The Puffer Forum

What are melafix and prima fix specifically designed to cure? I've seen post after post that promote them as great alixers for the fishes ailments, but I don't know which one is better for which diseases. Can someone post a link that expalins or give me the short and low. Thanks

P.S. this site really doeskick buttocks for the members knowledge of puffers and general topic info. Thanks again from a new puffer owner.

Uh oh - I'm about to knock the hornet's nest!

Melafix is supposedly an anti-bacterial, used to treat bacterial infections. IME, it is completely ineffective against bacterial infections such as cotton-mouth disease (columnaris). A disease like that needs a strong antibiotic.

Melafix DOES aid in the regrowth of tissue in cases of damaged fins or bites. But it merely accelerates the natural healing process and may or may not prevent secondary bacterial infections.

Melafix is often recommended on this board as a "band-aid", to protect wounded fish from contracting disease. In actual cases of bacterial infection, I would turn to salt treatments or 'real' medications.

Pimafix is supposedly effective against fungal diseases. I have no experience with it but I am just a little sceptical.

MelaFix helps heal and cure disease and or wounds on a fish.
PimaFix is to help with fungal and bacteria infections.

bred wrote:Uh oh - I'm about to knock the hornet's nest!

Melafix is supposedly an anti-bacterial, used to treat bacterial infections. IME, it is completely ineffective against bacterial infections such as cotton-mouth disease (columnaris). A disease like that needs a strong antibiotic.

Melafix DOES aid in the regrowth of tissue in cases of damaged fins or bites. But it merely accelerates the natural healing process and may or may not prevent secondary bacterial infections.

Melafix is often recommended on this board as a "band-aid", to protect wounded fish from contracting disease. In actual cases of bacterial infection, I would turn to salt treatments or 'real' medications.

Pimafix is supposedly effective against fungal diseases. I have no experience with it but I am just a little sceptical.

Bred, c'mon man you mixed em up! Your describing PimaFix! Lol.

I just posted a product riview of both, as a sticky in this forum.

Bred, c'mon man you mixed em up! Your describing PimaFix! Lol.

Nope, I didn't. Although here is some overlap in the stated purposes of these products. "Mystique" is not what I'm looking for when I need to find a cure. The literature surrounding these products is very fuzzy.

I can know exactly how antibiotics work, what they are effective against, correct dosages, etc. Mela and Pima are shrouded in obscurity. They have no value for me--but this is a personal choice type thing.

There's plenty of studies on tea-tree's anti microbial properties versus those of, say, carbolic acid or iodine.
Pami.

I would much rather start off treating a mild issue with an all-natural med that can be introduced right into my main tank, then having to QT & use heavy antibiotics on an already weakened fish.

Lol... I don't want to get into this argument again... But PP, I agree-- "Mild" issues do not call for antibiotics. Any combination of water changes, salt and melafix will help guard against secondary infections while the fish does its healing.

Yes, Mela/Pimafix is not for severe cases but can prevent most mild issues from becoming worse. It will also help to use in conjunction with more powerful antibiots, if the case is severe.

So then, Melafix = good for repair and rejuvination of fins, and prima fix a bacterial med. Both very natural??? is either or an efective treatment for ich or fungus?

Neither will kill Ich. See the stickie at the top of the forum for treating ich.

Columnaris aka body fungus aka mouth fungus aka black mollie disease is in fact not a fungus, but a bacteria. If your fish has it - and I can't really say till I see some close ups - then you will need stronger meds than Mela/Pima.

It is still ok to use to heal any wounds caused by the ich parasite, to prevent secondary infection.

Sorry bred, I guess I was mistaken. But I was reading it straight off the bottle!

Ok well for ich infestations I was thining about putting a diatom filter in my QT tank. Would it be worth the investment?

I ahve the earlier post which I said I would get the specifics for the water and a pic for you to look a bit closer at (once off work). Im still at work took the doubble twelve shift so havent been home in 29 going on 24 hours but will get that posted. My bro said puff is still alive so i feel a bit better and also said the grey film is mostly gone or all gone but a very greyish discolouration continues to be on the puff. So from the info I have (believing he does have ich) will the ich kill or seriously mame or slow him. and the greyish film/discolouration; temp 78, new tank change today 9am, ph 12, nitrates and niatrates unsure till i get home. Any new thoughts yet?