Red wag platy

Hello everyone. I was just wondering how most of you medicate your fish with antibiotics, even though they kill all of your good bacteria. Prime? All replies appreciated.

Lucy

Gram positive antibiotics has a greater risk of killing the bacteria.
Gram negative won't harm the cycle.

Kordon's herbal treatments like Rid Fungus claim to inhibit bacterial growth, but not kill it off.
Mardel products claim not to hurt the bacteria.

A lot of medications will tell you if it's gram positive or negative.

cerianthus

Out of curiosity sake, do you know of any specific antibiotics on the market for fish that tells you it will disturb bio activities. I can' think of any from my experience. LMK if there are.

Lucy

gel tek tetracycline and penicillin medicated food claims not to harm the harm the bacteria.
They don't actually call it food, they call it medicated fish eat.

As stated they claim it doesn't harm the cycle, I've used tetracycline, but can't say for sure whether it effected the cycle.

Shawnie

LOL why in the world would they do that? then they wouldnt make a sale

capekate

Yes, actually most of the products that will kill off the beneficial bacteria do give that information on the enclosed direction sheet or pamphlet under " Effects on the Biological Filtration.
For instance my Mardel Maracyn-Plus states that there will be a slight reduction in the biological activity and it suggests using A.C.T. biological bacteria when removing meds from the water to help boost the biological filter. Normal biological activity will resume once the medication is removed from the water.
I believe that if it does effect the beneficial bacteria it will state so.

Red wag platy

Thanks for the replies. Currently I'm treating my betta for fin rot with TriSulfa, which as you guys know is both gram positive and negative. I was thinking of giving them the medication and also adding prime because the meds would kill my cycle. Does this sound like a good idea?

Shawnie

most times you can treat finrot without meds...daily changes of water with the prime and some stress coat helps alot...but its time and patience that will be the killer for the most part....and yes if you started meds already, prime is the way to go and still doing the daily water changes to keep it prestine

Lucy

I forget what the instructions on trisulfa are in regards to water changes.
I can't say for sure, but it couldn't hurt to detoxify the ammonia.

Red wag platy

For mine it says put in 1 packet per ten gallons and repeat that treatment for 5 days.

cerianthus

Why not?, if med can yield good results in hospital tank. Just like Med for human consumption which should specify its side effects.
The idea of Med is to try to be as specific as possible rather than broad spectrum. Prolonged exposure to remedies, pathogens can evolved to tolerate the Med. Therefore, I rather be as specific if and when possible. It's better for the fish under treatments and for every life forms all around us in long run, IMHO.

Red wag platy

I think I'll just use the prime while treating and have some established media around for when I'm done. Thanks.