Treating fish prophylactically

B-ridge · May 10, 2017

If one was to treat all incoming fish prophylactically what would/do you use and how do you do it?
Some say why treat a fish if it doesn't need to be treated. Cause more stress. I believe this to a point. Some fish are well known carriers of certain ailments. Tangs and ich. Angels and bacterial. Butterflies and something.
Some meds can be mixed together. Some can not. Like with ich most fish develop a bacterial infection. How would one cure both if medicines can't be mixed?

Barrett · May 10, 2017

@Humblefish would be a good person to answer this question.

Humblefish · May 11, 2017

If velvet was not suspected, I would use TTM + Prazipro as outlined here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/tank-transfer-method.192655/

Observe for at least 2 weeks post TTM to watch for signs of velvet, brook, a bacterial infection, etc.

If velvet was even a possibility, I would treat with copper or CP for 4 weeks. Do 2 rounds of Prazipro either before or after.

ngoodermuth · May 11, 2017

Some of this is more of a case by case evaluation based on the fish you are QT'ing and the shape they are in when you get them.

I personally am choosing to treat with copper whenever possible, as I don't want velvet sneaking through TTM on a carrier fish or suppressed by improper copper use before reaching my QT. Obviously, if you have a fish that won't tolerate copper/cp, TTM is the next best thing. I also treat all my fish with prazi-pro.

Also, @melypr1985 made a chart that is really helpful in determining which medications are safe for which fish.

Fish and Treatment Guidelines (with chart)

https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/Fish-and-Treatment-Guidelines-(with-chart).283450/

melypr1985 · May 11, 2017

B-ridge said:
Some meds can be mixed together. Some can not. Like with ich most fish develop a bacterial infection. How would one cure both if medicines can't be mixed?

Just to add to what the others said, you can actually mix copper and some antibiotics like kanaplex and furan2 which would take care of ich and also treat any infections if they pop up. Though mixing these shouldn't be something you do without cause.