Canadian Fish Meds, Not So Universal

Hugh Mann · Jul 25, 2020

Many may know that in Canada, we are severely limited to medications to treat infections, parasites and other maladies in our finned friends.

Fortunately I was able to get my hands on a bottle of coppersafe, but that won't last forever.

I'm mostly looking for something to treat infections and internal parasites. Suggestions? Sources?

ichthyogeek · Jul 27, 2020

Did the local vet not work out for you? If not, there’s a few human medicines (the -mycins like strepto and erythro come to mind) that you could probably get in dry capsule form from a very convenient infection, especially if you’re quite good friends with your general practitioner.

There’s also a youtuber (NileRed) in Canada, and he’s somehow able to get his hands on a lot of various chemicals used in experiments. Formalin/Formaldehyde is one of the more common ones, so you could try to find out where he’s getting his chemicals!

Hugh Mann · Jul 27, 2020

ichthyogeek said:
Did the local vet not work out for you? If not, there’s a few human medicines (the -mycins like strepto and erythro come to mind) that you could probably get in dry capsule form from a very convenient infection, especially if you’re quite good friends with your general practitioner.

There’s also a youtuber (NileRed) in Canada, and he’s somehow able to get his hands on a lot of various chemicals used in experiments. Formalin/Formaldehyde is one of the more common ones, so you could try to find out where he’s getting his chemicals!

Local vet doesn't do fish. The nearest one is a 40 minute drive each way. Pretty stressful on a sick fish.

I don't know if the stuff I could get my hands on would be pure, or safe enough for fish?

However, a miracle happened over the weekend. On a dusty back shelf, I found a couple bottles on honest to goodness Prazi Pro that still had years of shelf life. I got plenty of it, and some banned flatworm stuff too. Super happy with that.

Trembz · Jul 27, 2020

Hugh Mann said:
Many may know that in Canada, we are severely limited to medications to treat infections, parasites and other maladies in our finned friends.

Fortunately I was able to get my hands on a bottle of coppersafe, but that won't last forever.

I'm mostly looking for something to treat infections and internal parasites. Suggestions? Sources?

Americanaquariumproducts.com

They ship to Canada... not your typical everyday stuff but they'll have what you need in some form or another

JoshH · Jul 27, 2020

Trembz said:
Americanaquariumproducts.com

They ship to Canada... not your typical everyday stuff but they'll have what you need in some form or another

All US online stores will ship to Canada, the issue is that the chances of meds being confiscated at the border are rather high. Leaving us with no meds and less money afterwards...

Trembz · Jul 27, 2020

JoshH said:
All US online stores will ship to Canada, the issue is that the chances of meds being confiscated at the border are rather high. Leaving us with no meds and less money afterwards...

I've messaged these guys myself 2 weeks ago and they said they ship to canada on a daily basis so they must be doing something right if they're getting repeat clientel from over the border .
I've actually placed an order myself so if it does in fact get here I'll be sure to let it be known!

Hugh Mann · Jul 27, 2020

Thanks for that information. I know it can happen, I had some coppersafe make it over the border through Amazon. Figured that may have been a one off.

JoshH · Jul 27, 2020

Trembz said:
I've messaged these guys myself 2 weeks ago and they said they ship to canada on a daily basis so they must be doing something right if they're getting repeat clientel from over the border .
I've actually placed an order myself so if it does in fact get here I'll be sure to let it be known!

Many companies ship to Canada daily, Bulk Reef Supply, Marine Depot, Americanaquariumproducts.com, Premium Aquatics and so on. The issue isn't shipping 99.9% of products they sell, the issue is shipping medications specifically.

I sincerely hope that your medication order slips through the border un noticed. However do be prepared for nothing to show up with no reimbursement if they do decide to open the package.

Just a risk we have to take if we need the right medications for our fish unfortunately

Trembz · Jul 27, 2020

JoshH said:
Many companies ship to Canada daily, Bulk Reef Supply, Marine Depot, Americanaquariumproducts.com, Premium Aquatics and so on. The issue isn't shipping 99.9% of products they sell, the issue is shipping medications specifically.

I sincerely hope that your medication order slips through the border un noticed. However do be prepared for nothing to show up with no reimbursement if they do decide to open the package. Just a risk we have to take if we need the right medications for our fish unfortunately

I'll be sure to keep you posted with a photo for proof

JoshH · Jul 27, 2020

Trembz said:
I'll be sure to keep you posted with a photo for proof

Please let us know, however it doesn't guarantee that future orders will make it through as well

If it does make it through I might give them a try though

andrewkw · Jul 27, 2020

Be prepared to wait a while. I had a card sent from a family friend in Michigan around 3 or 4 hours away. It took over a month to reach me. Eventually something has to change with this ban. They should at least force all vets to carry fish medication. While it may be cost prohibitive to take a marine fish to the vet, imagine freshwater fish?

If you haven't take a second to sign this petition.

https://**************/p/federal-go...ban-of-sale-of-fish-medication-in-fish-stores

Trembz · Jul 29, 2020

andrewkw said:
Be prepared to wait a while. I had a card sent from a family friend in Michigan around 3 or 4 hours away. It took over a month to reach me. Eventually something has to change with this ban. They should at least force all vets to carry fish medication. While it may be cost prohibitive to take a marine fish to the vet, imagine freshwater fish?

If you haven't take a second to sign this petition.

https://**************/p/federal-go...ban-of-sale-of-fish-medication-in-fish-stores

I signed that about 3 weeks ago in the midst of a velvet outbreak when I lost 75% of my fish.
Called every vet and animal hospital in my province.
Hopefully the ban comes to and end when they realize were gonna lose more fish this way than the carelessness of killing fish my improperly treating them.
Its unfortunate certain LFS are not able to "legally" sell fish medication even over the counter.
Even more unjust is removing the medication to help treat them but not setting up local or even provincial vets with the either 1. Capacity to treat your fish or 2. Be able to prescribe you something for your fish.
I know there are maybe a couple vets that can help throughout Canada, but they are absolutely few and far between.

Rickybobby · Jul 29, 2020

The vendor from amazon that ships us coppersafe from the states is all we have it took me 1.5 months and I lost all my fish to velvet waiting and now I don’t take any chances

Hugh Mann · Jul 29, 2020

Probably the same one I used, except it took over 2 months.

Fortunately for me I knew a guy who had an almost full bottle that I just replaced. :/

Trembz · Aug 12, 2020

Trembz said:
I'll be sure to keep you posted with a photo for proof

Got the first shipment of Marex from the states... took almost 4 weeks total but it made it over.
Now waiting of some Copper power to get here through amazon. So far so good .

Trembz · Aug 25, 2020

JoshH said:
Please let us know, however it doesn't guarantee that future orders will make it through as well If it does make it through I might give them a try though

Just got my copper power through Amazon now.
Clearly not impossible to get fish meds in Canada, just requires a bit of searching and a bit of luck to actually clear. But so far 2/2

Jay Hemdal · Aug 25, 2020

Trembz said:
Got the first shipment of Marex from the states... took almost 4 weeks total but it made it over.
Now waiting of some Copper power to get here through amazon. So far so good .

Wow! That’s a blast from the past. I haven’t seen Marex since the early 1980’s! Who sells it now? Is it still chloroquine?
Jay

Trembz · Aug 25, 2020

American aquarium products (aap)..
If you look on this site they actually have a video describing how it was popular in the late 70's and how they've brought it back.

To answer your original question, its primarily CP. I have a convo with the owner who says its pharmaceutical grade and actually mixed with some other medication to enhance the effects ...
I have not actually tried it yet but I bought the max I was allowed to buy (4 packs) since I live in Canada and figured go big or go home with quantity I order.

kruler · Aug 25, 2020

I ordered Copper Power off Amazon and prazi pro and API general cure from a US retailer and everything arrived without issue.

Ross Petersen · Nov 14, 2020

Trembz said:
American aquarium products (aap)..
If you look on this site they actually have a video describing how it was popular in the late 70's and how they've brought it back.

To answer your original question, its primarily CP. I have a convo with the owner who says its pharmaceutical grade and actually mixed with some other medication to enhance the effects ...
I have not actually tried it yet but I bought the max I was allowed to buy (4 packs) since I live in Canada and figured go big or go home with quantity I order.

Any update on American Aquarium Product's (AAP) chloroquinine phosphate (mixed with pyrimethamine) and sold as Marex? I just got some and curious to know the experience of others.

AAP's dosing protocol for CP is unique. In effect, remove the drug immediately before subsequent treatments with water changes and carbon. It was indicated to me that this is not problematic because the drugs are already subtherapeutic after a few days, and the dissolved organics in the water over time would lower the efficacy of new treatments.

Anyone's insights?