Fresh water dip

[[d]3v|L]

Hi, any1 tried the fresh water dip to remove fish parasites all those when buying new fish before put into aquarium? Read from books .. does it work?

[Achilles Tang]

Depending on species.... some fishes don't survive the stress of such dips like tangs.

[hongqixian]

Firefish get stressed out really fast and difficult to revive. Don't try them, IME. P.S I like your avatar

[[d]3v|L]

HAHA don pray pray ar! can blenny tahan?

[ryan]

this frestwater dip is it done with tap water or dechlorinated water or distilled water?

how about clowns?

[eprouve]

I thought freshwater dips are only recommended when parasites are actually visible?

Anyway, on the topic...

my emperor angel seem to have 3 small little white balls growing on it. It kinda look like lint that collects on your black clothes. They are on its dorsal fins (2) and its left pectoral fin (1). There were actually 2 more on its caudal fin but they disappeared. I noticed them on Saturday... am quite clueless as to what to do.

I'm hoping someone had experience with this before and could provide some advise.

Is is a parasitic growth? Is freshwater dip advisable?

[Achilles Tang]

lint like? It's fungus. If it gets serious, a medicated dip may be necessary.

[hongqixian]

3v|L,Dec 8 2002, 12:16 PM]HAHA don pray pray ar! can blenny tahan?

Don't noe but if the germs are inside the fish then the dip will be useless anyway.

[[d]3v|L]

not sure too.

[Achilles Tang]

My young padawans...

FW dips are to osmo-shock and kill off external parasites.... it doesn't kill internal parasites like intestinal ones etc.

If you want to treat internal parasites... you have to feed your fishes with medicated food.

[[d]3v|L]

ic. im not too sure if those fish will survive in freshwater le.. totally different

[eprouve]

Thanks AT,

But medicated dip? What medicine would you recommend? Would I need to quarantine after medicated dip? How long?

Well, except for those little lint like balls, he's alive and well. Behaving very normally. Still very active and has the usual gigantic appetite.

And yah, I confirmed what I said last night with my dummies... usually, when adding new fish, you either quaratine it in a separate "hospital tank" and observe if it behaves wierd. If everything is ok (including good appetite) then its safe to transfer. But I am guessing not many people practice this.

FW dip is only for parasites that are external (ie: Visible) and won't work for internal infections. It should be a min of 3 mins and no longer than 10 mins. Also, it should not be 100% freshwater. A little of the tank water should be added to the FW to "reduce" the shock to the poor sick fishie.

[Achilles Tang]

Good... you did some homework!

[Tanzy]

I freshwater dipped my clowns before due to 'ich'. Get the freshwater up to the same temperature and pH as the tank water then dump them in. They struggled for 5 seconds and after 5 minutes they are giving me the 'feed me' look. I left them in for 20 minutes and they are still alive today.

[[d]3v|L]

u all buy fish got quarantine? or float it on top then add tank water slowly, then scoop em out n pop it in?

[NormanH]

i quarantine my fishes, but there was 2 occasions, my quarantine tank was fully booked n i cant tahan, lucky those 2 fishes r doing ok. But dont takes risks, i know a friend who dont quarantine all his fishes n he now have hell lot of problems.

What about to quarantine invertebrates to get rid of parasites? heard about it, but my quarantine tank dont have good light n chiler, how?

[[d]3v|L]

how long do u quarantine them?

[dodo]

min two weeks

[NormanH]

for mine, 2 weeks starting from the day fish start eating.

[[d]3v|L]

ic.. how many fish u all add at a week? 2/3 fish a week?

[NormanH]

it depend on the no. of fishes in quarantine tank at one time.