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Salt dip for Loaches?
Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 12:58 pm
by Jeremy
An old trick I was taught on cureing outer fish deases in that it basical strips the slim coat along with the dease and if it a parisite it is basically killed becase of the salt concentration. I know it works well with cichlids, was wondering if it could work on loaches the concern I have is how small the scales are on loaches I would not use it on scaless catfish, but just a thought that I figured I throw out there.
Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 2:22 pm
by chris1932
I would stay away from salt with any loaches. Esp clowns
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 12:12 am
by brett_fishman
i'd stay away from putting ANY freshwater fish into salt water....its just torture of their little bodies, especially 'stripping' the slime off!!!
-brett.
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 2:41 am
by Jeremy
I can see that. To me it comes down to wich is the lesser evil, at least with the monster chiclids (obviously we are talking about a more fragile fish in the loaches wich is why I pose this question).A few secounds of salt, and a few minutes of having to reproduce slime coat. Or waiting a week for the Meds to work and that is if you have chosen the right Med.
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 8:10 am
by helen nightingale
dont some marine fish keepers do a similar thing in reverse too?
i agree that salt should never go near loaches, but i can see the logic behind it, especially if the type of fish comes from water that is close to brackish water
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 8:20 am
by worldrallynut
yes, many saltwater aquarists use freshwater baths to strip parasites off fish. The trick is to leave the fish in the freshwater as long as you can without killing him... It is very stressful to the fish and I wouldn't reccomend it with loaches.
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 8:26 am
by Jeremy
Thank you for the replies, it was a thought.
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 3:50 pm
by mikev
Jeremy wrote:Thank you for the replies, it was a thought.
It is a thought, and a good one, but only in very rare situations.
Example: a very advanced case of Ich, with A LOT of parasite on the fish. In a case like this, a Salt bath may be the only way to save the fish: unlike the conventional drugs, it will clear the parasite on the fish and quickly. Yes, it will stress and damage the fish too.
I personally would not do this unless I'm pretty sure that the situation is hopeless otherwise. Not an every day remedy.
hth