"Magic" Garlic

MichaelReefer · Jan 9, 2020

I am curious how many of you soak your food in Garlic. I personally have never done it but I hear all these stories about Garlic being anti-viral, and protecting fish from illnesses, etc etc.

If not garlic, is there anything you do soak your fishes food in that's good for them?

AllSignsPointToFish · Jan 9, 2020

I've tried it. Can't say that I've seen benefits or detriments either way.

TheHarold · Jan 9, 2020

My understanding is that garlic soaking is somewhat of an wive’s tale that has since been discredited. Sure it encourages eating, but harms the immune system. A big nope.

phatduckk · Jan 9, 2020

I used it because it seemed to get the fish in QT to eat. No clue if its "better" for them or has any magic abilities but they seem to like it, so, why not?

MichaelReefer · Jan 9, 2020

TheHarold said:
My understanding is that garlic soaking is somewhat of an wive’s tale that has since been discredited. Sure it encourages eating, but harms the immune system. A big nope.

I haven't heard anything about it harming the immune system. Is this true?

fermentedhiker · Jan 9, 2020

I tried garlic for an appetite enhancer and my fish didn't seem to care for it. They love Selcon though which is what I use now.

WVNed · Jan 9, 2020

I tried garlic on food and I found some fish where attracted and some wouldn't touch it so I stopped it.

I do use Selcon every day.

S2G · Jan 9, 2020

I think it's more for appetite. Most of the fish I've kept seem to like a little garlic. Def can be too much of a good thing though with something like thera a pellets that I can't get anything to eat. I just started putting those on my spaghetti

SDK · Jan 9, 2020

Jack Wattley did extensive work using garlic to rid Discus of intestinal parasites and worms. I'm paraphrasing a bit from memory, but here goes....

He was able to expel intestinal parasites from Discus using only "fresh pressed" and finely minced fresh raw garlic. He stressed this point as he was not able to get the same results from any sort of garlic powders, extracts or oils.

Unless something has been done in the ensuing years, that I have not seen, I would say that commercial garlic treatments are not proven for anything beyond stimulating a feeding response in some fish.

Edit- Found a piece of the longer article that was in TFH...

The use of

Discus Page Holland has lots of articles about the Discus fish. With now more then 120 breeder surveys online and a free discus screensaver. Also more then 1600 pictures available. Mpeg movies. Several great shows online

www.dph.nl

MichaelReefer · Jan 9, 2020

SDK said:
Jack Wattley did extensive work using garlic to rid Discus of intestinal parasites and worms. I'm paraphrasing a bit from memory, but here goes....

He was able to expel intestinal parasites from Discus using only "fresh pressed" and finely minced fresh raw garlic. He stressed this point as he was not able to get the same results from any sort of garlic powders, extracts or oils.

Unless something has been done in the ensuing years, that I have not seen, I would say that commercial garlic treatments are not proven for anything beyond stimulating a feeding response in some fish.

Edit- Found a piece of the longer article that was in TFH...

The use of

Discus Page Holland has lots of articles about the Discus fish. With now more then 120 breeder surveys online and a free discus screensaver. Also more then 1600 pictures available. Mpeg movies. Several great shows online

www.dph.nl

Interesting. So it sounds like the garlic oil from the first test, may or MAY NOT of made an effect. It sounds like they did notice a slight decrease but you don't know if thats just luck or specifically the garlic oil.

SDK · Jan 9, 2020

MichaelReefer said:
Interesting. So it sounds like the garlic oil from the first test, may or MAY NOT of made an effect. It sounds like they did notice a slight decrease but you don't know if thats just luck or specifically the garlic oil.

Correct! Also note that using the oil in the tested concentrations was starting to adversely effect the aquarium conditions...

There is possibly some value in prophylactic treatment of wild caught reef fish with a concentrated regimen of fresh garlic. However, as with much in this hobby, it's far from proven

jose hernandez · Jan 9, 2020

i used selcon and garlic

Daniel92481 · Jan 9, 2020

I’ve been using selcon too. Not sure if it truly helps, but the fish definitely go nuts for it. Here’s what BRS says about it...

Phildago · Jan 9, 2020

MichaelReefer said:
I am curious how many of you soak your food in Garlic. I personally have never done it but I hear all these stories about Garlic being anti-viral, and protecting fish from illnesses, etc etc.

If not garlic, is there anything you do soak your fishes food in that's good for them?

I soak the food for any fish in qt, especially with any Rx. I think it's just a good way to stimulate the feeding and if it has some magical properties then yay for me

MichaelReefer · Jan 9, 2020

Phildago said:
I soak the food for any fish in qt, especially with any Rx. I think it's just a good way to stimulate the feeding and if it has some magical properties then yay for me

I thought about mixing up their diet. None of them will touch flakes or pellets, so figured I would get some Seachem Garlic and soak the pellets in it. Maybe it will work *Shrug*. I know all food has different vitamins and etc for them.

sixty_reefer · Jan 9, 2020

Wouldn’t the excessive use of garlic in a tank be a bad thing? Raw Garlic contains antibacterial property’s.

Phildago · Jan 9, 2020

MichaelReefer said:
I thought about mixing up their diet. None of them will touch flakes or pellets, so figured I would get some Seachem Garlic and soak the pellets in it. Maybe it will work *Shrug*. I know all food has different vitamins and etc for them.

I think it works pretty well. I've had brand new fish covered in ich in a small qt with copper eating flakes.

I'd say it's worth a shot