URGENT-TO THOSE WHO LOST CORIES

[dwarfgourami]

As far as I'm aware, there are 2 good reasons for adding salt to the water of healhty freshwater fishes. One is if the species is known to spend part of its life in brackish water, the other is if the species requires alkaline water, as adding salt can (apparently) raise the alkalinity. Neither can apply to catfish from the soft acidic waters of the South American rainforest.

Adding salt as a preventative to infection seems a bit like keeping animals permanently on antibiotics; this may be a necessity in modern intensive farming, but is something pets should be able to do without. Surely it's better to try to avoid infection by keeping conditions good, cutting down on overcrowding etc?

I have heard that constant mild overdosing on salt can cause low level kidney damage in fish, similar to that seen in humans who permanently overdose on the salt (so watch those chips, folks!).

Adding salt as a medication is of course a different matter.

By putting salt in then all you are doing is ensuring that any infections you do get are immune to salt baths.

But why put salt in a tank with fish that live in water that has no trace of salt? That's like taking a human and putting a small amount of salt in their water to drink because you've heard it helps infection and you haven't seen one yet whilst using the salt.

I can't see why someone who wants to give the best care to a fish would give salt to a fish that should not have any salt in their water

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[jollysue]

My general understanding is that salt "Cauterizes" a wound. It acts like fire or peroxcide. It burns the wound closed, killing the surface bacteria. The bacteria don't become immune to burning that I've ever heard of. That's how the wound is healed, by burning it. Peroxide oxidizes, which burns. That's what the higher concentration dips do. Salt is an older method of cleansing and closing bad open wounds in even humans. The wound is closed by the burning, so bacteria can no longer enter the wound.

Have you ever had a salt rub or scrub? It burns a little.

But low salt concentrations in the water increase oxygen utilization by the gills. This is used sometimes when meds or temps or overstocking have lowered the oxygen levels.

Air stones can also be used to increase the oxygen levels when using meds.

 

[daddyfish]

I can't see why someone who wants to give the best care to a fish would give salt to a fish that should not have any salt in their water

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As I "STATED" I'm for some part, From the "OLD SCHOOL" of Fish Keeping...
While I have been keeping fish for 37 some odd years, This Does NOT "MAKE" me an expert...
Even an "OLD HAND" can always LEARN Something New!!!

I to have heard that putting Salt in the Water can burn their Skin, But I've seen No evidence of this, I have had "CORYS" Live to be 6-8 years old, Lets "FACE IT" if Some One is hurting their fish in this Hobby, of Keeping a living being in an enclosed enviroment, There isn't anyway a Fish is going to live that LONG under Bad Living Conditions!!!

I've also been told by a Marine Biologist that runs a LPS here in my parts, That a little "SALT" once again in "LOW CONCENTRATIONS" will not hurt but "HELP" any fish in the LONG RUN. Why because not "ONLY" does it Help to keep Infections Down: It also "HELPS" the fish {Fresh or Saltwater} to retain Electrolytes within it's body, Which I think We can all agree is GOOD for the Fish we are suppose to "CARE SO MUCH ABOUT"... And want to "GIVE" the Best Care to...

He also told me that Using "NON IODIZED" Table Salt is the only one that Should be used with {Freshwater} Fish not "Aquarium Salt" because there is added Several Chems that while GOOD for {SALTWATER} Fish can be "HIGHLY TOXIC" in {Freshwater} Fish....
Also HE said {Table Salt} is "NOT" interchangeable to {SALTWATER} Fish, for Obvious REASONS, because the "TOXIC" Chems added to Aquarium Salt, to benifit the {SALTWATER} Fish that Can Kill {Freshwater} Fish, Would be lacking in the Table Salt if Used for {Saltwater] Fish, Killing the {Saltwater} Fish because of Lack of Nutrients and Chems that are Needed by the {Saltwater} Fish.
And the Man's Credentials Are Impecable: He's the "HEAD" Marine Biologist for the University of Kentucky, As well as being A Marine Biologist for the US Navy for 25 years, He trained Dolphins to Plant Explosives on Enemy Subs, as well as Specialized in their Care...

Also if the Need Should Arise and a Infection should Show Up, while Using these "LOW" Salt Concentrations, You can always add a little More Salt to the Mix No More then 1 Teaspoon to 2 1/2 Gallons of Water, Then when the Infection is Back Under Control YOU drop the Concentration Back to 1 teaspoon to 5 Gallons of water, Gradually through your Normal Water Changes.

As I've said BEFORE Nothing Works the Same Way for Everybody, But in this Hobby if Sometimes Something that Worked Before, Don't Work Now you "MUST" be Willing to Try Something New, IF you Care for your Fish..

BECAUSE LETS {FACE IT} Their Lives are in Our Hands...

 

[SnowyzMom]

Daddyfish that's really cool info. Thank you!

 

[andywg]

Aquarium salt is completely unsuitable for marine and brackish tanks and should only ever be used in freshawater tanks for medication purposes. It lacks all the proper ions and other additives found in sea water, necessary for Marine organisms.
Marine tanks require marine salt.