I once saw a tank where the water was yellowish, the tank contained feeder fish. I asked the shop owner why the water was yellow, he said he puts anti-biotic to kill bacteria. Now is this a good practice, if yes, how much anti-biotic to put per gallon of water ?
Adding anti-biotic in water for feeder fish ?
- Thread starter qguy
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Hello; My suggestion is to look up the results of adding antibiotics as used in other animal raising industry. Chickens and cattle for example.
My take is that it is a short term cure which in a long term will backfire. Antibiotics should be used sparingly and more likely only for the treatment of an actual disease. This preventative use of antibiotics as a just in case will in time lead to the development of antibiotic resistant organisms. The misuse of antibiotics in human medicine has already led to some "super bugs" for which there is no effective treatment.
I think I get why the use of the antibiotic in a feeder tank is desired. That way the feeders can be crowded a bit and the expense of having several QT (quarantine tanks) for the feeders can be avoided.
If my vote counts, then I say do not use the antibiotics. In fact I will be reluctant to buy fish from a breeder or a shop doing what you describe.
My take is that it is a short term cure which in a long term will backfire. Antibiotics should be used sparingly and more likely only for the treatment of an actual disease. This preventative use of antibiotics as a just in case will in time lead to the development of antibiotic resistant organisms. The misuse of antibiotics in human medicine has already led to some "super bugs" for which there is no effective treatment.
I think I get why the use of the antibiotic in a feeder tank is desired. That way the feeders can be crowded a bit and the expense of having several QT (quarantine tanks) for the feeders can be avoided.
If my vote counts, then I say do not use the antibiotics. In fact I will be reluctant to buy fish from a breeder or a shop doing what you describe.
Using medication pre-emptively is only looking for trouble.
Moderate stocking and clean water is the best way to keep healthy feeders. plus quarantine and possibly UV
Moderate stocking and clean water is the best way to keep healthy feeders. plus quarantine and possibly UV
We used to use nitrofurazone and methalyne blue on our feeder goldfish at the store, it mainly helped with the after effects of ammonia burn from shipping.