Salt Dips and You
A salt dip may sound scary when proposed as a solution to an ailing fish, but it's really not that spooky, promise. A salt dip can help your fish shake of disease or imbalances in ways that other means of medicating cannot.
As with any medication or means of medicating, please use caution and make sure you have a good handle and understanding of what you're doing before going through with the dip. As with any risky procedure, there is a chance for the fish to not get better, get worse, or die. Use caution.
As with any medication or means of medicating, please use caution and make sure you have a good handle and understanding of what you're doing before going through with the dip. As with any risky procedure, there is a chance for the fish to not get better, get worse, or die. Use caution.
Two Types of Salt:
First, let's talk about the salt used in salt dips. There are two types: Aquarium salt (sodium chloride) and Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate). As you can tell by their technical names, they're not the same! Their functions aren't the same, either. It is very important to know what both can do for your fish, and when to use them.
Epsom Salt is magnesium sulfate, which you may know as a saline (salt) laxative or a remedy to reduce swelling for humans. It is easily found nearly anywhere, often in first aid aisles and even in gas stations! Please note that humans use Epsom as a means to relax when infused into bathwater, so sometimes it has dyes or is scented. Please only use unscented, undyed Epsom when medicating your fish!
What's Epsom do?:
Epsom has a bunch of uses. Not surprisingly, its uses in fish are very similar to its uses in humans. When used properly in fish, it can act as a laxative as well as a means to reduce swelling. If used correctly in fish that have swim bladder disorder (SBD), epsom can help them swim better and even be able to sink.
What does this mean for my fish?:
These qualities mean you can help a bloated or constipated fish expel backed up waste and feel good again, as well as reduce swelling that may be caused by disease or infection. The swelling Epsom can assist with includes: popeye, external wound infection swelling, and in some cases relieve pressure from dropsy.
How much of this salt per gallon do I use?:
For Epsom, you use 1 TABLEspoon (TBSP) per gallon of water. This is three TEAspoons (TSP).
How long does the betta stay in this mixture?:
In Epsom, the betta should stay in for 10-15 minutes, with 10 being less severe need and 15 being a more severe need. Never exceed this time!
How long should my fish be left to acclimate before going back into its tank in this mixture?:
Acclimate your fish (see below) for 2-5 minutes before going back to avoid shock.
What's Epsom do?:
Epsom has a bunch of uses. Not surprisingly, its uses in fish are very similar to its uses in humans. When used properly in fish, it can act as a laxative as well as a means to reduce swelling. If used correctly in fish that have swim bladder disorder (SBD), epsom can help them swim better and even be able to sink.
What does this mean for my fish?:
These qualities mean you can help a bloated or constipated fish expel backed up waste and feel good again, as well as reduce swelling that may be caused by disease or infection. The swelling Epsom can assist with includes: popeye, external wound infection swelling, and in some cases relieve pressure from dropsy.
How much of this salt per gallon do I use?:
For Epsom, you use 1 TABLEspoon (TBSP) per gallon of water. This is three TEAspoons (TSP).
How long does the betta stay in this mixture?:
In Epsom, the betta should stay in for 10-15 minutes, with 10 being less severe need and 15 being a more severe need. Never exceed this time!
How long should my fish be left to acclimate before going back into its tank in this mixture?:
Acclimate your fish (see below) for 2-5 minutes before going back to avoid shock.
Aquarium Salt is sodium chloride, which is found in most fish sections of stores and can also be found as non-iodized (!!!) table salt or ice cream salt. Put simply, it's mostly just salt! It is very easy to acquire and inexpensive. It is wise to have "AQ" salt on hand when caring for fish due to its nearly limitless uses.
What's AQ salt do?:
AQ salt does quite a lot! In freshwater, it can make water brackish (salty) for fish like mollies, can help fight off existing infections, prevent infections from coming back, can help parasites like Ich and Velvet not "stick" to fish, help ease fin rot, help heal wounds, and help ease columnairs along with other medicines.
What does this mean for my fish?:
This means a lot!! AQ is super versatile and easily the least expensive, most widely effective medicine you can buy. It means you can heal things from fin rot to parasites to wounds. That's a big deal, especially when these ailments tend to come on fast and need prompt treatment to be kept from being deadly.
How much of this salt per gallon do I use?:
For AQ salt, you can use 1 TABLEspoon per gallon of water (3 TEAspoons).
How long does the betta stay in this mixture?:
This mixture is reported as considerably more dangerous and more uncomfortable for the fish, so it will have less time than Epsom dips. Dip the fish for 5-8 minutes, depending on severity (for example, fin rot less, columnaris and ich more). Do not exceed this time!
How long should my fish be left to acclimate before going back into its tank in this mixture?:
Acclimate your fish (see below) for 2-3 minutes. This time frame is less than Epsom because we do not want the fish to be further exposed to higher doses of salt for too much longer after the bath.
What's AQ salt do?:
AQ salt does quite a lot! In freshwater, it can make water brackish (salty) for fish like mollies, can help fight off existing infections, prevent infections from coming back, can help parasites like Ich and Velvet not "stick" to fish, help ease fin rot, help heal wounds, and help ease columnairs along with other medicines.
What does this mean for my fish?:
This means a lot!! AQ is super versatile and easily the least expensive, most widely effective medicine you can buy. It means you can heal things from fin rot to parasites to wounds. That's a big deal, especially when these ailments tend to come on fast and need prompt treatment to be kept from being deadly.
How much of this salt per gallon do I use?:
For AQ salt, you can use 1 TABLEspoon per gallon of water (3 TEAspoons).
How long does the betta stay in this mixture?:
This mixture is reported as considerably more dangerous and more uncomfortable for the fish, so it will have less time than Epsom dips. Dip the fish for 5-8 minutes, depending on severity (for example, fin rot less, columnaris and ich more). Do not exceed this time!
How long should my fish be left to acclimate before going back into its tank in this mixture?:
Acclimate your fish (see below) for 2-3 minutes. This time frame is less than Epsom because we do not want the fish to be further exposed to higher doses of salt for too much longer after the bath.
This fish has SBD and is listing
How to prepare (any) dip for your fish:
Prepping for the dip is the same for either salt type. You will need:
Here's what you need to do:
Prepping for the dip is the same for either salt type. You will need:
- a clean fish-only 1 gallon container
- a smaller container
- Water conditioner
- a measuring spoon
- thermometer
- net
- your undivided attention!
- watch/timer/alarm
- salt per your needs
Here's what you need to do:
- Fill your gallon container very fully with clean, treated water. Make sure the water is the same temperature as the water the fish came from in its tank via the thermometer. This prevents temperature shock.
- Add the salt per recommendation and stir it until it is fully dissolved.
- Get a second container with 1/4 salted water like your 1 gallon tank, and the rest (3/4) with tank water (this is the "reviving station").
- Carefully get your fish from its home and gently put it into the water. You must make sure that the fish does not pass out! You can tell if a fish has conked out if it is no longer breathing (look at its gills, by the eyes) or if it lists to the side and becomes still. It may knock out due to the sudden change in salinity (saltiness) of the water, but can be revived.
- *If the fish passes out or becomes extremely stressed, remove it! Carefully but hastily put the fish into your reviving station to revive. Then, put it into its home again and try the dip another time.
- If the fish is not super stressed and does not pass out, be very attentive during the recommended time in the dip as the fish may jump due to discomfort or stress. Pay close attention to how long the fish has been in the dip and do not exceed the time!
- Once the fish is finished, put it into the reviving station to adjust back to more normal water parameters. Then, without pouring the salty water into your tank, put the fish back into its home to recover.
Questions:
What's the difference between a bath and a dip?:
A bath is not as strong as a dip. If your issues are less severe, a bath is a better choice as it has less salt involved and is comparably safer.
So, I shouldn't use AQ for bloating?:
No. This will cause problems. In short, your fish needs to pass fluids and water. AQ would hinder this and retain, but Epsom allows this to passing through to happen.
Why don't I acclimate before the dip?:
The levels of salt used are high, and we don't want to overexpose the fish to the dose any longer than needed. It seems against what is normally considered super important, but in this case, would be harmful.
My fish can pass out?!:
Yes. Weird, huh? It would be a stress reaction and can be undone by reviving. Typically, a fish comes right back and is fine. The reaction would be similar to you or I jumping from a hot tube into a freezing pool and then being allowed back into a normal temperature- the shock would be stressful, but once back into normal conditions, you're fine :)
What's the difference between a bath and a dip?:
A bath is not as strong as a dip. If your issues are less severe, a bath is a better choice as it has less salt involved and is comparably safer.
So, I shouldn't use AQ for bloating?:
No. This will cause problems. In short, your fish needs to pass fluids and water. AQ would hinder this and retain, but Epsom allows this to passing through to happen.
Why don't I acclimate before the dip?:
The levels of salt used are high, and we don't want to overexpose the fish to the dose any longer than needed. It seems against what is normally considered super important, but in this case, would be harmful.
My fish can pass out?!:
Yes. Weird, huh? It would be a stress reaction and can be undone by reviving. Typically, a fish comes right back and is fine. The reaction would be similar to you or I jumping from a hot tube into a freezing pool and then being allowed back into a normal temperature- the shock would be stressful, but once back into normal conditions, you're fine :)
Image credit (in order):http://www.wikihow.com/Give-Your-Hermit-Crab-a-Bath
http://green-mom.com/topics/home-and-personal-care/the-many-uses-of-epsom-salt.html#.UrZ4GPRDt8A
http://www.thatpetplace.com/aquarium-supplies/freshwater-salt#!freshwater-salt
http://www.ultimatebettas.com/index.php?showtopic=22846
http://green-mom.com/topics/home-and-personal-care/the-many-uses-of-epsom-salt.html#.UrZ4GPRDt8A
http://www.thatpetplace.com/aquarium-supplies/freshwater-salt#!freshwater-salt
http://www.ultimatebettas.com/index.php?showtopic=22846
