Salt Does Wonders

[M|L]

My tank unfortunately had a fungus outbreak from the feeders that I feed to my tigrinus (until he's fat enough to be trained on shrimp). Over the course of 12 hours, my Lates calcarifer became lethargic and the fungus growth quickly covered it's entire boday; needless to say, it stop feeding.

My tigrinus also stopped feeding, and the blue coloration quickly faded.

However, I put in 8 tablespoon of salt in my 20g tank over the course of an hour and magic happened right before my eyes! It only took 2-3 hours for my tigrinus to recover, and this morning he is 100% back to himself (stuffing down more feeders).

The Lates calcarifer is starting to show interest in food now and I'm sure he'll recover 100% in no time.
God I love salt.:hearts:

[neoprodigy]

good good... what kind of salt you use? brand?

[redtailfool]

Gotta get a Q tank for those feeders. I hate giving out feeders.

[M|L]

Table salt.

I don't have a separate tank to quarantine the feeders, so I have no choice.

[DeLgAdO]

talble salt? as in iodized salt, one time i used iodized salt without knowing it was that kinda salt on a nice 8in common goldfish before goin into my 40 gal, salt killed it, i almost cried it was my fav goldfish :cry:

[DeLgAdO]

i use aquarium pharm rock salt now

[redtailfool]

Table salt.

I don't have a separate tank to quarantine the feeders, so I have no choice.


Not good. you might find your tig floating one day.

[guppy]

Table salt? I thought it had to much iodine, I've been using kosher salt.

[M|L]

I've never used aquarium salt, I ALWAYS use table salt with no problem at all.

There aren't any proof that said iodine is toxic/harmful to fish. I just think it's a myth. :) This is what experience tells me.

[M|L]

talble salt? as in iodized salt, one time i used iodized salt without knowing it was that kinda salt on a nice 8in common goldfish before goin into my 40 gal, salt killed it, i almost cried it was my fav goldfish :cry:

how do you know the salt killed it? and how much salt did you add?

[redtailfool]

Or you could use plain UNIODIZED table salt if you want to play it safe.

[guppy]

I cook with kosher salt any way but nice to know I can use table salt if I have to, I don't use aquarim salt either.

[M|L]

I cook with kosher salt any way but nice to know I can use table salt if I have to, I don't use aquarim salt either.

This hobby lingers with lots of "old wives tales". Don't listen to everything you are told unless it's from personal experience. I've always used table salt without any negative effect on my fish. Anyone can tell you how sensitive stingrays and tigrinus catfishes are, and I've used table salt with both. :)

[kuruppa]

I use salt everytime i do a water change so i guess the effect it has on treating fish has been toned down a lot.

[Miles]

I buy rock salt in the 50lb bags at WalMart for cheap. If you are buying Aquarium Salt, you are wasting your money.. :) I have even seen a manager from PetSmart buying rock salt at WalMart for the store.

My thoughts on salt though.. Don't use it unless it's necessary. I have heard many ideas of what is a proper amount, or using at as a permanent preventative. I've read that it helps with the osmoregulation of the fish's body, which means it can expend more energy towards fighting off other ailments. So if you use it all the time, and something bad happens, the salt won't have as much of a positive effect because they are already used to it's positive effects.

A person once related it to if you help a baby chicken hatch out of it's egg, it will die. It's due to the fact that the chicken needs that strength to grow and survive. If you baby it along too much, it will not develop properly. I feel this is very similiar with fish and their immune systems. Keep your water quality in excellent shape, and always quarantine your fish... Then you will only need to use salt in emergencies. It works great on Ich too ;) Salt+Heat = no ich.

Hasta,

Miles

[M|L]

yea, I don't use it unless it's neccessary.