bristlenose2008 Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 This is a friendly warning to all those who have Cory cats (and perhaps any air-breathers) A very sad day for us today is that after we have reintroduced another very rare variety of cory colony to our tank, we had problems with two of our Blue Rams that developed pop-eyes. The previous colony died from a Sachems Flourish Excel, which I have not used ever since. as a result. On advice from a friend, and with a fair bit of research approached a pet shop who also assured my this product is very safe, with no known side effects. It is even apparently all natural antibacterial remedy and contains CAJEPUT OIL 9.23g/L . It also apparently can be used when introducing new fish to the aquarium and it supposedly works in both fresh and saltwater aquariums. Following is a quote from the bottle: "The direction is, add 1 teaspoonfull (5ml) for every 40 liters of aquarium water. Repeat dose daily for 7 days. After 7 days , make a 25% water change. Treatment can be continuad if neccessary." I can tell you from my experience today that I have used half the dose of the medication for only 4 hours after which all my corys got very sick and some which have already died after 6hours from exposure. There are only 2 survivors at present 8 hours since exposure. After 4 hours I have done a 30% water change, and removed all the corys. Note it was not an option to remove the corys before hand as this is a heavily planted aqarium in which this corys are moving around way too fast. There is no patent for this product Internationally, only the US. I would not be surprised if this crap does get patented without the relevant instructions and directions. It would be best if all treatments had similar instructions to those which are found in medications for humans. After further research I have found information that I would not have believed anyone if they have told me today. Quote from http://www.masns.ca/forum/showthread.php?t...=14588#pid14588 "Warning: This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer or birth defects or other reproductive harm." This other site claims this product to kill Bettas and any labirinth fish. http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/betta-ar...ead-danger.html I am deeply saddened by the loss of these fish especially as I do not know their names and have not seen them in shops ever since I have bought them. Good night everyone, let me know if you had caused fish deaths with safe products like this. Oh, here is one more warning. If you use Ichonex by Aquasonic which is one product I think of highly, although it did kill my snail collections. Malaysian burrowing snails, Apple snails and some other unknown types. Again no warning from this company either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kilroy Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 I'm sure I've read of problems with melafix depleting the oxygen in the water which is a contributing factor in the deaths of some fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E4G13M4N Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 I have used melafix and pimafix with all types of cory's with no problems. overdoseing can be harmfull though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freemason2250 Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 You have to be careful using it with fish that don't have "scales" like a lot of cats. I use salt instead of melafix, I hate the smell of aquarium medications Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pride Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 I dont buy melafix but make my own from the FAQ section Alternafix. I'ved used this with great results for injuries etc on giant gouramis, BGK, salmon tail cats, loaches and even a soft shell turt. I'm sure as well I've used double the dose on some occassions too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freemason2250 Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 Im pretty sure it actually says to be careful with cats on the label Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E4G13M4N Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 Nothing on labels about catfish, just fish for human consumption. I have been using melafix since its introduction to the trade and so far have never had a problem with any fish, other than the one time my bro accidently used full strength melafix at the normal dose rate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freemason2250 Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 Haven't used it in ages, I don't know what I saw that on then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bristlenose2008 Posted January 19, 2009 Author Share Posted January 19, 2009 More survivors due to recovery over night, a few more casualties though had occurred since the first post. Blue rams have not responded to the treatment at all. If anyone can help me replace the German blue rams and these yet to be identified corys we have lost, please let me know in the coming weeks. A new tank will be set up that will have the cory collection separate from all other fish, so that use of chemicals is less complex. After so many years of on and off fish keeping, I would have to say that it is not the Corydoras but the tetra fish, especially the neon tetras are the hardiest fish of all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gianniz Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 I haven't had a problem with melafix killing my fish, but I haven't noticed much improvement on sick fish either what I found over the years, if you have a clean water, you fish generally won't get sick. Bristlenose2008, I feel for you losses as some of those cories are expensive and very beautiful, but there could be million different reasons why your fish died. Maybe your blue rams carry some disease that the cories aren't immune too. You used melafix to cure a disease but you might have had a nitrate spike due to dead fish etc. Anyway if you don't want too much trouble go and buy yourself a good quality UV. I did and despite my aggressive style of fish keeping, I haven't lost any fish. ps I found neon tetra to be very hardy aswell. I been keeping it in my tang community and i have lost 1 neon out of the 12, but that occurried within a week of introducing it to my system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 I have lost fish using melafix in poorly aerated tanks. I believe it reduces the dissolved oxygen level in the water probably by reducing oxygen exchange at the water surface Because it was a planted tank it may have already been poorly aerated especially if you were minimising surface movement to keep more CO2 in the water. Weird though because cories can breath from the surface in low oxygen conditions Thanks Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emma2938 Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 I have used melafix, many times with success. I dont normally put it in the whole tank, I would catch the fish and put it into a smaller tank, this way I can use less medication. I agree with Matt RE: airation, and by the sounds of it you have a planted tank so you probly wouldnt have much surface movement. I think you have just had some bad luck with medication/addatives. Very sad about all your fish you lost. Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CThompson Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Oh, here is one more warning. If you use Ichonex by Aquasonic which is one product I think of highly, although it did kill my snail collections. Malaysian burrowing snails, Apple snails and some other unknown types. Again no warning from this company either. With the exception of the apple snails - this sounds like a good thing. I dont' know what this "Ichonex" is, but it sounds like a great snail killer especially if it kills burrowing snails. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Im pretty sure ichonex is copper and something like malachite green or meth blue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CThompson Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 "Warning: This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer or birth defects or other reproductive harm." I checked this out last night and can confirm that indeed this warning is as has been reported. Thanks for the heads-up. There are a few aquarium medications with this message, just make sure you don't come into contact with it. I find Melafix works well, but am surprised that this warning was on this medication. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motorman Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 That warning is on alot of medications but always the State of California Melafis is safe if used correctly thogh overdosing it I have found it kills very very quickly I have seen a few people buy the Pond Melafis but still dose it at the normal level of 5ml per 40 litres these people have had massive death rates but it is 5 times stronger Also Ichonex is one of the best white spots I have used before Brad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malrift Posted January 23, 2009 Share Posted January 23, 2009 Melafix is not supposed to be used as a medication fo rthings such as pop eye and bloat. It is designed to heal wounds and fix fungus problems. Popeye should have beed ttreated with a antibiotic it is caused by a similar bacteria as bloat. In some cases popeye is also connected to fish TB. I would never use melafix with catfish. One question though does your planted tank have CO2 injection. As said before it does reduce oxygen content of the water. I think if anything you have learnt to check that you have the right medication for the disease. It is always bad to lose fish and your freind meant well but it doesnt hurt to ask your lfs shop owner or even your local vet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellfish Posted January 24, 2009 Share Posted January 24, 2009 "Warning: This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer or birth defects or other reproductive harm." Hi bristlenose2008, sorry to hear about the loss of your fish I do recall several years ago this warning was printed on the inside of the Melafix label- only visible if you were to remove it. I just tried to have a look through our most recent bottle to see if it is still there but it doesn't appear to be. I also remember reading that the oil content in Melafix produces a layer on top of the water reducing oxygen exchange as has been previously said. In saying this though, I have used Melafix numerous times successfully to heal battle wounds on fish. I feel for you as I once treated my breeding colony of foai when one had fungus on it's eye with another product I'd used numerous times successfully, only to watch a dozen of them roll over and die within a couple of hours. I double checked the dosage rate before treating them and again when the fish started looking off but ended up putting it down to a bad batch of the medicine or perhaps it reacted with the salts/buffers I was using I hope you are able to replace your cories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kilroy Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 Anyway if you don't want too much trouble go and buy yourself a good quality UV. I did and despite my aggressive style of fish keeping, I haven't lost any fish. I'm intrigued about this 'aggressive style of fish keeping'. Please tell me more!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pride Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 Anyway if you don't want too much trouble go and buy yourself a good quality UV. I did and despite my aggressive style of fish keeping, I haven't lost any fish. I'm intrigued about this 'aggressive style of fish keeping'. Please tell me more!!! hahah.... must be a fish beater Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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