Home remedies for curing fish diseases

With the rand dropping faster than a guy falling down a flight of stairs, the price of petrol rising faster than the temper of someone stuck in traffic, and more than two years of the “communist cough” aka COVID-19 has taken a toll on people’s pockets and the prices of items in our fish keeping hobby. So when fish get sick and your budget is already spread thin, it is not always possible to buy medication from your local pet shops. But fear not! I am here to present you with three home remedies you can use to help your fish fight various diseases and to help keep them in tip-top condition! The first home remedy we will be looking at is Rooibos Tea, yes you heard right Rooibos Tea! Yes, the normal Rooibos tea you find in the stores. As long as it’s 100% pure rooibos (Not all those different flavor varieties.), it’s safe to pretty much use with any sensitive fish or invertebrate.

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Not only is a cup of tea good for you, but also good for your fish!

So, you might ask yourself what exactly are the benefits of adding Rooibos tea to your aquarium? Well, It has a host of benefits, a list too long to mention, so I will just mention a few. It boosts the immune system of your fish helping it fight off diseases, it also contains powerful antioxidants, is antimicrobial, antifungal, and contains an assortment of minerals. Which helps with diseases like white spot, fin rot, and other fungal diseases. How do you add it to your aquarium? Simple, just at 1 single tea bag for every 30 liters of aquarium water and let it float in your aquarium for several hours. Repeat after each water change you do. Rooibos tea also releases something called tannins, the stuff that turns your water yellow when adding a piece of driftwood. Tannins in high amounts can bind up minerals in the water, softening it and lowering the pH, hardness, and alkalinity.

Which makes it suitable for fish who enjoy their water with a lower pH than normal tap water. Having said that, Rooibos tea does not release enough to soften your aquarium’s water. The next remedy on the list is salt, and no, definitely not the salt you put on your morning eggs. Instead, we are talking about either aquarium or kosher salt. But before we continue, and this is very IMPORTANT! Less hardy aquarium plants and invertebrates are extremely sensitive to salt, and so are scaleless fish like catfish. So, using this method for fully planted aquariums is not recommended. So how much aquarium salt do you need for your aquarium and how?

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My tanklife has various shops selling aquarium salts.

Firstly: One level tablespoon for every 14 liters of aquarium water. Instead of throwing it directly into the aquarium. Take a large jug of your aquarium water, measure off the amount of salt required and mix it into the jug with the salt. Once it has dissolved, you can slowly add it back to your aquarium. Repeat the process till all the salt has been dissolved, repeat the process after doing your weekly water changes which should be 50%. So what exactly are the benefits of using salt in your aquarium? Well, it is extremely effective against bacteria, fungus, and external parasites like ich (white spot). It also improves the gill function of the fish, allowing them to breathe properly when stressed or sick, it also works great when healing wounds and scratches.

The last home remedy on the list believe it or not is Garlic, the very same garlic you enjoy in your food! The healing properties of garlic have been known for some time, it also promotes a healthy immune system and helps with picky eaters. It also helps fight bacterial, fungus, and external parasites like ich (white spot). I have personally used this remedy and recommended it to others with great success. It is simple and cheap to make, you will need the following: x3 Garlic Bulbs, x3 Coffee Filters (Millage May Vary), and x1 500 mill bottle. The first step, remove all the cloves and clean them up, once done wash them under running water. Then dice them into as small as possible pieces, either by chopping them up with a knife or using a cheese grater.

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Not only does garlic taste great on your food but works great as a home remedy.

Add water and garlic to a container and leave for four hours and stir it occasionally. Once you let it sit for around four hours, use the coffee filter to strain the mix into your 500mil bottle, keep it in the fridge and let it cool. Once ready, you add 2 drops for every 4 liters of aquarium water. With this remedy, there is no way to overdose or kill your fish, plants, or invertebrates. Adding it to a breeding aquarium with eggs in it will also stop fungus from growing on your fish’s eggs. You can also add a few drops of it to your fish’s food, you can also even dose it when your fish are sick as a sort of preventative tonic. As you can see there are many ways to treat your fish and keep them healthy without having to break the bank or your wallet, are there any home remedies you know of that you can use when in a pinch?

Yes! Please send me exclusive offers, unique aquarium ideas, and personalised tips for shopping and selling on My Tanklife.

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