Treating sick fish

[MarkW19]

In case of emergencies (if a fish appears to be ill), I plan to use tap water (instead of the usual RO) to fill my QT, and mix the saltwater for 1 hour instead of the usual 24. I also keep my filter pads from my QT filter seeded with bacteria in my main tank.

I was just wondering if anyone could offer some guidelines as to what to do with a sick fish, going by symptoms etc.

Do most of you keep a good stock of treatments to use in the QT, or do you mostly do freshwater dips/salinity treatments etc.?

I'd just like to be prepared if anything happens, with a bit of knowledge!

If I was to go out and buy some treatments to have in just in case, which would you buy?

Thanks!

 

[Fishboy-from-NY]

I keep a bottle of Cupramine from Seachem in handy all the time and everything else I do freshwater dips for.

 

[MarkW19]

What does Cupramine do? When would you choose to use Cupramine, and when would you choose to do a dip?

 

[fishman]

You use Cupramine for ick and parasites...as far as the dips, I do not do these and do not know much about them. The cupramine is great, easy to use, and is forgiving. Its not as harsh as other coppers. I did learn if you use it though, get you some of the hang on ammonia readers by Seachem as most ammonia test kits will give you a false reading. (its a little plastic "card" that you hang inside your aquarium and he indicator turns different colors when ammonia is detected.) Also get the Seachem multi test kit for copper.

 

[quarryshark]

Second that. Cupramine is a super med. I also keep Maracyn, good antibiotic.

 

[MarkW19]

Thanks guys - QS, what does Maracyn do and what would you use it to treat?

 

[quarryshark]

Maracyn is a broad spectrum antibiotic. I have used it sucessfully a couple of times (in qt with new fish) to clear up infections. Another med that is well tolerated, in fact I have used it with cupramine.

 

[MarkW19]

Cool - so if I were to stock up on some meds, you'd recommend those two?

 

[quarryshark]

Well if they are easily found in your area I don't know if I would. maracyn is kinda expensive. I happen to have them because I needed them.
I would keep cupramine at least (it is cheap) when getting new fish.

 

[MarkW19]

It's just that if a fish gets ill and I don't have time to go to the shop or it's shut etc., it could be days before I could get it.

I'll get some cupramine definitely - do both Cupramine and Maracyn keep for a long time?