Pet Fish Medications

When fish encounter disease, they benefit from medicine just like humans. There are a variety of fish diseases and medicines to treat them. Many times sick fish need the same antibiotics that are used to treat humans. These antibiotics do not require a prescription. The medications vary depending on if you have saltwater or freshwater fish.

  1. Fish Disease

    • Some of the most common fish diseases are ich, fin rot (columnaris) and hole in the head. Hole in the head or hexamita are lesions on the head. Ich is small white grainy spots on the body and fins of the fish. If you have only one sick fish and you have the option to quarantine it, separate it from the rest of the fish to prevent the infection from spreading any further. You may still need to treat the remainder of fish because you can't be sure whether they are infected or not. Most treatments are safe for all fish, but always read the full instructions. Many treatments are not safe for crayfish and other invertebrates.

    Tetracycline and Triple Sulfa

    • Tetracycline is used for freshwater fish only and can treat deadly fish gill disease. Fish gill disease has the appearance of red, swollen gills that have lost proper functionality. It is also effective against pop-eye, fin and tail rot and bacteria Recommended dosage is 250 to 500 mg per 20 gallons of water daily with one-fourth water change with each treatment. Tetracycline is not effective in water with a pH higher than 7.5.
      Triple sulfa is also a successful for treatment of fin and tail rot, bacteria and fungus. Recommended dosage for triple sulfa is 250 mg per 10 gallons daily with a one-fourth water change with each treatment. Give treatment for 10 days.

    Erythromycin

    • Erythromycin can treat kidney disease, pop-eye, bacteria and fin and tail rot. Recommended treatment dosage is 250 to 500 mg per 20 gallons every day with a one-fourth water change with each treatment. Give the treatment for 10 days.

    Metronidazole and Quinine

    • Metronidozole can treat tail and fin rot, hole in the head and and saltwater ich. Dosage recommended for treatment is 250 to 500 mg per 20 gallons daily with one-quarter water change with each treatment. Treatment lasts 10 days.
      Quinine sulfate works well for stubborn cases of hole in the head and ich. To treat ich it should be combined with the metronidazole. The recommended dosage of quinine sulfate is 250 mg per 10 gallons of water daily for four to five days with one-fourth water change.

    Disease Prevention

    • Many aquarium treatments or additives are conditioners for fish that help prevent fish illness. These are usually general water tonics that you can add occasionally to maintain fish health. These treatments help with factors such as preservation of the slime coat on fish, balancing pH and helping water maintain good quality longer. Add aquarium salt in small amounts to fresh water as a supplement. Regular water treatments that keep down ammonia levels down and dechlorinate water after water changes can also help prevent disease in fish.