Epsom salt with fry in the tank?

[seanh]

Posted in the disease and health forum but not had any response yet so hoping I can get one here.

My 10 inch bocourti appears to have internal parasites, white stringy poo and he's now not eating. I plan on doing a big water change tomorrow and dosing the tank with some Epsom salt however, I have fry in the tank (1 inch) - will the fry be able to tolerate the Epsom salt?

 

[RD.]

Yes, just not for prolonged use.

 

[tlindsey]

Posted in the disease and health forum but not had any response yet so hoping I can get one here.

My 10 inch bocourti appears to have internal parasites, white stringy poo and he's now not eating. I plan on doing a big water change tomorrow and dosing the tank with some Epsom salt however, I have fry in the tank (1 inch) - will the fry be able to tolerate the Epsom salt?

I suggest taking out the adult and treat in a aquarium or tote. Epsom salt may be too much for fragile 1inch fry. Epsom salt is a laxative for fish and that you don't want for hungry fry imo.

 

[seanh]

Yes, just not for prolonged use.

What would be considered prolonged use? Would a week be OK?

 

[..puSkar..]

If the fish is not eating I'd suggest injecting some Epsom salt soln with metro using a syringe directly . U may search out some threads in the disease section .
As for the fry they may not die but I'd be careful with 1" fry . Safe to treat the big guy in a qt tank . And if the fry are eating I'd suggest u soak their food in Epsom solution and then feed

 

[ryansmith83]

I add Epsom salt to a lot of my fry tanks to boost magnesium levels, as well as liquid calcium. My water is soft and without it the fry quickly deplete what few minerals are in the water and it leads to bone and fin development issues (bent fins, pinched fins, etc.). I've never had any of them react adversely to it.

 

[Rocksor]

I add Epsom salt to a lot of my fry tanks to boost magnesium levels, as well as liquid calcium. My water is soft and without it the fry quickly deplete what few minerals are in the water and it leads to bone and fin development issues (bent fins, pinched fins, etc.). I've never had any of them react adversely to it.

What's the dosing?

 

[seanh]

Thanks for the responses. Unfortunately I don't have a qt tank (or any other tank for that matter).

I'm going to take a gamble and dose with the salt. I'd rather lose the fry than the bocourti if it came to that

 

[ryansmith83]

What's the dosing?

I honestly don't even measure it anymore, I just throw in a handful. It's probably 2 - 3 Tablespoons per 40g breeder.

 

[neutrino]

Haven't kept them, so I can't speak from experience, but Bocourti natural habitat is somewhat variable and includes fairly hard, high pH waters, averaging 7.8 pH in one of their lakes. So I suspect they can handle some Epsom salt and it may be beneficial.

I add epsom salt to my Cyphotilapia kapampa tank every water change, including fry, and extra when a female is getting ready to spawn. In my water, limestone sourced, the kapampa do better with the added Epsom salt, for one thing it prevents the egg impaction they can be susceptible to. I've also been adding a little to SA tanks, which includes wild Aequidens, Heros, and plecos, and they continue to be quite happy.