Salt Debate

[Lupin]

Guys, any thoughts on this reply I got? He is against using salt for any reason including as ich treatment.:huh:

First off we are not talking about cyprinids but tropical fish and in most cases rare and sensitive types of tropical fish. And because of that I really question your qualifications for giving this advise. And to prescribe salt as u do and as often as you do is really unforntunate to the owners. Id suggest you look at your posts where people took your advise on salt. And see how many died, you might impressed. Any excellent tropical fish vet or phd pharm who specializes in tropicals dont subscribe to salt. Because they understand on a cellular and cardiovascular level the harm of it. There is alot of well meaning but misinformed people on these boards on the use of salt as some miracle cure. When in fact it miraculously kills alot of fish or it just wastes precious time when your fish could have the right kind of medications. Fish biology 101: Fish have low lood pressure w/ single circuit system and a 2 chamber heart. Water follows salt, so u add salt, blood pressure rises in the ventral and dorsal aortic Cardiovascular system of the tropical fish. As the (BP) rises it triggers cortisol levels to rise along with the heart rate, then say good bye. If your fish is already under stress, then cortisol (the stress hormone) levels are already high. So adding salt in a small dose to an ready stressed fish(hi cortisol levels) is all thats needed for it to drop dead. And In other cases of salt use, tropicals will develop renal failure. And once the kidneys go its over. FFFA a very large Assoc of tropical fish farmers who breed everything under the sun for the tropical fish trade here in the US condemn its use. Talk to any Certified Fish Pathologist who works on tropicals and they all say the same thing.

 

[Lupin]

The funny thing is I know a lot of people who used salt for ich, injuries, etc and they never had their fish die instantly. I never had issues with using salt either for ich and quarantine procedures. There is another forum I frequent regularly that is also visited regularly by vets and biologists and they even recommend salt for ich and quarantine procedures, same way I do. I never had issues with it at all.

Oh, the woes of "facts" and "opinions".

 

[Rbishop]

Never had issues here, either, even if what he states is true.

 

[The Zigman]

I think its because most often people treat ich with salt, and have no idea how much to use. If you look online for information on dosing salt to treat ich you will find many different suggestions, and I think alot of people overdose the tank, killing the fish.

Personally I havent had to treat my tanks in a very long time...
86F degrees, and a UV sterilizer helps...

 

[Reefscape]

I think you have to respect the guys decision to not advocate salt as a method of treatment. From his writings, it "appears" he has a good understanding of tropical fish and its biological structure...Just because some aquarists use it, does not always make it the best solution to cure a problem.

 

[SubRosa]

Logically speaking he made a couple of errors.
#1 First off we are not speaking about cyprinids but tropical fish
This statement doesn't allow for the existence of tropical cyprinids.
#2 He's talking about"tropical fish and in most cases rare and sensitive types..."
I don't know where he gets his fish but I'd love to find a place that had mostly
rare types. As far as sensitivity I've never noticed cyprinids to be markedly
hardier than non-cyprinids. There are delicate and hardy species in each group.
#3 Any excellent aquatic vet or phd pharm who specializes in tropical don't(sic)
subscribe to salt.
We have a very good aquatic vet trained at NC State thatI've worked with
who agrees that salt has therapeutic value in several parasitic infestations
although he is not a supporter of using it unless the specific fish needs it
or the diagnosis indicates it. His concern in this regard is the development of
salt resistant strains of the pathogens such as what has occurred with ich.

Anytime I see someone giving a dissertation on a subject requiring the level of knowledge this one does and making as many grammatical and spelling mistakes I take it with a grain of salt. Just another bad habit I need to get over I guess!

 

[Lupin]

I think you have to respect the guys decision to not advocate salt as a method of treatment.

No disrespect was intended here. I am merely sharing the reply I got in one of the threads I posted to see the thoughts of others who may point out the truth in this that he presented as fact.

From his writings, it "appears" he has a good understanding of tropical fish and its biological structure...Just because some aquarists use it, does not always make it the best solution to cure a problem.

I did not say salt in general is the best solution to cure a particular problem. The only thing I'd like further understanding and explanation, is why he is making a blanket statement by pushing it hard that salt should be avoided altogether regardless of the problem therein.

 

[Reefscape]

No disrespect was intended here. I am merely sharing the reply I got in one of the threads I posted to see the thoughts of others who may point out the truth in this that he presented as fact.


I did not say salt in general is the best solution to cure a particular problem. The only thing I'd like further understanding and explanation, is why he is making a blanket statement by pushing it hard that salt should be avoided altogether regardless of the problem therein.

LOL....chill out dude...was just making a personal opinion / observation...

 

[stephcps]

It's just like with EVERYTHING...including human medicine...You can not make blanket factual statements. There will ALWAYS be someone that proves you wrong. When people ask you, as a more knowledgeable aquarist than them, what your opinion might be...it is not wrong to give it. It is a cure that you and MANY people advocate for CERTAIN conditions.
What that someone does with the information you provide is up to them. I personally have tried salt a few times instead of something in my opinion much more knoxious, like antibiotics or antifungals. I have had no issues and has worked for me.
Novices like myself are looking for the kind of info you provide Lupin. It is ALWAYS easy to blame the cure...

 

[chadly831]

i have used salt to clear up a few illness never had a fish die.