Methylene Blue vs. Seachem StressGuard

[bettafishfriend]

Hello! I am somewhat new to fishkeeping and very new to your forum. Researching aquarium medications brought me to your site and I am extremely grateful that it is here. I have gained more knowledge here about fishkeeping so far than anywhere else before. Thank you so much!

My reading the various articles here has brought me to the subject/question at hand. What is the difference between Methylene Blue and Seachem StressGuard? In the disease prevention article it states that MB is a "should have on hand" medicine but StressGuard is a possible alternative. Is it a possible alternative in any case that is not involving parasites or copper related treatments (since the medication part 3 article says StressGuard will not work with parasites or copper treatments)?

My current reason for asking is I have a betta in a filtered/heated 2.5 gallon tank that is suffering with what I currently believe to be Ich and possibly internal parasite(s) of some form. I was considering giving him a medicated bath (something I have never done before so am kind of nervous about) but do not have MB on hand. I do have StressGuard but probably can't use it if he is struggling with parasites. Anyway I can treat him with something like Paraguard in the tank while waiting for an order of MB but is it worthwhile to have both MB and StressGuard on hand if they are almost identical? Can StressGuard work as a bath if the issue wasn't parasites? I truly appreciate any input.

- Sincerely Super Grateful,
BettaFishFriend

[Carl]

Welcome to EA!

StressGuard is not a replacement for Methylene Blue, it is more a replace for products such as API Stresscoat


Here is a QUOTE from our Aquarium Disease Prevention article
"A complimentary or possibly alternative product that should also be kept on hand is StressGuard.
This product promotes a slime coat via an active colloidal protein agent actively seeks out any wounds, abrasions, or places where exposed proteins are and attaches to this area to help directly deliver the disinfectant in the product and start the healing process. This is a VASTLY superior product than many of the popular old standby products such as Stress Coat, Novaqua, etc. WHY? Instead of adding "blobs" of aloe, synthetic slimes, etc. like most other products such as the vastly inferior Stress Coat, AAP/SeaChem StressGuard contains protein active colloids.
These protein active colloidal agents actively seeks out any wounds, abrasions, or places where exposed proteins are and attaches to this area to help directly deliver the disinfectant in the product and start the healing process."

Methylene Blue is a mild redox indicator and hemoglobin transfer agent
Here is a QUOTE from our Medications Part 3 article:
"Since Methylene blue is a redox dye and raises the oxygen consumption of cells, this causes the hydrogen oxidized to be passed on to the oxygen.
Each molecule of the dye is oxidized and reduced about 100 times per second. Thus, while disinfection results from this, methylene blue is also excellent against methemoglobin intoxication.
The therapeutic action of methylene blue on bacteria and other parasites is probably due to its binding effect with cytoplasmic structures within the cell and also its interference with oxidation-reduction processes.

Also due to its oxidative reduction properties, MB can also be used as an indicator to determine if a cell alive or not or if the slime coat (which is ESSENTIAL for fish) is healthy or not. The blue indicator turns colorless in the presence of most healthy cells, slime coat, or active enzymes, HOWEVER the fish will stain blue where injury has occurred, especially to the slime coat (which the loss of would compare to a human have skin peeled off).

Methylene blue is used as a medication for the treatment of methemoglobinemia.
Methemoglobinemia can be caused by high nitrites (and ammonia) in the blood, which happens in fish respiration in water high in ammonia or nitrites. Methemoglobinemia is treated with the use of methylene blue, which restores the hemoglobin to its normal oxygen-carrying state.
Methylene Blue is made from the anti-malarial drug, chloroquine. Malaria is a protozoan similar to the protozoan that causes ich (Ichthyophthirius multifilius) and oodinium, which is why Methylene Blue is useful for parasite and fungal treatments."

References:
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Disease.html#onhandtreatments
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumMedication3.html#methylene_blue

Basically use StresGuard for healing and environments where stress is the main issue
It could be used in a bath, but best just by itself to better deliver the benefits of this product, not as a true therapeutic bath

Using ParaGuard while awaiting Methylene Blue is some I would agree with. Actually using one in tank and one in baths once both are available may be an excellent option

Carl

[bettafishfriend]

Thank you so much Carl! That really helps. I was thinking StressGuard was essentially Methylene Blue but wasn't sure how they differed. I will get some MB!

- BettaFishFriend