Methylene Blue Bath

[Deleted]

Greetings All,

I was finally able to start the Methylene Blue baths for my ailing fish. I couldn't use the water from the hospital tank since that water has had Ammo Lock, Amquel Plus and Prime in it (not all at the same time....). Not sure about Ammo Lock, but Amquel Plus and Prime would negate the Methylene Blue. I had to use water from my 75 gallon (and couldn't use water that also had any other product - so I waited until more than 24 hours from the last dose of my trusted product). 

First, I put two fish from the 75 gallon in the bath (1 teaspoon Methylene Blue per 5 gallon of water -- plus added salt to equal 1 Tablespoon for the 5 gallons of water -- Instructions on Carl's AAP site). I only left them in for 15 minutes as I wanted to see how they would do (next time, they get a full 30 minutes. One fish injured his mouth when he leaped off the aquarium top during treatment of Bio Bandage and the other is one that has some gill damage from the 2011. Both fish are five years old -- or more). The two fish from the hospital tank were in the bath a full 30 minutes (after the fish from 75 gallon - the two from hospital tank are probably contagious - both mouth rot with sever erosion). I had a heater in the bucket and aerated the water manually by stirring water and taking some water out and pouring back in above the bucket (as I didn't want to take the air stone out of the hospital tank). The Methylene Blue bath seemed to have a calming effect. The Methylene Blue baths are to keep the fish comfortable in their final days.... No additional medicines will be tried. By the time I put the turquoise rainbow in the hospital tank, I already knew the only medicine I had on hand wouldn't treat mouth rot/Columnaris. The Goyder River rainbow went through two rounds of medicines (both prior to reading Carl's AAP pages).

I was pleased that the Methylene Blue did not stain my bucket at all... but this one finger nail of mine needs some attention (chuckles). I am a former art teacher so I am very used to having finger nails of a different color.

While I won't be able to do the bath dip every day (too many trips to buy water if I did). I do plan to try it every other day for a while. I can top the 75 gallon off with tap water occasionally, but don't want to do that too often. The nitrates are higher than I like in the 75 gallon, so I plan to do another 25% water change towards the end of the week (I just have way too many fish for a 75 gallon -- no room for a bigger tank....and I don't see a reduction in stock any time soon -- smile).

New members, you can buy Methylene Blue at American Aquarium Products -- very reasonable and guaranteed a fresh product (my bottle is good through Aug. 2018).

Judy D.

[Carl]

Thanks for sharing!

One suggestion would be to increase the salt to one teaspoon per gallon as per the "Aquarium Answers; Fish Baths" article.
I have often gone to 2 teaspoons per gallon for up to 30 minutes for many fish (although fish such Clown Loaches start getting more stressed at this level).

Reference:
www.aquarium-pond-answers.com/2009/07/fish-baths.html

Carl

[Deleted]

Thanks Carl,

I do have to say the elderly Boesemani (Ham) that was treated (from the 75 gallon) really enjoyed the bath. He isn't up at the surface of the water as much - and is swimming the entire tank more.... I call him (jokingly) "Ham's Revenge" (he is the Boesemani "son of Noah" that survived the longest). Japheth was the most sickly of the three rainbows from from the start (and was the first of the three to die.... passing away several months after the "Great Death" of Sept 2011 - when the local water poisoned my fish). Shem was the largest and oldest of the three Boesemani rainbows - but committed suicide by cutting himself when he leaped over the circulation pump. Ham was always the most handsome - the best color - and still has the best color of any Boesemani I have ever seen.

I am starting a new thread about Care of the Elderly (fish).

Cheers,

Judy D.

[devonjohnsgard]

I love that your fishs' names are biblical people

[Deleted]

Greetings Devon/All,

My fish often earn their names. Not all get Biblical names, but many do. I think my Goyder River that got injured in the 75 gallon must be Job. He had been injured on one side at the store. I bought him after he healed....He got injured on his other side in my aquarium (featherfin catfish slash) and healed. He had one tiny patch of bacteria on that healed side, so I netted him for another Bio Bandage treatment.... he leaped off the top of the aquarium and injured his mouth....I am treating that with Hydrogen Peroxide one day -- then Bio Bandage the next -- trying to see which one helps him most. There is no further damage to his mouth...so far so good. I am also doing the Methylene Blue baths for him.

My Firemouth Cichlids were Cain and Abel......I wrote about them before. After Cain killed Abel, I banished him to a pet store. He was "adopted" within two days.

My pair of tinfoil barbs are Tin Man2 and Oz2 as they behave more like that pair of barbs than the first pair I had (my son's fish which became mine after he graduated college). They also look more like Tin Man and Oz.

The turquoise rainbow that is in the hospital tank is named Scooter -- after a big blue/gold macaw that was at a local pet store for a while (Scooter - the bird- wanted to come home with me. He would follow me all around the store. Actually, he liked my jewelry). The Goyder River in the hospital tank is called Scar-face - because he got in a fight with a senior Boesemani. That Boesemani (almost 7 years old when he died) had to live out the rest of his life in a hospital tank. The Goyder River practically tore his eye out.

Cheers

[devonjohnsgard]

My family named all our fish other family members names. Husbands and wive. The kids. Cousins. They all have fish with their own name.

[Deleted]

Hi Devon,

Your post sure made me smile.

I am imagining dinner table conversation...."Grandpa Joe died today.....Aunt Mary and Uncle Bill are fighting again.....Cousin Betty looks pregnant....."....Substitute correct family member names. I found it didn't work out to name fish after real people I knew.

I have used meaning of names....An elderly couple I knew had been missionaries in the Congo....So my first pair of Congo Tetras were named Faith and Noble (the meanings of their names). I have a yellow rainbow named Sunshine (instead of Michael). The Michael is a Native American (Michael means "Who is like God" -- so Sun is appropriate reference). I never told him a named a fish in his honor.

I had two female diamond tetras named after my two best friends....but haven't purchased females since. The males are prettier.

Not all of my fish have earned names.

Cheers!

Judy

[Deleted]

Bringing this thread up again -- just need some clarification.

The two fish in my hospital tank are being treated with Melafix in the AM (and Pimafix at night). I am assuming since Melafix and Pimafix can be used with all medications that there is no harm if some Melafix and/or Pimafix is in the Methylene Blue bath water. I would be doing the bath before more medication is added (like in the AM, before the Melafix --- or PM before the Pimafix) - so there wouldn't be a high concentration of either. As I wrote earlier - the bio media can not handle stronger in tank treatments. I do intend to try Oregon Grape Root baths, once I find some.

The elderly in the 75 gallon will miss their baths for now as I have other treatments in there that are necessary and can not be used with Methylene Blue (or any other treatment). These treatments had been keeping other fish from getting any hint of the illness. Once stopped for several days, other started to get very mild cases. The elderly will not be bathed in the same water as the fish that are known to be carriers.

Judy D.

[Carl]

Assuming I correctly understand the question; I have used Melafix & Pimafix with Methylene Blue with not issues of note, however I would be cautious combining all four (including Oregon Grape)

Carl

[Deleted]

Thanks Carl,

Yes, you understood the question.... I don't have the Oregon Grape Root, so it would only be remnants of what is left in the water of Melafix or Pimafix after 12 hours.... Melafix and Pimafix both dissipate out pretty much after 24 hours (or so I have been told).

This will save me the "pain" of lugging water from the upstairs tank (that has no treatment in it) downstairs. The 20 extra high doesn't have any any treatments in it -- and parameters are the same. I am sure the inhabitants of the extra high have enjoyed their mini water changes though.

Your are the best!

Judy