if the infection is bad enough...and I know not many will agree with this....I force feed an Epsom mixture with an eye dropper. that's my solution, but I prefer meds too though.
Soaking food in Metronidazole
- Thread starter Frank Castle
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A lot of variables involved, impossible to say why you didn't have any success with the Epsom infused food? If your fish are infected with Spironucleus vortens (Hexamita), that should have cleaned them up within a few days.
I sn't salt just a milder indirect way to treat rather than medications ?
ya it is, but my point was if you didn't see a change with Epsom salts I would try a dose of metro...just to be safe.
I tried the salt thing first, it didn't work bc I'm guessing it was already real sick. So I went ahead and treated with metro and worked for me. I'm thankful for metro lol
Magnesium Sulfate causes the parasites to die, but only if it ingested (see sticky for more info), not from contact in the tank water (except in extreme levels) - so the end result is the same as metro, only without the potential long term health issues. That, and it's dirt cheap and widely available. Of course if the fish is no longer eating then one needs to force feed, or switch to a medication that can be absorbed via the gills etc.
But as I said, way too many variables involved for myself or anyone else to determine why one treatment will work for one person/fish, and not another. I would need a crystal ball to sort out what others are doing in their tanks, with their fish. lol Josh's recommendation of Seachem Metroplex is probably your best bet, I have never seen metronidazole sold in liquid form. If you know a vet, ask them, it's a very common medication.
It didn't work because your fish wasn't eating, hence none of the magnesium sulfate ended up in your fishes gut.
how well does tilapia fillets minced or diced absorb the medication? Of course I feed pellets but there are a few fish that in my collection that are absolutely bonkers for fresh fillets or F/T......
I've had one or two cases where i treated with epsom and then full metro and was never able to treat even after months of treatment. The fish would respond but always relapse. Other times they respond after a few treatments. There could be some resistant strains of hex/spiro out there.
