Medicated food

[Gemma]

My fish are not sick, but I thought I'd try following the advise of those of you, that feed medicated food as a precaution in the Fall and Spring.
I looked for Blackwater brand (someone here recommended it) but I'm wondering if there are other, better kinds?
Does it have to cover either parasites or bacteria infections, or there are kinds that cover all?

 

[Faebinder]

Since you are not treating anything, your choice IMO wont matter.

Isnt it a bit early for medicated food or is the temp already diving to the 50s in your zone?

 

[DoDad]

I use Debride RX Medicated Food

 

[Mmathis]

I must be behind a bit, 'cause I never heard of feeding medicated food unless it was to treat an illness. I assume you mean like antibiotics....? In people medicine it's not prudent to give antibiotics unless you have something specific you are treating, such as a bacterial infection [but not viral stuff]. Giving antibiotics when not needed leads to medication-resistant bacteria.....

Which is different from treating intestinal parasites in livestock.....

Now, if it's NOT antibiotics you're talking about..... I'm still in the dark. What kind of medicated food and what for?

 

[Faebinder]

I must be behind a bit, 'cause I never heard of feeding medicated food unless it was to treat an illness. I assume you mean like antibiotics....? In people medicine it's not prudent to give antibiotics unless you have something specific you are treating, such as a bacterial infection [but not viral stuff]. Giving antibiotics when not needed leads to medication-resistant bacteria.....

Which is different from treating intestinal parasites in livestock.....

Now, if it's NOT antibiotics you're talking about..... I'm still in the dark. What kind of medicated food and what for?

Some people feed medicated food prophylactic during fall and spring cause the fish immune system goes dormant before the bacteria when the temp drops and vica versa when the temp rises in spring.

 

[Mmathis]

@Faebinder I see why, but I don't understand why. What are they "prophylactting" against, exactly? I switch to a different diet for the fish, and do the same with my turtles -- their fall diet contains less protein and more fiber so they don't bromate with a gut full of stuff to make them sick. I guess I'm learning something new as I didn't know the fishes immune system went dormant. Oh well, not for me to say, but I was just curious. The nurse in me just can't justify "medicated" without a specific target.

 

[sissy]

I like blackwater because it has garlic in the fall food and when it is really hot out I mix it in with there summer food and coat it in koi clay .It is an all around food at a great price .I saw that some of the more expensive foods don't have any really good ingredients in many of them or are really expensive .

 

[Gemma]

Since you are not treating anything, your choice IMO wont matter.

Isnt it a bit early for medicated food or is the temp already diving to the 50s in your zone?

I'm not sure what the weather is going to do, some years it snows from October to April so if I want to "gradually" introduce a change in the fish diet, I've got to start now

 

[Gemma]

I use Debride RX Medicated Food

Thank you! I will check it out!

 

[Gemma]

@Faebinder I see why, but I don't understand why. What are they "prophylactting" against, exactly? I switch to a different diet for the fish, and do the same with my turtles -- their fall diet contains less protein and more fiber so they don't bromate with a gut full of stuff to make them sick. I guess I'm learning something new as I didn't know the fishes immune system went dormant. Oh well, not for me to say, but I was just curious. The nurse in me just can't justify "medicated" without a specific target.

I gradually switch to wheat germ!
I thought of mixing the wheat germ with the medicated food cause I thought that those who recommend it have a point , but so do you and now I really don't know what to do!

 

[Gemma]

I like blackwater because it has garlic in the fall food and when it is really hot out I mix it in with there summer food and coat it in koi clay .It is an all around food at a great price .I saw that some of the more expensive foods don't have any really good ingredients in many of them or are really expensive .

would it be good enough to add just the garlic to the fish diet, instead of adding meds?

 

[Meyer Jordan]

As Mmathis mentioned, medicated food is not a prophylactic treatment. Feeding healthy fish medicated food is akin to taking penicillin when you are in the prime of health. It is a waste of time. Medicated food actively treats bacterial pathogens, it does nothing to strengthen the immune system of fish. Misuse and/or overuse of medication has been proven to create drug resistant bacteria. Use medicated food when a bacterial infection is documented and only then.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

would it be good enough to add just the garlic to the fish diet, instead of adding meds?

Yes, indeed!

 

[Gemma]

Yes, indeed!

That's what I'll do then! Thanks!

 

[bettasngoldfish]

In my opinion it would be a good idea to have medicated food on hand though (it does expire though so you do need to be aware of the date)

That way if and when you have a sick fish you don't have to wait to start treatment.