Would salt be okay?

[Boohoo]

I just noticed one of my danios has a little fungas growing on his tail. Looks the same as what one of my goldfish had about 2 months ago. Separate tank of coarse. I treated my goldfish by adding salt to the tank for a few weeks. Can I do the same with this tank. Here are my fish that are in there. Danios, White Clouds, Platys, Bleeding Heart Tetras, Blue Rams, Iradescent Sharks, Pepper Corys and otos. I know the salt would be okay for the danios, white clouds and iradescent sharks as they came from a tank that I had salted before. The others I am not sure about. If salt is a no-no what do you suggest I use. :huh:

 

[OrionGirl]

Most fish can tolerate low levels of salinity for a short period of time. Add it gradually, to avoid shock.

 

[cloud]

Your cory's won't like it. They respond very badly to salt. could you seperate them at all?

 

[OrionGirl]

I've used salt to treat a tank with cories previously, and never had a problem. What kind of cories have you experienced problems with? Those that are closer to wild caught will likely be more sensitive than those that are captive bred like peppers, albinos, green, and bronze.

 

[Vyper]

Your fish will be fine, I've never had a fish that can't tolerate 1 tablespoon of salt per 5 gals of water, this ratio seems to work best and will quickly treat that fungus. GFo ahead and treat.

 

[Slashdogg]

Ditto with orion girls on the cories. Right now my 5 bronze cories are in water with a salt concentration of 2 tsp/gal. I recently had an ich outbreak and the salt cleared it right up. I'm going to leave it in for another week, then start changing it out with normal water again.

My black neons also dont mind the salt at all. Their behaviour didn't change in the least when salt was introduced over a week ago. A good guideline to adding salt is to add a 1/4 tsp per gallon each hour until you reach 1 tsp per gallon (i.e. do that 4 times). From then on you can take it a lot slower until you reach 2 tsp/gallon.

HTH
Ryan

 

[daveedka]

For short term specific treatment, you will be fine. The irredescent will most likely be more sensative than the cories to salt. although both come with warnings. Long term salt treatment is a different story, but I have seen cories and loaches survive that as well.

The myth that salt needs to be put in freshwater tanks is coupled with the common statement that cetain fish don't tolerate salt. basically there are no freshwater fish that should be exposed to salt long term, but cories loaches, and most smooth skinned fish (irredescents included) are far quicker to show signs of problems with salt. So in order to keep the myth alive folks have made a list of fish that don't tolerate long term salt use at all.

Salt at all times should be treated with the same cautionary practices as meds. Treat for specific ailments, and then stop treatment at the appropriate time. ust like meds it has some merit, and some side effects. the blessing with salt is that the side effects are less damaging than most meds out there.
Dave