How to make a salt bath for cichlids?

How to make a salt bath for cichlids?

Cichlids are fresh or brackish water fish living in tropical regions. It is a family of vertebrates containing more than 1000 species from Africa and America. And if these fish appeal so much to aquarists, it's for their variety of sizes and shimmering colors... So, to take care of your cichlids, learn how to make a salt bath .

What are the benefits of salt in freshwater aquariums ?

The action of aquarium salt on pathogenic microbes dries out their organisms. Harmful bacteria dehydrate under the effect of salinity and eventually disappear.

Remember that even if they are robust, cichlids can be affected by pathogens. Whether carnivorous or herbivorous, cichlids that swell or change color are often the target of bacterial attack .

What salt to use to cure your fish?

The best remedy that is used to treat fish diseases is sea salt.

Sodium chloride is a natural product that works as an effective medicine. This is why it is imperative to respect its dosage and method of administration. Aquarists often use coarse gray Guérande salt because it preserves the biotope of the vivarium. But, other types of aquarium salt like “ API Aquarium Salt ” are available in specialty stores. Non-iodized and non-fluoridated kitchen salt can also be a solution.

What disease symptoms should be treated?

When you notice your cichlid changing its appearance, it means it is sick. The most common symptoms appear on the fish's skin, which becomes covered with white or yellow spots. A white, slimy substance that surrounds the body of a weak cichlid is also a worrying sign. Other diseases can explain these changes such as hexamitosis, dropsy or fin necrosis.

What equipment is needed?

If your tank does not contain plants or molluscs, you can treat its water with salt. Otherwise, it is better to isolate your fish in a special tank. In fact, some plants and some gastropods do not support salt water.

Before treating your fish , prepare the following items:

• A graduated hospital baccalaureate;
• Sea salt or aquarium salt (otherwise table salt without additives);
• A small scale to weigh the salt;
• A spatula to mix the salt with the water;
• A landing net to catch sick fish;
• A heater, if the water is cold.

What salt dosage should be respected?

It is necessary to adapt the dosage of salt used in treatment to the degree of infection. At the onset of a mild disease, the dose of salt will be lower than that required by a serious pathology. The dosage therefore varies from 1 gram per liter of water to 10 grams per litre.

How long is the treatment?

As with the amount of salt used, the length of treatment varies. It extends from 3 to 5 days. The salt dosage corresponds to 1 gram per liter of water for the first 3 days. Then it increases to 5 grams per liter of water until the fifth day. Beyond that, it takes 10 grams per liter of water.

How to make a salt bath for cichlids?

If you treat your sick fish directly in its aquarium, you should act as follows:

• Add 1 gram of salt per liter of water;
• Observe the reaction of your cichlid for 3 days;
• Add 5 grams of salt per liter of water if the disease persists;
• Observe the condition of the fish until the 5th day;
• Put 10 grams of salt per liter of water if the condition of the fish does not improve;
• Replace 30% water once a week to desalinate the aquarium, as soon as the fish is cured.

To treat the sick cichlid outside your aquarium, here are several steps are necessary (always seek the advice of a specialist):

• Fill the graduated hospital tank with aquarium water (10L for a small fish);
• Maintain the water temperature using a heater;
• Add 1 gram of salt per liter of water;
• Observe the reaction of your cichlid for 3 days (without feeding it);
• Add 5 grams of salt per liter of water if the disease persists;
• Observe the condition of the fish until the 5th day (give little food);
• Put 10 grams of salt per liter of water if the condition of the fish does not improve;
• Keep the fish under observation for 7 days after recovery;
• Desalinate the water in the tank gradually, as soon as the fish is cured (replace 30% of the water in the tank with running water once a week, for 14 days);
• Return the cured fish to its aquarium.

Making a salt bath for cichlids: what to remember!

Finally, it is good to know that cichlid diseases can be treated well. For this, salt is the best natural remedy, effective and accessible. It is enough to use it like a drug with a very precise mode of employment. Its action destroys pathogenic bacteria and preserves the health of fish.

And to keep your fish healthy, remember to maintain its water every week. On our blog, you will find instructions and expert advice!