garlic, how effective?

[pufferman]

Hey all,

I wanted to know how fast garlic is effective on boosting the immune system. I saw my tang itching vigorously and i placed a garlic soaked sheet of nori in the tank and he chomps on the nori, goes and itches, then comes back to chomp on the nori.

[acronym:b8f2993d88="Thanks in Advance"]TIA[/acronym:b8f2993d88]

[SALTYDAWGY]

Most people would say that it is effective in helping marine fish immune system. I would agree with some people. I have soaked my frozen foods in it for years. It is not an effective cure against ich though. It would help in addition to some hypo or maybe [acronym:c56764df2f="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:c56764df2f] with Copper.

[pufferman]

Thanks,
I did a [acronym:b2d0b2a694="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:b2d0b2a694] dip on the little guy and i havent seen him scratch, ill check him again throughout the weekend

P-MAN

[melissfish]

how often should u add the garlic.

[SALTYDAWGY]

I have some concentrated garlic (you can buy it at the [acronym:e717a0082a="Local Fish Store"]lfs[/acronym:e717a0082a]-it is pricy though). I add about 2-3 drops for a cube of frozen food as it thaws out. I do this a few times a week. I let the cube sit for an hour then driop it in. The garlic acts in two ways. One, I believe it helps the immune system of the fish in the tank and two, it helps to stimulate a feeding response in all things including my brittle star. I also see my [acronym:e717a0082a="copepods, amphipods, etc"]pods[/acronym:e717a0082a] dash about wildly on the rock when it is added.

[haus]

My cleaner shrimp and hermit crabs go ballistic when I add garlic to the food as do the fish. I've heard that it is debatable if it does boost immune systems, but if it doesn't do anything for their immune system, it sure does make them really enjoy feeding time.

[lando]

I did a [acronym:a11baf9b61="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:a11baf9b61] dip on the little guy and i havent seen him scratch, ill check him again throughout the weekend

[acronym:a11baf9b61="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:a11baf9b61] dip is not an effective means of treating parasites. The stess caused by netting and the procedure itself often times do more harm and far outway any benefit of dipping. A much better solution is four weeks in [acronym:a11baf9b61="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:a11baf9b61] using hyposalinity.

Garlic is not really looked at as a Tx either, more of a preventative measure. I have not actually seen much research on how effective it is at boosting the immune system. For now, keep an eye on your tang and watch for any visible signs or spots. If it is eating, has good color and is active you should be okay. Good luck.

[Bearfan]

I chop it up finely in my blender mush.

[pufferman]

it has been eating voraciously, he is colorful, and he is active, but he scratches continuosly. the [acronym:e6c46dcbcf="Specific gravity"]SG[/acronym:e6c46dcbcf] in the tank used to be 1.017 but i have recently raised it up to 1.021 over two or three weeks. Could this be contributed to his stress? I thought evaporation was the best way to raise the salinity. Should cleaner shrimp help? Once my [acronym:e6c46dcbcf="Specific gravity"]SG[/acronym:e6c46dcbcf] is in check, i will make another effort to introduce cleaner shrimp. As long he is eating with the garlic, will he be able to fight it off. I havent replaced my [acronym:e6c46dcbcf="Ultra Violet"]UV[/acronym:e6c46dcbcf] bulb in about a year and a half. Should i replace the bulb? I only have $85 to spend on my tank. Thank you for your time

[acronym:e6c46dcbcf="Thanks in Advance"]TIA[/acronym:e6c46dcbcf]

[SALTYDAWGY]

I probably would puffer. Get a new bulb and a ball valve to slow the water flow through the [acronym:140fbdbbfd="Ultra Violet"]uv[/acronym:140fbdbbfd] for maximum exposure to the bulb. 30 gallon is awfully small for a regal tang. Regals do have a tendancy to do a lot of scratching but they are also known to be very prone to ich. If I were you I would change about 7-8 gallons of water. Soak all food in garlic [acronym:140fbdbbfd="Fish only"]fo[/acronym:140fbdbbfd] rthe next couple weeks. Change the [acronym:140fbdbbfd="Ultra Violet"]uv[/acronym:140fbdbbfd] bulb and make sure the flow is very very slow. Check your temp and [acronym:140fbdbbfd="Specific gravity"]SG[/acronym:140fbdbbfd]. Watch the fish for signs of ich (Like spots, cloudy fins and eyes etc)