Fw Dip

[CamBarr]

Can someone tell me how to properly do a FW dip?

I currently have flukes and need to do a FW dip before I put my fish into quarantine

Is this right??
Using RODI what I will do it get the water up to the same ph and temp. And then place the fish in for 10 to 15 mins

cb

[SAT]

Here's a good reference:
http://www.petsforum.com/personal/tr...waterdips.html

[leebca]

Try to keep the fish in the FW for about as long as the fish seems to be okay with the water. Your 10-13 minute target is good, but some fishes can handle more. You didn't mention the fish you're trying to treat.

I add some methylene blue to the FW 'bath.' It helps with breathing and has a slight calming affect on the fish (and offends some microbes).

[CamBarr]

Hey lee thanks for the info,

When adding the fish back into the tank should I acclimate or should just get them back into the tank?? I am going to keep them in quarantine for a while to help with the fluke infestation. How long will I need to leave the tank dormant to rid it of the flukes?
the fish that will be treated are Tank mates consist on one red fire fish (Nemateleotris magnifica) one high fined banded goby (Stonogobiops nematodes) like my pic and my Rosy Fin Fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus bathyphilus)(female/Juv) Also I have read that some of the anti- external parasite medications work very well with flukes like Hakari http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113016

Should I use an anti fluke med while doing the bath?? Or stick with the methylene blue

Cam barr

[leebca]

Cam barr,

I'm sorry, but flukes is not my particular area of expertise. I know there are two main kinds -- those that reproduce on the fish and those that leave the fish to complete a cycle in the tank. As far as I know, 10 weeks fishless should rid the tank of the flukes. I'm just unsure if all flukes are 100% obligate parasites.?

Your link takes me to a product containing Praziquantel. This is not for external parasites. This is for internal parasites. I don't recommend you use it for the condition you've described.

I would not add any meds to the FW bath water. You'll see the flukes come off if the bath was successful. They will be on the bottom of the bath water.

From the FW dip, back into the tank. No acclimation. This is what I do:
Put RO/DI or distilled water in a large enough container (for which you have a lid) to perform your freshwater (FW) dip (bath). Mix it. Adjust temperature of the water to one or two degrees F above the water the fish will be going into (hopefully your quarantine tank).

Measure pH. Adjust pH to the same pH as the final water the fish is going into (hopefully your quarantine tank!). Adjust pH using sodium bicarbonate (also known as Baking Soda. I use Arm & Hammer in the small orangish box). Stop the pH adjustment just a little below your target (about 0.05 pH units low).

Now add 3-4 drops of a 2% (or 2.3%) Methylene Blue solution to each liter of water you have. When adding the Methylene Blue you can get the ‘right sized drop’ by holding the dropper bottle exactly vertical. Don’t overdose.

Mix the water. Measure temperature again and adjust. Measure pH and tweak it to the right pH. FW bath is ready to use.

Put fish in gently; cover container. Watch fish closely. Initially the fish is excited, but should calm down in a couple of minutes when the Methylene Blue kicks in. Some fish try to jump out, so make sure the cover is on securely.

You want the fish to stay in as long as possible, but you don’t want it to die from this treatment! Some fish are good for 30+ minutes, others have a problem with 5 minutes. Try to go at least 20 minutes. As long as the fish is vertical and paddling about, it is okay. If it holds still, but still upright, it is still okay. Just watch it very closely. If it lays down on its side, prod it gently and see if it is just playing dead. (A few tangs like doing this). If it swims about after the gentle prodding, it is okay. If it still lays there, the FW bath is over.

Move the fish in a container of tank water to rinse it off of the FW dip in Methylene Blue. Then gently release the fish into its next home. Discard the FW dip water; discard the tank rinse dip water.

I don’t like using nets for the transfers. I use a plastic colander inside of a nearly identically sized container. The ‘baths’ and ‘rinse dip’ is done just by raising up the fish inside the colander and putting the colander/fish into the next container and then finally, letting the colander sink in the QT for the fish to gently swim out of in its own time.

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When it comes time to move your fish back into the display, you will want to acclimate them IF the water parameters are different. If you match temperature, salinity, and pH between your display tank and the holding tank, acclimation is up to you. I still perform a short acclimation even if those three match perfectly.

Good luck!

[CamBarr]

Ok Great Thanks lee will take Pica and let you know hoe everything goes
CB