The Puffer Forum

"eradicates many ectoparasites on fish (e.g. ich, etc.) and external fungal/bacterial/viral lesions (e.g., fin rot)."

It is one of the few broad spectrum meds in their line up (if not the only one).

I wonder if it is safe for puffers? Anyone out there with experience with this on their puffers?

Not with malachite green in there. I see it is also recommended to use this in a hosp tank or QT. I'd never use it in a main system.

Pufferpunk wrote:Not with malachite green in there. I see it is also recommended to use this in a hosp tank or QT. I'd never use it in a main system.

I didn't have much choice other than using it in the main. Just did a quick check on "malachite green" and puffer. Recomended is 1/2 dose, but lots of other problems. Oxidization, killing the bio filter etc.

The product doesn't say what percentage is used in the solution but I would assume coming from Seachem it is safe (maybe not for puffers until we get some solid advice)

Oxidization, killing the bio filter etc.

Still want to use that in your main system??? I'd use Melafix/Pimafix for this.

Melafix / Pimafix irritates the loach. He has an adverse reaction to it

Unless I can QT him, which I can't I have to make do with what I can do. The loach wasn't the only fish caught in the filter and got the fin rot, thus I dosed the entire tank (but at the moment he is the star).

If the bio filter was collapsing wouldn't the fish be showing signs of other stresses (rubbing etc)? I am following the directions and doing the water changes.

I add Melafix to my discus tank (with many loaches) every weekly WC. What dosage are you using?

I did what the bottle said and it freaked out! This was with the regular dosage not the pod concentrated stuff (I haven't opened those yet).

ATM it is doing well and recovering so I am happy. Tomorrow will be 7 days and I might stop or continue until Sunday.

I'm not a huge fan of tea-tree oil medications like Melafix. Over at WWM, I get two or three messages a week from folks with fish that have Finrot or Fungus, have used Melafix, and their fish haven't improved. Bob Fenner is even more hostile to the stuff, and considers it worthless.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/homeopathfaqs.htm

While I might not be quite so hostile as that, I don't think it's a reliable medication. It's perhaps adequate as a prophylactic to prevent infection, but those already infected fish that recover after its use might simply have got better anyway, tea-tree oil usage or not.

In any event, in situations where the use of salt is viable, as is always the case where freshwater puffers are concerned, I'd sooner use elevated salinity to treat ick, velvet, and fungal infections.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebInde ... tNeale.htm

I have used both eSHa 2000* and eSHa EXIT** with pufferfish (specifically, irrubesco puffers and SAPs) and not had the slightest problems. While that may not prove they're always safe with all puffers, I'm not as neurotic about the whole copper/formalin thing with puffers as some. Still, your own experiences may be different, and I usually recommend people avoid copper and formalin where possible. Give salt works so well in most situations, it's a bit of a no-brainer.

Cheers, Neale

*eSHa 2000 6.3 mg ethacridine lactate (Rivanol); 1 mg proflavin; 3.2 mg Copper ++
**eSHa EXIT diaminoacridine 6.3 mg Malachite green 0.31 mg; Methylrosanilinium chloride; 0.79 mg Methylthioninii chloridum 3.98 mg and water (basically its Acridine, Malachite Green, Meth.Violet, Meth. Blue)

Pufferpunk wrote:

Oxidization, killing the bio filter etc.

Still want to use that in your main system??? I'd use Melafix/Pimafix for this.

Yep, I'm quite aware of how Bob feels about Melafix. I still swear by the stuff. Of course, I've never had more than a scrape or frayed fin around to treat...

Pufferpunk wrote:Yep, I'm quite aware of how Bob feels about Melafix. I still swear by the stuff. Of course, I've never had more than a scrape or frayed fin around to treat...

I have had 5 fish go over the top of the pre filter. 2 have surrvived. Of those 2 both have come down with fin rot.

wow jp! very impressive setup.

do you have any new pics of the entire tank?

Thank you. Not yet. I hope by the end of the week. With sick fish at the moment I'm kind of working overtime here. Once that problem and the alge are taken care of I'll get some new pics posted

Pufferpunk wrote:Yep, I'm quite aware of how Bob feels about Melafix. I still swear by the stuff. Of course, I've never had more than a scrape or frayed fin around to treat...

I was going through some of their FAQs about puffers and saw your name!! Are you still a crew member?

I just kind of had a brain fart.

I had my new little pleco jump 3 tanks and get into the prefilter (not that this is the first time this has happened). I re-examined the tank and came up with placing egg crate along the baffels. Each section has the baffels at the same height. I thought they were strictly for support / water circulation. What would happen if I put "wet foot" / marginal plants there anchored by the egg crate?

This obviously would limit light, but would solve the tank jumping and possibly help with the water quality.

I'll post a pic tomorrow of what I am thinking of (after I cut more egg crate)

A picture would be nice, I have no idea what you're talking about!