medicated food

[angelminx]

I was looking at my metronidazloe container today; I have Metro+ by Hikari (because I couldn't get Seachem's metronidaloe when I was ordering).  If you go to their website, they have information (under health) about making medicated food.  They have a "recipie" for dry food, and one for making gel food.  When I do do it, I'll probably make the gel food, because I'll only need to buy unflavored gelatin.  For the dry food, you need 190 proof grain alchohol.  I don't drink, so I have no reason to buy any.  The dry recipe uses 4 oz of flake food, and the gel recipe uses 1 oz.  It, of course, will last longer because it can be frozen.

Hope this helps. 

[Carl]

Yes,
I use Metronidazole often in a medicated food preparation, such as information in the "How to Use Aquarium/Pond Medications" article (this is one article I strongly urge everyone read).

As well on our Metronidazole Web Page gives similar information
Quote:
"To prepare medicated fish food with flake, FD, or frozen fish food using Metronidazole; Use One Measure (2-5 gallon "in tank" dose) of Metronidazole per 15 minute fish food soaking for an average 60 gallon bio load aquarium (I use "just enough" water to mix fish food and Metronidazole).
After soak, pour entire contents into aquarium."

References:
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Medication.html#food_delivery
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Seachem.html#metronidazole

Carl

[angelminx]

The recipes on Hikari's site are for making a large amount of dry (or gel) food that can be used over (a limited amount of) time. You will end up with a container of dry flakes when the process is finished. Or you can cut the gel mixture into preferred serving size(s), and freeze them to use as needed.

I was checking their site since Metro+ is not pure metronidazole--it also has "sodium chloride, synthetic polymers, and a chelating agent".

[angelminx]

Hi, Carl

I was looking back at a couple of your articles and was wondering about making slurries/medicated fish foods when you only need to feed a couple of fish (also, for people who are feeding/treating a Betta in a small container).  How would you suggest preparing a small amount, and how long can it (they) be kept? How much should be fed at a time?  Normally I would feed the medicated food to all my fish as long as I was treating a few of them , but for people who only have a single Betta, for instance, the amount you list seems like kind of a waste (no slight intended) if it all has to be fed at once, or is only good for a couple of days.

Angelminx

[Carl]

This is the difficult part of over preparing a medicated fish food for just one fish.

Generally speaking I would throw away any medicated food preparation after 48 hours and refrigerate in the mean time.

You could try freezing some of the preparation, as I did this for some of my clients who I only visited once a week or every couple weeks.
The only problem with freezing is that while this seemed to work OK, I never actually performed any scientific controlled tests for this method to verify.

Carl

[angelminx]

Thanks, Carl. I'll try freezing some next time I mix some up with the Spirulina 20. Usually I just soak frozen bloodworms (or other frozen food) this way since they are more tempting to most of my fish. I don't know whether it's a good idea to refreeze the frozen foods, so I've never done that. When I've had the freezer malfunction and everything thawed, I just threw most of it away.

Angelminx

[devonjohnsgard]

I've done the freezing medicated food. Still have some in the freezer. When you pull it out, chip some off and wait a few mins. It turns into a paste. I let the fish eat it off my finger.

[angelminx]

Great idea, Devon! My Betta likes to eat from my fingers--but then he also steals food from the shrimp, especially bloodworms!