WHAT’S ON THE MARKET?
With decades in both hobby and retail environments, Nathan Hill has seen his fair share of imported illnesses, and has had the opportunity to try out many different off-the-shelf medications. These are a handful of his tried and tested, medicine cupboard musts…
Whitespot treatments
eSHa exit — Contains malachite green, methylene blue, and ethacridine lactate: Excellent not just at treating whitespot, it also works against Trichodina, Piscinoodinium, Chilodonella and Tetrahymena. Requires three days of
dosage.
Interpet Anti Whitespot+
— Contains formaldehyde and malachite green: A reliable classic that requires a second dose three days after the first dose.
NT Labs Anti-White Spot & Fungus —
Contains formaldehyde and malachite green: Excellent against a range of protozoans as well as fungal outbreaks, requires dosing on days 1, 3, 5, and 7.
Finrot/ulcer treatments
NT Labs Anti-Ulcer & Finrot
— Contains acriflavine, formaldehye and aminoacridine hydrochloride: An award-winning medicine for ulcers, open wounds, eroded mouths, necrotic fins and red patches on skin. Single dose, repeated after 7 days if needed.
Interpet Anti Fungus & Finrot+
— Contains 2-phenoxyethanol: The germicidal active ingredient is effective against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, as well as fungal spores. Single dose repeated after 7 days if needed.
Waterlife Myxazin — Contains
benzalkonium chloride, formaldehyde, malachite green, and acriflavine: Especially good at controlling pop-eye and ulcers, amongst other surface bacteria issues. Dosed over 3-5 days until symptoms start to clear. Also
popularly used to treat live food before adding to a tank.
Worm treatments
eSHa ndx — Contains levamisole hydrochloride, sodium metabisulphite, and methyl parahydroxybenzoate: Almost certainly the best treatment for Camallanus worms, also deals with
Capillaria, Ichthyouris (making it a favourite amongst discus keepers) and even planarians. Single dose followed by a waterchange the day after.
NT Labs Anti-Fluke & Wormer —
Contains flubendazole: Cannot be used in tanks with snails or shrimps (which it will kill), but very good at worming discus and other cichlids. Single dose treatment.
Fluke treatments
eSHA gdex — Contains praziquantel: Outstanding at removing skin flukes (Gyrodactylus) and gill flukes (Dactylogyrus) amongst many other flukes, as well as some cestodes (tapeworms). Dosed for 3 consecutive days, followed by a break and a waterchange.
Vetark Fluke-Solve Aquarium —
Contains praziquantel: First dose kills flukes while a second dose kills any fluke eggs. Comes in a powdered form.
Crustacean parasite treatments
Vetark Lice Solve — Contains emamectin benzoate: Extremely efficient against Argulus, Lernaea and Ergasilus. Two doses suggested weeks apart, as not toxic to parasite eggs. Use with caution around pet dogs.
Internal bacteria treatments
NT Labs Anti-Internal Bacteria —
Contains chloramine T: Superb at catching bacterial infections early on, I tend to treat as a preventative for complications if I see a physical wound on a fish. Single dose treatment.
General malaise treatments
NT Labs Aquarium Disease
Solve — Contains Acriflavine and methylene blue. Good at bringing around fishes that don’t have easily diagnosed symptoms. Single dose, followed by a second dose if needed after 7 days.
Interpet Disease Away+ —
Contains copper, formaldehyde, bronopol, and silver proteinate: Has long been this author’s favourite first resort medicine at the first sign of any minor disease symptoms, as well as a ‘last chance’ medicine for fish that fail to respond to other treatments. Single dose treatment.