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Author Topic: What is in your Cichlid "First Aid Kit"?  (Read 4557 times)

Offline scifisarah

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What is in your Cichlid "First Aid Kit"?
« on: January 24, 2013, 08:26:06 AM »
Just starting up with African Cichlids and all I have so far is  API Aquarium Salt and Stress Coat+. I wondered what medications I should have at hand in case my fish develop some sort of fungus, bacterial, parasitic or other problems. I don't want to wait until they have a problem, spend a day researching what to use, and then wait two days shipping from Amazon in case the local petstore doesn't carry what I need. So what do you keep in your fishy first aid kit?
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75 Gallon Mbuna -8 Labidochromis chisumulae/Clown Labs, 4 Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei" (Msuli)/Yellow Tail Acei, 7 Pseudotropheus cyaneorhabdos/Maingano, 11 Pseudotropheus saulosi, 10 Synodontis petricola, 3 Ancistrus cirrhosus/Bristlenose Pleco

Offline nismo_sky28

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Re: What is in your Cichlid "First Aid Kit"?
« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2013, 08:48:02 AM »
I use dechlor for water changes and stock uniodized kosher salt (instead of aquarium salt, much cheaper), Epsom salt and metro just as a precaution if bloat were to strike again.
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55 gallon PS. williamsi north, elongatus chewere and syndontis petricola

40 breeder synodontis petricola with an asian twist. A pair of chinese vermillion gobies and a trio of betta splendens.

40 breeder soon to be salty fish with live rock, possibly adding some lps and soft corals after

Offline Steve

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Re: What is in your Cichlid "First Aid Kit"?
« Reply #2 on: January 24, 2013, 09:45:17 AM »
I would say to include some Metronidazole. I just lost my fav cichlid to a very fast case of bloat and not a single LFS around here had anything that was suggested to me to treat bloat. I'm currently treating one fish I "think" might still have bloat with epsom salt, but I did order some Metronidazole yesterday just to have on hand in case of emergency in the future.
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Offline scifisarah

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Re: What is in your Cichlid "First Aid Kit"?
« Reply #3 on: January 24, 2013, 10:06:36 AM »
What product does the Metro come in? I looked on Amazon and could not find anything containing it. Is Seachem's Paraguard worth having on hand?
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75 Gallon Mbuna -8 Labidochromis chisumulae/Clown Labs, 4 Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei" (Msuli)/Yellow Tail Acei, 7 Pseudotropheus cyaneorhabdos/Maingano, 11 Pseudotropheus saulosi, 10 Synodontis petricola, 3 Ancistrus cirrhosus/Bristlenose Pleco

Offline danielratti

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Re: What is in your Cichlid "First Aid Kit"?
« Reply #4 on: January 24, 2013, 10:42:41 AM »
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Offline saji1986

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Re: What is in your Cichlid "First Aid Kit"?
« Reply #5 on: January 24, 2013, 12:21:46 PM »
All good answers - The only other things I keep on hand - Bausman Fish Tonic salt (add a little every time I do water changes) and Clout, in case it's too late for Metro. Knock on wood, haven't had to ever use the Metro or Clout yet.
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Offline danielratti

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Re: What is in your Cichlid "First Aid Kit"?
« Reply #6 on: January 24, 2013, 12:49:11 PM »
Garlic extract haven't had salt in months. In. the cupboard I have kosher salt.
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Offline Marty

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Re: What is in your Cichlid "First Aid Kit"?
« Reply #7 on: January 24, 2013, 01:10:04 PM »
Bausman's Tonic and Wound Ease are both good products (Wet Thumb Aquatics stocks these)

I also keep the following on hand:

Metronidazole
Clout
Kanacyn
Erythromycin
Furanase

Quick Cure is a good product to use as a prophylactic treatment when quarantining fish
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Offline scifisarah

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Re: What is in your Cichlid "First Aid Kit"?
« Reply #8 on: January 24, 2013, 01:23:00 PM »
Goodness, some of these are pricey. I see I could rack up quite a tab, and possibly never need them before they expire.  :-\
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75 Gallon Mbuna -8 Labidochromis chisumulae/Clown Labs, 4 Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei" (Msuli)/Yellow Tail Acei, 7 Pseudotropheus cyaneorhabdos/Maingano, 11 Pseudotropheus saulosi, 10 Synodontis petricola, 3 Ancistrus cirrhosus/Bristlenose Pleco

Offline nismo_sky28

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Re: What is in your Cichlid "First Aid Kit"?
« Reply #9 on: January 24, 2013, 01:33:06 PM »
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55 gallon PS. williamsi north, elongatus chewere and syndontis petricola

40 breeder synodontis petricola with an asian twist. A pair of chinese vermillion gobies and a trio of betta splendens.

40 breeder soon to be salty fish with live rock, possibly adding some lps and soft corals after

Offline auratus

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Re: What is in your Cichlid "First Aid Kit"?
« Reply #10 on: January 24, 2013, 04:14:44 PM »
Can add very little looks like we got some smart fellows here but I dont use Kosher salt ( even though I`m Jewish)  I perfer  Iodized sea salt ( Iodine I`ve read is esential for Tangs)
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Offline Ron

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Re: What is in your Cichlid "First Aid Kit"?
« Reply #11 on: January 24, 2013, 04:34:58 PM »
Quote from: scifisarah on January 24, 2013, 01:23:00 PM
Goodness, some of these are pricey. I see I could rack up quite a tab, and possibly never need them before they expire.  :-\
Exactly. I would just wait until you've got a need for them and then even if the LFS doesn't have it and expedited shipping is required, you'll still come out ahead.

On had I have NoxIch and Metro. Many, many years ago I got some fish that apparently had ich and occassionally use Metro on the tropheus if they're acting strange (1-2 times per year, if that).

If you keep up on proper care (water changes/feeding quality food) and buy fish from quality sources (or quarantine those from unverified ones), the need for meds is really, really low IMO.
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Offline Marty

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Re: What is in your Cichlid "First Aid Kit"?
« Reply #12 on: January 24, 2013, 06:05:45 PM »
Wet Thumb carries a bunch of these meds in uncut form (highly concentrated) for about $10 a bottle.  i just keep mine in the freezer (I should probably get a commission from these guys for as much as I've mentioned them, lol).  Also keep in mind I have more fish than the average person.

The top 2 I would recommend would be metro and kanacyn.
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Offline LoveTheFishies

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Re: What is in your Cichlid "First Aid Kit"?
« Reply #13 on: January 25, 2013, 04:49:34 PM »
So if a fish starts to show bloat, what is the best initial treatment?
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