Aquarium Medications; Part 3

[Carl]

I have updated the Aquarium Medications Part 3 article.

Here is an excerpt from the Methylene Blue Section:
"Methylene Blue is widely used a Redox indicator in chemistry. Solutions of this substance are blue when in an oxidizing environment, but will turn colorless if exposed to a reducing agent.

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.
Methylene Blue is very similar to anti parasite/malarial drug Chloroquine (MB: C16H18ClN3S / Chloroquine: C18H26ClN3).

Also due to its oxidative reduction properties at therapeutic doses (it is an oxidizing agent occur only at very high doses), 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.
The anti-malarial drug chloroquine was developed in part from Methylene Blue. 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."

Reference:
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumMedication3.html#methylene_blue

Carl

[Carl]

I have updated the Aquarium Medications Part 3 Article.

Here is an excerpt from the Copper section:
"DOSAGE: Treat according to your solution to bring your copper level to .15 -.20 ppm for Oodinium/Brooklynella (and most freshwater applications) and .20- .25 ppm for Crytocaryon.
Generally chelated copper is easier to maintain these levels without repeated testing and follow up dosing.
Soluble copper salts work well in freshwater only.
For use with charachins, in particular silver bodied fish such as Silver Dollars (as well as Tinfoil Barbs & Silver Arowana), a dosage of .15 ppm is advised.
However based on literally 100s of treatments using copper on silver dollars and similar, it is another anecdotal/cut & paste/urban myth that ANY amount of copper will kill these fish (I've used it up to .25 ppm with no problems, but this said, I've also had an occasional problem at .25 with these fish too).

It is also noteworthy as to the use of copper in marine aquariums (especially tanks with any calcium based rock or substrate) that the amount of copper you will need to add will be high initially, but go down over subsequent days as no more copper is absorbed by the coral or even the minerals suspended in the water. This is important to note in treating display tanks, but is not as notable in bare hospital tanks; and for this reason copper should never be used in saltwater without a copper test kit on hand!

Please note that copper, basically kills the parasite by poisoning it more than the fish, so never overdose.
Do not use with snails and other invertebrates, do not use in reef aquariums, and note; when used as an algaecide, the copper is absorbed by the algae then released when it dies.
Removal of chelated copper can be difficult, only EDTA (Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acidic Acid) and water changes remove it, NOT carbon.

For an effective treatment for ich, fungus, and especially Velvet, Medicated Wonder Shells are extremely for Velvet & Livebearer Shimmy in particular as they have three of the most effective ingredients for the treatment of Velvet & Shimmy; Copper Sulfate, Acriflavin, & Methylene Blue. They also add electrolytes and calcium, essential for proper healing and osmoregulation"

Reference:
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumMedication3.html#copper_sulfate

Carl

[Carl]

I have updated this article once again, in particular the section dealing with Praziquantel

Here is an excerpt:
"With products such as PraziPro, the best method of delivery whether for a small aquarium fish or a large pond koi is via a bath.
This bath should be 30-60 minutes and used in an appropriate sized container for the fish involved, such as a 5 gallon bucket or even larger Rubbermade container for a large Koi.

However if the infestation is systemic, "in tank" use is suggested (or in combination with a bath).
A full dose follow up treatment in also advised for parasite hatchlings 14 days after completion of initial treatment.

It should be noted that unless Praziquantel is used in a fish food soak (in other words, fed internally), it primarily will only affect externally exposed parasites.
This is important as many fish keepers are incorrectly advised to use Praziquantel as a catch all fish disease preventative when new fish are introduced. The reality is Praziquantel will only be helpful for a handful of potential externally exposed parasites, not internal and certainly not bacterial, fungal, viral and even for Ich or Velvet infestations.
Better for new fish introduction (especially if a quarantine tank is not available) is the use of AAP Medicated Wonder Shells or maybe AAP PolyGuard."

www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumMedication3.html#praziquantel

Carl

[Carl]

I have further updated the article "Aquarium Medications Part 3".

Here is an excerpt again from the section dealing with Praziquantel:
Contraindications

*Do not mix with isoniazid, pyrazinamide, or rifampin as these may significantly decrease the effective blood levels of praziquantel rendering it ineffective.
*While generally safe with crustaceans, plants and filter-bacteria, Praziquantel may kill snails



Carl

[Carl]

I have further updated the "Aquarium Medications Part #3" article, in particular the Acriflavin as well as other sections too

Here is an excerpt:
ACRIFLAVIN HYDROCHLORIDE 3.84% solution:

USE: An antiseptic agent for the skin and mucous membranes. It is known to inhibit mitochondriogenesis.

Generally used for treatment of external fungal infections such as mouth fungus, fin and tail rot, fungus, saprolegnia, and mild egg fungus (not as strong as Methylene Blue for egg fungus, but safer for main display tank use).
Poor internet searches bring up an article stating that Acriflavin is not indicated for fungal infections, this unfortunately flys in the face of professional aquarium history where it has been an effective part of external fungus/saprolegnia treatments assuming causes of the infection are removed
Further Reading: Aquarium Fungus/Saprolegnia; Treatment, Prevention

Mildly effective for skin parasites such as oodinium (velvet), sliminess of skin, and ich (although a very mild treatment for Ich, FW or SW).

Acriflavin is effective for mild non systemic gram negative bacterial infections.

DOSAGE: 1 teaspoon of a 3.84% solution per 10 gallons every other day for 10 days. Combines well with copper sulfate and malachite green.

Acriflavin is found in:
*AAP Super Velvet Plus
*API Fungus Cure
*Medicated Wonder Shells; ONLY at AAP (these are NOT available in the Weco Wonder Shells sold elsewhere)

Contraindications

*Wait 30 minutes to add after use of any Redox Reducing water conditioner, which is most any including SeaChem Prime, Kordon Novaqua, Kordon Amquel, Jungle Start Right, API Stress Coat, etc.
*Not generally safe for many crabs, snails, and shrimp at full dose. However Acriflavin can be used with caution in smaller doses with crustaceans and should be buffered (as with Medicated Wonder Shells) and water changes are advised after use

[Carl]

I have further updated the "Aquarium Medications Part 3" article.
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/AquariumMedication3.html

Here is an excerpt:
Piperazine is an organic compound used as an anti-parasitic in veterinary medicine, primarily for worms.
Piperazine works through anthelmintic action (used to expel or destroy parasitic worms in the gastro-intestinal tract).
The mode of action is generally by paralysing parasites, which allows the host body to easily remove or expel the invading organism. This action is mediated by its agonist effects upon the inhibitory GABA (the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in the vertebrate central nervous system.) receptor.
Its selectivity for worms and similar invertebrates is because vertebrates only use GABA in the Central Nervous System and a worms GABA receptor is a different isoform to the vertebrate's one (Isoform: A protein having the same function and similar [or identical sequence], but the product of a different gene and usually).

This product should never be used in the presence of invertebrates as for the reasons outlined above.
Piperazines aquatic uses are restricted to internal parasite control, especially intestinal worms.
Piperazine is proven effective for Capillaria Nematode worms that commonly infest the intestines of Angelfish, Discus, Gouramis (AKA "Gourami Disease"), some other cichlids, and occasionally other aquarium species.

If Piperazine can be found, it is superior to Levamisol in that it is gentler on the fish and environment. The reason in part is the mode of how the medication works while slower than Levamisol allows the fish to more gently expel the parasite with less toxins to both the fish and environment.
At the same time, Piperazine is more effective than popularly used Praziquantel (which itself has a wide safety margin)
In the aquarium, this parasite infestation spreads easily from fish to fish as they consume the eggs of the worms, shed in feces of infected individuals.

Piperazine is found in AAP Piperazine/Pipzine, and the now discontinued Pepso Flakes and Tetra Anti-Parasite Flakes.

Resource: AAP Piperazine/Pipzine



Carl