Category:Fungus and fungal diseases/Cures for fungus

Cures for fungus
Fortunately there are many excellent cures available on the market for the most common Fungus. However there are a few 'snake oil' treatments that have no proven record of working. Basically be aware that 'herbal' or tea-tree oil remedies as these are at best very weak in action.

The most common treatment chemicals called 'fungicides' are:


 * Salt
 * Methylene blue
 * Malachite green
 * Gentian violet
 * Phenoxyethanol
 * Sodium chlorite
 * Various commercial bottles.

Salt Bath
For years this has been one of the favourite methods to treat fungus as it is cheap and relatively effective. Basically for freshwater animals, place the creature in a quarantine tank which has a slight salt content. See Salt article for detail. Basically ensure the species is able to tolerate a salt bath, not all animals can and you'd be better to use a commerical fungicide instead if you are unsure.

Make up a 0.1% salt tank and place the animal in it. Increase dose by 0.1% every 4-6 hours until you get to 1%. (If at any time the animal looks distressed then dilute the salt content by performing water changes) Leave the animal in the bath for 12 hours at 1%. Then start reducing the salt content slowly by performing water changes over 12 hours until the water is cleared of salt.

Methylene blue
This is a dye used in chemistry as a blue staining agent. It has been used for years for destroying fungus, bacteria and parasites. It is often suppplied as a powder or as a pre-prepared liquid and is relatively safe if used correctly.


 * See Methylene blue article for more detail.

Malachite green
This potent chemical dye is used as a 1% solution (typically use 1g of powder dissolved in 100ml of distilled water) and then dapped directly onto the infected area of the fish with a cotton bud daily until the infection is healed.

Use 0.5% solution if treating tetras or small fish.


 * Note: This chemical is harmful to humans!

Gentian violet
Gentian violet is a water soluble dye (coloring substance) used primarily in medicine to stain bacteria. Treat like Methylene blue.

Phenoxyethanol
Phenoxyethanol is often used as a fish sedative or anaesthetic but also has antibacterial and fungicide properties. This chemical is used as a 1% solution (typically use 100mg of powder dissolved in 1000ml of distilled water) and dosage is 10ml per litre of quarantine tank water. Repeat every 2-3 days up to a maximum of 3 times if the animal shows no signs of recovery before performing a 50-60% water change.

Sodium chlorite
Used by a few commerical bottles and incorrectly named as 'Stabilised Chlorine oxides'. This is a bleach so the bottle solution will be diluted. Be very careful with dosage when using this chemical.

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