made. Treatment:
4.5ml of stock solution added to each imperial gallon. Treat fishes
for 24 hours. Precaution: Poisoning may result
if allowed to contact bare metal.
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- Chloromycetin®
(Chloramphenicol): an antibiotic first derived from cultures of
the soil bacterium Streptomyces venezuelae. Effective
against: bacterial and certain virus diseases, also White-Spot,
Velvet. Treatment: 25-50mg added to each imperial
gallon, or added to food at the rate of 1g per kg.
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- Formalin:
a solution of formaldehyde in water used as a sterilising solution.
Effective against: Costia, Gyrodactylus, Dactylogyrus.
Treatment of Costia: Stock solution: make
a 10% solution of 32% formaldehyde. Prepare a bath of 10-25 ml of
stock solution per imperial gallon. Bathe infected fishes several
times per day for 15-30 minutes repeat every two days. Treatment
of Gyrodactylus, Dactylogyrus: Stock solution: make
a 1% stock solution of 32% formaldehyde. 165ml of stock solution
is added to each cubic foot of tank water. Keep infected fishes
in a bath of solution until flukes disappear.
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- Mepacrine
(Atabrine): relatively toxic (lethal to guppies), only used in the
most stubborn cases of Ich. Effective against:
White-Spot. Stock solution: 0.1% using mepacrine
hydrochloride. Treatment: 15ml of stock solution
added to each imperial gallon, given as three doses of 5ml every
48 hours.
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- Mercurochrome®:
Used for its antimicrobial activity. It is a weak disinfectant used
for skin infections. Effective against: many skin
diseases, esp. White-Spot, Lernaea and fungi. Stock
solution: 0.2% Treatment: Swab the affected
areas of the fish with solution on cotton wool. For White-Spot:
2ml of stock solution added to each imperial gallon.
Precaution: May cause toxicity causing liver and
kidney damage.
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- Merthiolate®
(Thiomersal): Thiomersal is a mercury-based preservative, which
has been used since the 1930s in a number of pharmaceutical and
biological products including vaccines. Effective against:
fungal diseases. Stock solution: 0.1%.
Treatment: by swabbing the wounds. Not
to be used as a bath.
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- Methylene blue:
a thiazine dye also used as an antidote for cyanide poisoning.
Effective against: White-Spot, Velvet, Gyrodactylus,
Dactylogyrus. Stock solution: 1% using pure
grade solid. Treatment: 1ml of stock solution added
to each imperial gallon. Repeated every two days. For Velvet
a stronger solution, up to 4ml may be necessary. Precaution:
May be toxic to aquatic plants.
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- Potassium
permanganate: used as an oxidising agent, disinfectant,
etc. Effective against: Many skin diseases, esp.
Velvet and Lernaea. Stock solution: 1%
Treatment: 4.5ml of stock solution added to each
imperial gallon. Use as a bath, no longer than 30 minutes.
Precaution: Toxic to fishes if used in excess.
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- Phenoxethol
: an oily liquid available in stock solution.
Effective against: Fin-Rot, Tail-Rot, and some
Helminth infections, Ichthyophonus. Stock solution:
1%. Treatment: 45-90ml of stock solution added
to each imperial gallon. For internal worm infections and
Ichthyophonus food should be soaked in stock solution,
although the fishes may not take the food soaked in this oily liquid.
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- Quinine:
used in medicine as a stimulant and to treat malaria. Effective
against: White-Spot, Velvet, Costia, Chilodonella, Trichodina.Stock
solution: 1% using Quinine hydrochloride (82% quinine-base).
Treatment: For White-Spot: 15ml of stock solution
for each imperial gallon, given as three doses of 5ml every 12 hours.
For other diseases: 9ml of stock solution added
to each imperial gallon, given as two doses of 4.5ml at 12-hours
intervals. Precaution: Very toxic to Prussian carp,
may affect plant growth.
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-
Sodium chloride: Effective against:
Costia, Chilodonella, Trichodina, Gyrodactylus, Lernaea,
some bacterial diseases. Treatment: a 1 - 3% salt
solution (1.6 - 4.8 ounces per imperial gallon) or (10 - 30g per
litre) for 10 - 30 minutes, depending on condition being treated,
or 1 ounce for each imperial gallon (6.24g per litre) for indefinite
periods. Changing back to freshwater should be made gradually.
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- Streptomycin:
an antibiotic affective against diseases caused by bacteria, including
several against, which penicillin is ineffective. Effective
against: Tuberculosis and Dropsy. Treatment:
0.7g per imperial gallon, or by injection of 0.1mg in 0.1ml of water
per 10g body weight.
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- Terramycin®:
an antibiotic similar to Aureomycin® affective against diseases
caused by bacteria and also by certain viruses and Rickettsia, such
as typhus. Effective against: Internal bacterial
diseases. Treatment: In the food, 1.8mg per gram
of food per 3% of body weight.
- Important note:
Information contained within this web site is supplied in good faith,
and is for guidance only. No liability can be accepted for losses
incurred as a result of relying solely on the guidelines of the
web site. Always consult your own veterinarian or fish specialist
for advice concerning any specific medical condition or treatment
of your own fishes.
Source: The Complete Aquarists Guide to Freshwater
Tropical Fishes – Peter Lowe. Hamlyn Encyclopedic World Dictionary.
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