Salt Dipping?!?!?

[Gr8KarmaSF]

I was told by my local wacky pet shop that I should dip my freshwater fish in a seperate bag of salted tank water for a few minutes before I add them to my tank.

Anybody ever hear of doing this? Comments???

 

[piranha45]

I've heard of it being done for illnesses, but not just for adding new specimens...

 

[Gr8KarmaSF]

I think that they beleive it will cause a reaction in the fish to promote more of a defense against ich and other diseases, thou I dont know if its true or not?!?!?

 

[piranha45]

sounds reasonable to me... i still wouldnt bother with it though. ive always just thrown my fish right in the tank

 

[Gr8KarmaSF]

I just question whether it really benefits the fish by being salt dipped or causes more stress on the new guy???

Wow you just throw them in???

 

[piranha45]

m hm. im impatient and lazy.

 

[guppy]

It is a treatment for external parasites like leeches and ich, 3-4 tsp of salt per gallon and only for a few minutes, it is about twice as strong as the in tank treatment. I don't do it with fish but I do with some of the hardier plants if they were grown outdoors.

 

[turtall]

I've heard of it, never done it though. All I ever end up dipping in salt are the margerita glasses.

 

[sleepyflight]

sounds reasonable to me... i still wouldnt bother with it though. ive always just thrown my fish right in the tank

Yup, ditto....they do fine, unless the temp is way off. I've done it to plenty of natives too....

 

[sohfatfish]

I think the salt dip will do more stress to the fish than any good. Just quarantine any new fish before u introduce it into your tank if you a worried about external parasites or diseases.