A fish first aid kit? What do you suggest?

[CeaWitch]

I have read so much in these forums about "hospital tanks", quarantine tanks etc, and thought it would help a lot of people if the experts here would give a list of what they think a typical home aquarist should have on hand for emergencies, or helping fish suspected of being ill. This would include tank size, is it running all the time? Meds, and whatever is considered important to have on hand. Now that I have a 29 and 55 plus several small betta bowls, I think i should have something set up for just in case, but I'm not sure what all is needed. :

 

[fishboy]

Hmmm..............a 10gallon hospital tank should work fine, this tank should be fine with just a few decorations, such as live plants and a terra-cotta pot. If you have larger fish i would go for atleast a 20+ gallon. You will want a heater,filter, and light. A small power or sponge filter would be fine. Just remember not to use carbon in your filter, as it will take out most medications in the water.


Light can also be fairly cheap if you are going for low light plants or plastic. Regular substrate should be fine also.


Medications: A bactericide(sp?) fungicide, and an ich cure will solve most problems. If you have large cichlids such as oscars and discus i would also have a HTH ( hole-in-the-head) commonly know as hexamitas treatment.Also having aquarium salt will be useful. Date these meds and after a year throw them out and get new ones. Most wont have a shelf life so it is easier to just go for every year.


                    Best of luck

                                Daniel

 

[Pooky125]

MELAFIX!!! It's one of the ONLY things I have in my fish medicine cabinet... It treats finrot in less then a week, and if you use a half dose with each water change and new fish addition, it'll help prevent disease from entering your tank. Also, a bottle of ammonia to cycle and to keep ur hospital tank cycled with, or, a fish that can easily be moved around when u need to quarentine..

 

[Vyache]

I'd suggest some ammonia/chlorine remover as well as test kits for ammonia, nitrites, and pH.

 

[koolkatzfish]

If you have room a 10 gallon is a good size for a hospital/quarantine tank.  Most med are dosed in for 10 gallon increments.  But if you don't have room,  a smaller tank will do.  
I have a 5.5 gallon tank, no substrate, a couple decorations, no light.  I keep it simple since it is a temporary home and less to clean if anyone gets sick.  It is also my baby growout tank, since my bristlenose catfish have been breeding like crazy.  I keep mine running full time, if I have no babies, I season it with a couple drops of pure ammonia every couple days to feed the filter.  Some people keep an extra sponge filter in their community tanks and set up the quarantine tank with water from the community add the sponge and instant quarantine tank.  It depends on how often you will be adding fish and how much room you have.
Regarding meds to keep on hand.  I wouldn't bother, you can get it when you need it.  Would you know how old it is other wise.  Medications strength can change with time, hence expiration dates.  
Prevention is the best medicine, by not overstocking and overfeeding.  Frequent small water changes.  Clean water keeps the fish healthy.  Providing compatible environments, so the less stress the stronger the immune system.  Another good investment is a UV sterilizer, it will kill many fish diseases.  But even with a sterilizer, a 3-4 week quarantine is the best medicine, especially for your existing fish.  I work at a vet hospital and one of the exotic vets visited who also does tropical fish, and she reccommended the sterilizer and quarantine tank.