Medicating healthy and sick fish

[number1PArealtor]

I have been told that local pet stores medicate their healthy fish as a prevention method. I have a 30g tank with tropical community fish in it. Should I do this? If so, should I full or half dose? Can the fish build tollerance to the medications? Also, a bit off subject but, the tap water I put back into my tank needs to be at a certain temperature so the fish don't go into shock. My tank is around 76F. All I have come up with to get the water from the tap to be the same as the tank is either adjusting the tap water until the thermometer I hold under the running water reads the temperature I need it to (probubly not very accurate) or filling buckets of water and running a heater in each one until it reads correctly. I have to be missing something obvious! Is there a better way to do this?

[Jay]

Hey Nikki..Welcome to our Forums

I have been told that local pet stores medicate their healthy fish as a prevention method. I have a 30g tank with tropical community fish in it. Should I do this?

We hear a lot of Wacky <- (technical term ) LFS advice here. Healthy fish in the wild, and in the aquarium, do not need to be treated "as a precaution". Having said that there are cases of fish importers, dealers, and sometimes LFS use some ugly stuff to make the fish look good and retain marketability. Like pumping up on steroids. A quarantine tank for new arrivals is always a good idea before popping a fish into your tank.

I use the hold the thermometer under the water until I'm close then fill the tank. You might want to look into a "python" water change system. Do a Google search...a lot easier than trying to explain it longhand.

I have to be missing something obvious! Is there a better way to do this?

See python above

Anyhow you have 3-5 degrees wiggle room before you get into trouble.

See ya around

Regards,
Jay

[Tommy Gun]

I second Jay's "Welcome to the forum Nikki!" and am glad that you could join us.

While I dont think I could say it any better than Jay already has, I agree that you really do not need to maintain the 'preventative medicating' routine of your LFS, and would add that doing so could do more harm than good in your situation. While I have never been told that any of the LFS I visit regularly utilize a constant medication regimine per say, I do know that some techniques to reduce the instance of some of the more common problems that we are all faced with. For example, one of my LFS maintains a relatively low salinity in all of their saltwater aquariums in order to combat marine Ich and also maintains a higher water temp and adds aquarium salt to their freshwater tanks in order to reduce FW Ich problems. In reality, the difference between your aquarium and your LFS's tanks is that you don't have the potentially thousands of fish coming in and out your front door. IMO, this is probably why medications and other preventative methods may be more appropriate for them, but not as much for you.

Regarding the use of a python, click HERE to read what I feel is a pretty good post which details not only what a python is and used for, but also how to make your own, if you are interested. Honestly, the method I use on a regular basis to ensure that my tank's water temp remains as constant as possible when refilling my tank after a water change is similar to what you mention about running water over a thermometer, only I simply monitor the two or three thermometers I keep inside my tanks all the time, and adjust my water temp on an 'as needed' basis...which comes with a little bit of practice of course.

[number1PArealtor]

Jay and Tommy Gun,
Thanks for the welcome and the info. Better late than never, right? !!!