Medications beginners need?

lespaul339 · 10/10/2012, 01:39 PM

What medications besides the obvious one (ich) should a beginner have on hand while quarantining fish before adding them to their DT? Looking on foster and smith there are all types, and I am wondering what are the most common diseases or infections fish get? I just want to be prepaired before I order my first fish.

AquaticFins · 10/10/2012, 02:05 PM

Praziquantel, Formalin, Cupramine and Methylene Blue are good basic medications to have on hand.

It's also a very good idea to have a good dechlorinater and ammonia neutralizer on hand as well. Some sodium bicarbonate or pH increaser for freshwater dips would be a good basic staple as well.

Some people may want to have a couple of antibiotics on hand as well - the Maracyns, kanamycin, nitrofurazone, etc...those are probably not strictly necessary for most beginners to have on hand unless you live rather far from a local fish store. Perhaps have some metronidazole for internal parasites...again, you can probably pick that up locally if and when you need it, unless you live far from a good fish store or are planning to stock a large aquarium and thus do a lot of quarantining.

Sk8r · 10/10/2012, 02:12 PM

OTOH, buying now, unless you live remote from an lfs, can leave you with aging meds. I haven't had to use one on a marine fish since 1980-something, and the one freshwater instance, when Furan was in order, was due to a bald eagle raid on my backyard pond. So if you're short of funds, wait on purchase until you know what you need.

10/10/2012, 01:39 PM	#1
lespaul339 Reefer Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Iowa Posts: 903	Medications beginners need? What medications besides the obvious one (ich) should a beginner have on hand while quarantining fish before adding them to their DT? Looking on foster and smith there are all types, and I am wondering what are the most common diseases or infections fish get? I just want to be prepaired before I order my first fish.

10/10/2012, 02:12 PM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	OTOH, buying now, unless you live remote from an lfs, can leave you with aging meds. I haven't had to use one on a marine fish since 1980-something, and the one freshwater instance, when Furan was in order, was due to a bald eagle raid on my backyard pond. So if you're short of funds, wait on purchase until you know what you need. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

10/10/2012, 02:05 PM	#2
AquaticFins Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 887	Praziquantel, Formalin, Cupramine and Methylene Blue are good basic medications to have on hand. It's also a very good idea to have a good dechlorinater and ammonia neutralizer on hand as well. Some sodium bicarbonate or pH increaser for freshwater dips would be a good basic staple as well. Some people may want to have a couple of antibiotics on hand as well - the Maracyns, kanamycin, nitrofurazone, etc...those are probably not strictly necessary for most beginners to have on hand unless you live rather far from a local fish store. Perhaps have some metronidazole for internal parasites...again, you can probably pick that up locally if and when you need it, unless you live far from a good fish store or are planning to stock a large aquarium and thus do a lot of quarantining.