Acriflavine for Aquarium Fish
ACRIFLAVINE
Initially developed in 1912, it was obtained from coal tar and is available as an orange-brown powder. It was first introduced as an antiseptic, and was used during WW1 to combat the parasites that caused sleeping sickness. At one time it was used in the treatment of gonorrhea, but has since been replaced by more effective antibiotics. Acriflavine is now used primarily as a topical antiseptic, and is often mixed with proflavine for commercial preparations.
In the aquarium hobby it is used to treat a variety of ailments from fungal infections in fish to disinfecting and treating open wounds. Acriflavine is also used to disinfect fish eggs, thus preventing egg loss to fungus. It may also be used as an alternative to Malachite Green for treatment of disease in scale-less fish such as catfish, elephant-nose, and some members of the Characin family.
METHYLENE BLUE
Other Names: Methylthioninium chloride
Action: Cationic dye, redox indicator, and photosensitizer. In aquaculture, it serves as an anti-fungal and anti-parasitc.
History & Uses: In the 1890s Methylene Blue was studied for its anti-malarial properties, leading to its use during World War I, and subsequently in World War II. It continues to be used as an anti-malarial to this day.
Used medically in a combination that is known as “Prosed”, which is serves as a urinary antiseptic, urinary acidifier, analgesic, and anticholinergic. It also is used to treat Methemoglobinemia, and has been used for over a century as an anti-malarial in combination with other drugs. In the past it was also used to treat cyanide poisoning as well as carbon monoxide poisoning.
Recently it has been tested as a possible treatment for some cancers. Clinical studies are also underway that indicate Methylene Blue significantly slows down the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
It is also used in some drugs to aide in determining compliance, as it turns the urine blue, indicating the medication it is combined with has been taken.
In aquaculture it has commonly used to treat eggs to ensure they are not lost to fungal overgrowth. Methylene Blue is also used for treatment of ammonia and nitrite poisoning, as well as an anti-fungal, anti-parasitic. It is serves as an aquarium safe disinfectant. Disorders that Methylene Blue is used to treat include the following:
Nitrite poisoning - Fish gasp for breath, tan or brown gills, rapid gill movement known as "gilling"
Ammonia poisoning - Fish gasp for breath, red or purple gills, lethargic - may lay on the bottom, red streaks on body or fins.
Ichthyophthirius multifilis - Small white spots resembling sand, fish scratches against objects.
Oödinium pilularis - Also known as Velvet, this is actually caused by a parasite.
Swim Bladder Disorder- Fish struggles to maintain proper position, floats upside down, swims with tail higher than head
Egg Fungus - Serves as a safe and mild disinfectant for fish eggs.
Fish stress - Prophylactic treatment of fish under stress, usually due to being moved.
