Most of the commercial additives to promote the mucous coat are just
salt solution -- in some cases with a polymer included. I've had
results just as good with simply using salt. I'd go with
recommendations that fit the fish in the tank. I think that low pH and
soft water favor Saprolegnia infections, as they erode the mucous coat
on some fish. However, some of the fish you mention are soft water
fish, and live in natural waters with lots of decaying vegetation. pH
control might be called for. That can be done temporarily by adding
KOH, but long term requires good maintenance such as water changes,
monitoring pH, and adjusting with a buffer.
I'm dubious of using antibiotics generally, though I have resorted to
doing so on occasion. With research fish, one usually just has to
sacrifice sick animals so as to maintain proper control, anyway
(animals which have been infected are not equivalent to animals which
have not). But antibiotics have some serious undesirable effects,
including ending up in natural waters or soils, and generally promoting
antibiotic resistance.
Casper, I agree that it sounds like you have overloaded the tank, and
fish stressed by poor water quality and low DO are more likely to
become infected, especially if they've scratched or been beaten up.
Dave
David L. McNeely, Ph.D., Professor of Biology
Langston University; P.O. Box 1500
Langston, OK 73050; email: dlmcneely-in-lunet.edu
telephone: (405) 466-6025; fax: 405) 466-3307
home page http://www.lunet.edu/mcneely/index.htm
"Where are we going?" "I don't know, are we there yet?"
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