Can plecos tolerate any salt at all?

[kimmisc]

Same question for Red Ramshorn snails too.

I thought the snails would be less tolerant to salt, but I've read in a few places that they can tolerate a little. Any of you have experiences with this? For instance... using salt treatment for ich while snails and/or plecos are in the tank...

I treat with about 2tsp per gallon.

[Lady Friesian]

Um...I treated my plecos with the heat/salt treatment when they had ich. I read later that they were sensitive to salt, though. They recovered just fine. I used 1 tbsp per 5 gallons, which I know is less than often recommended.

I don't really know what to tell you.

[Becca3711]

Im pretty sure that scaleless fish don't tolerate salt very well. That's what I have been told.

[fishcatch22]

most plecos will tolerate the salt levels needed to do disease treatments.

[kimmisc]

Most plecos? Do you think this pleco (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=998) would?

I don't actually have the pleco in there yet, and plan to put him in a QT tank when he gets here, until I am done treating my main tank. I am curious though, for future reference. I want to avoid using meds anytime salt can do the job. The pleco is suppose to be here by 10am today. :)

[tks4d2]

Most plecos? Do you think this pleco (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=998) would?

I don't actually have the pleco in there yet, and plan to put him in a QT tank when he gets here, until I am done treating my main tank. I am curious though, for future reference. I want to avoid using meds anytime salt can do the job. The pleco is suppose to be here by 10am today. :)

I just got my first pleco yesterday and I have 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons and it's doing great! It's a common pleco btw

[Slider45]

I have a Pleco in my tank not sure witch one it is and i have salt in my tank as a preventive measure, also i use epson salts as well . Pleco is going well as are all the fish ( loaches , spiney eel , Koolie loaches ) and the normal run of the mill comunity fish.
Cheers Slider45

[kimmisc]

I have a Pleco in my tank not sure witch one it is and i have salt in my tank as a preventive measure, also i use epson salts as well . Pleco is going well as are all the fish ( loaches , spiney eel , Koolie loaches ) and the normal run of the mill comunity fish.
Cheers Slider45

How much salt per gallon are you using?

[meow91]

I have a Pleco in my tank not sure witch one it is and i have salt in my tank as a preventive measure, also i use epson salts as well . Pleco is going well as are all the fish ( loaches , spiney eel , Koolie loaches ) and the normal run of the mill comunity fish.
Cheers Slider45
How much epson salt do you use?

[ljd290]

salt added short term for medicinal purposes is usually fine.
plecos living in salted tanks isnt fine

this is a link to faq at planetcatfish

http://www.planetcatfish.com/faq/index.php?qid=103&frommostrecent=yes

planetcatfish and plecofanatics are both great sites and there is lots of info about salt in the forums.

[nickmcmechan]

salt added short term for medicinal purposes is usually fine.
plecos living in salted tanks isnt fine

this is a link to faq at planetcatfish

http://www.planetcatfish.com/faq/index.php?qid=103&frommostrecent=yes

planetcatfish and plecofanatics are both great sites and there is lots of info about salt in the forums.
I'm currently treating ich and I have two clown plecs....

The choice for me has to be to get rid if the ich as quick as poss...that means salt treatment to me,

I would agree, long term use to me is (a) pointless...dont understand why you would do that (b) waste of cash

[ljd290]

yes salt as a medication is ok, but not for plecs to live in.

[kimmisc]

I would agree, long term use to me is (a) pointless...dont understand why you would do that (b) waste of cash

I never planned on doing salt for the long term.

Thanks for all the responses, everyone. :)

[Dangerdoll]

I just want to say that I agree with most in saying that plecos are fine with salt while being used for medicinal purposes but for a longth length of time, you will begin to note problems. It might start to his skin kinda fading or sme other indication. They are ok short term, not long term as they are scale less fish.

[Slider45]

I have 144 gallon tank (ozzie gal,s -650 litres) i have used 2 table spoons of epsom salts and 4 of cooking salt always have in my tanks i have 3 clown loaches witch are doing very well they seem to be groing better then i ever expected them to grow , and the Pleceo looks well and has all his original color , i guess time will tell i shall keep you posted
Cheers Slider45

[Slider45]

Just a quick question if you use the salt as a treatment for short time how do you remove it ? short of a complete strip down of tank how can you remove the salt? :confused:

[Dangerdoll]

water changes

[kimmisc]

Just do a 50% PWC at the end of treatment and then over time the rest of the salt will be removed during normal water changes during maintenance. Removing it all at once might be bad.

[Slider45]

well there you go i put salt in when i first set up tank so the 20% per week water changes fix,s that . i somehow thought the salt stayed in the tank :rolleyes:

[beefsteak]

I have a Pleco in my tank not sure witch one it is and i have salt in my tank as a preventive measure, also i use epson salts as well . Pleco is going well as are all the fish ( loaches , spiney eel , Koolie loaches ) and the normal run of the mill comunity fish.
Cheers Slider45

Salt is great for treatment of many freshwater diseases, but beyond that has no place in your freshwater aquarium. Read the post my liv2padl in this thread. http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101958&highlight=aquarium+salt

[Malefic23]

Salt and plecos don't mix in the long term, but some scaleless fish do enjoy a little aquarium salt in the waters. Clown loaches come to mind.... Your plec should be fine with the salt during treatment time, and don't forget to up your water temp to 80 or so to speed up the ich cycle.