Blue Tang Sick

[Wingin It]

I read on reefcentral that people have also been buying garlic extract from the grocery store. They said that it has minimal preservatives in it but that it was not much more than what's in fish food?
I have no idea if this is even a good idea, but maybe someone else can chime in here and set it straight. I wanted to try some, but i'm on the fence.

[naesco]

Originally Posted by Wingin It

I read on reefcentral that people have also been buying garlic extract from the grocery store. They said that it has minimal preservatives in it but that it was not much more than what's in fish food?
I have no idea if this is even a good idea, but maybe someone else can chime in here and set it straight. I wanted to try some, but i'm on the fence.

I would think that a preservative would preserve the anti-fungal and anti-ich properties of the garlic 'ingredient' that makes garlic extract work and would therefor be beneficial.

I would use garlic without hesitation in the case of ich infestation.
I would also use it without hesitation when I am adding new fish to the tank as a preventative.

I would not use it as a daily feeding protocol because the jury is out on whether their would be any long term risk in using preservatives. Just my opinion.

[Eb0la11]

Hmmm, well I'll probably feed it for a week or two until he can be nursed back to health - hopefully.

[Eb0la11]

Hes rubbing a lot on rocks and sand. They do this with Ich, right?

[naesco]

Originally Posted by Eb0la11

Hes rubbing a lot on rocks and sand. They do this with Ich, right?

Yes it is one of the first signs you see even before you see the dots.
The fish is attempted to remove the parasite from its skin and also its gills. By doing this they become subject to a potential opportunistic infection like bacteria or fungus.

BTW, add a bubbler in your tank and place a powerhead near the waterline to add oxygen in the tank to assist in breathing.
You will see that they will soon 'play' in the surge.

[Eb0la11]

I have two return jets constantly agitating the surface water to promote oxygen exchange.

Ok so I can only seem to find garlic extract in tablet form. Can I just crush this up and soak the food in the "dust" from doing so?

Originally Posted by naesco

Yes it is one of the first signs you see even before you see the dots.
The fish is attempted to remove the parasite from its skin and also its gills. By doing this they become subject to a potential opportunistic infection like bacteria or fungus.

BTW, add a bubbler in your tank and place a powerhead near the waterline to add oxygen in the tank to assist in breathing.
You will see that they will soon 'play' in the surge.

[Milad]

why not just use chopped up garlic? just wondering...

[naesco]

Originally Posted by Eb0la11

I have two return jets constantly agitating the surface water to promote oxygen exchange.

Ok so I can only seem to find garlic extract in tablet form. Can I just crush this up and soak the food in the "dust" from doing so?

No, I think it will just float away but it may do until you finds some. It is hard to find. The brand is kaolic sp? You need to phone pharmacies and ask or you will be chasing all over town.

Crushing a garlic is better than nothing but what you left with is garlic juice which is not as concentrated as the extract or buying Garlic Extreme from a LFS.
Maybe someone near you can lend you either extract or extreme until you get one of your own.

[plutoniumJoe]

Originally Posted by Eb0la11

Hmmm, well I'll probably feed it for a week or two until he can be nursed back to health - hopefully.

As many have said don't just feed for a week keep it going. The ich cycle is at least 6weeks and you want to keep your fish's immune system high for longer than that at least.

[Milad]

son of a bitch, i have ich on my new wrasse!! all because i replied to this thread.
im guessing I cant soak the food in my automatic feeder with the garlic extreme?