METRONIDAZOLE

[Aquatica Services Pattaya]

want check if anyone has experience with using pharmacuetical metronidazole... not metroplex or other aquarium medications but the pills bought in the pharmacy.

We used it previous very succesfull in fresh water setting treating Discuss fish from internal worms.

I do know to treat in the water collumn (if fish not eating) the amount needed is prity high so wondering if it can be done in saltwater settings and would it effect the dosing comparef to fresh water??. if fish would eat also can use Metronidazole soaking the frozen food in saltwater settings?

 

[Aquatica Services Pattaya]

by the way metronidazile is very easy to get here in Thailand especially in Pattaya ...... wonder why lol....

 

[Jay Hemdal]

want check if anyone has experience with using pharmacuetical metronidazole... not metroplex or other aquarium medications but the pills bought in the pharmacy.

We used it previous very succesfull in fresh water setting treating Discuss fish from internal worms.

I do know to treat in the water collumn (if fish not eating) the amount needed is prity high so wondering if it can be done in saltwater settings and would it effect the dosing comparef to fresh water??. if fish would eat also can use Metronidazole soaking the frozen food in saltwater settings?

Metronidazole works well for some specific diseases. It works best against internal flagellates and some bacteria when fed orally. I'm surprised it worked for worms for you in discus as that isn't a reported use for that drug. It can also be used in the water, and with marine fish, some of that does get absorbed into the fish. Here is an excerpt from my disease formulary:

Metronidazole (Flagyl)
Use: Antibiotic for anaerobic bacteria and some flagellate protozoans.
Dose: 10 mg of metronidazole (Flagyl) per gram of gelatin food mix. If the fish are not feeding well, metronidazole can be added to the aquarium’s water at a dose of 25 ppm every other day for three treatments. This medication is very bitter, and some fish will not accept it in food.

 

[Aquatica Services Pattaya]

Metronidazole works well for some specific diseases. It works best against internal flagellates and some bacteria when fed orally. I'm surprised it worked for worms for you in discus as that isn't a reported use for that drug. It can also be used in the water, and with marine fish, some of that does get absorbed into the fish. Here is an excerpt from my disease formulary:

Metronidazole (Flagyl)
Use: Antibiotic for anaerobic bacteria and some flagellate protozoans.
Dose: 10 mg of metronidazole (Flagyl) per gram of gelatin food mix. If the fish are not feeding well, metronidazole can be added to the aquarium’s water at a dose of 25 ppm every other day for three treatments. This medication is very bitter, and some fish will not accept it in food.

what would be your prefered medication for possible internal issues (parasitic and or bacterial) with fish?

 

[Jay Hemdal]

what would be your prefered medication for possible internal issues (parasitic and or bacterial) with fish?

There is no single medication because there are many types of internal diseases.

Here is my article on proper dosing of medicated foods:

Proper Dosing of Medicated Foods

Proper Dosing of Medicated Foods Jay Hemdal c. 2020 Oral medications are an excellent way to target internal diseases of fishes. Marine fish absorb aquarium water, so in certain cases, they “drink” enough medication from the water to effect a cure. However, freshwater fish actively export...

www.reef2reef.com

Here is my article on internal diseases:

Internal Fish Diseases

Internal Diseases Cause(s) A variety of organisms can infect fish internally. Most are worms, a few are protozoans, and there is even an eel that infects the heart of living sharks! Some species have complicated life cycles with intermediate hosts, and others can directly infect fish...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Dripper_CS]

There is no single medication because there are many types of internal diseases.

Here is my article on proper dosing of medicated foods:

Proper Dosing of Medicated Foods

Proper Dosing of Medicated Foods Jay Hemdal c. 2020 Oral medications are an excellent way to target internal diseases of fishes. Marine fish absorb aquarium water, so in certain cases, they “drink” enough medication from the water to effect a cure. However, freshwater fish actively export...

www.reef2reef.com

Here is my article on internal diseases:

Internal Fish Diseases

Internal Diseases Cause(s) A variety of organisms can infect fish internally. Most are worms, a few are protozoans, and there is even an eel that infects the heart of living sharks! Some species have complicated life cycles with intermediate hosts, and others can directly infect fish...

www.reef2reef.com

Hi Jay, here are two quick questions:

1. Is it normal to see flagellates when examining fish feces under a microscope? I remember you said these organisms live alongside fish naturally. That means I don’t have to treat with nitroimidazole right away when I find moving protozoa in feces, right?
2. Metronidazole at 5 ppm appears toxic to rainbow trout. Do you think 25 ppm is a safe dosage for marine fish in your experience?
   
   https://www.researchgate.net/publication/361025258_Genotoxic_Effect_Oxidative_Stress_and_Cell_Death_due_to_Metronidazole_Application_in_Gills_and_Liver_Tissues_of_Rainbow_Trout_Oncorhynchus_mykiss
   
   Thanks!

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Hi Jay, here are two quick questions:

1. Is it normal to see flagellates when examining fish feces under a microscope? I remember you said these organisms live alongside fish naturally. That means I don’t have to treat with nitroimidazole right away when I find moving protozoa in feces, right?
2. Metronidazole at 5 ppm appears toxic to rainbow trout. Do you think 25 ppm is a safe dosage for marine fish in your experience?
   
   https://www.researchgate.net/publication/361025258_Genotoxic_Effect_Oxidative_Stress_and_Cell_Death_due_to_Metronidazole_Application_in_Gills_and_Liver_Tissues_of_Rainbow_Trout_Oncorhynchus_mykiss
   
   Thanks!

Yes, a few flagellates seen in feces is pretty normal. However, it’s a subjective measure, so I’m never sure if the number I see is normal or not. If I see symptoms in the fish that can’t be explained by other issues, I might consider flagellates are the issue.

25 ppm is the upper limit for metro in the water, dosed every 3 days. The range is 5 to 25, depending on the reference. Oral dosing at 1% in a bonded food is a better option.

Rainbow trout are sensitive to many medications. The article indicated that there were histopathalogical changes in the trout, but I didn’t see any mention of increased mortality.

I don’t use metronidazole except in rare instances. I find it doesn’t work well for external protozoans, and those cause the vast majority of disease issues we see.