Question about bloat

[oldgeezer]

In your opion which one is the best to use for bloat Clout or Metrodiozole ?

Thank you for your opions

[CichlidFan]

Re: Question about bloat

I've had better results with the metro.

CF

[J-WS6]

Re: Question about bloat

Clout all the way. If I suspect bloat I always do the following:

Treatment first day, feed lightly with flakes

Treat again second day, usually skip feeding

Treat again third day, feed lightly with flakes

Follow up with 75-90% water change every 4th day with epsom salt.

I usually do 2 cycles and wait 48 hours. I like to give them a few days without treatment for their system to recover. Then if it's still around I'll repeat the cycle again.

If you go to jehmco.com you can buy the pond-sized tablets, each tablet for 100 gallons...good for if you have a lot of tangs or a lot of tanks.

Hope this helps

Jonathan

[CichlidFan]

Re: Question about bloat

My first attempt using clout, I used a 10 gallon tank using the same tank water they where in, one heater one sponge filter 10 gallons of water and four sick tropheus, I treated as shown on the directions, the first two fish died within one hour after placing the sick fish in the tank. Two others where DOA the follwing morning.

But do not be scared off of Clout just because of my experience, many others use it with a high degree of success.

CF

[J-WS6]

Re: Question about bloat

It may have been too late, Steve. It's possible they could have been too small and their bodies couldn't have handled the treatment or just additional stress from the move to a smaller tank..

[CichlidFan]

Re: Question about bloat

Yes, I'm sure it was something to that affect.....anyway, good luck geezer.

CF

[nacra99]

Re: Question about bloat

I vote either metro or epsom salt.

[JandJ]

Re: Question about bloat

I have had great success with this method:

Day 1: At first sign of bloat (Not eating, coughing behavior, stringy clear/white feces): LARGE water change, usually 75-90% of Tank. Be sure to siphon all the waste you possibly can, turn over rocks and get every bit of waste. (Waste is where the parasite is and is thought to be the place other fish in the tank will contract the problem)

While filling tank, add to the water 1 TBSP of Rock salt per 10 gallons and 1 TBSP of epsom salt per 10 gallons.

Then take clout, using 10 gallon tabs I dissolve the appropriate number of tablets for my volume of water, in a clean water bottle with tank water. Shake vigorously and make sure it is as dissolved as possible.
Pour the clout/tank water mix into the tank, evenly distributing it into various areas of the tank.

No Feeding

Day 2: Mix clout in water bottle and dose tank again, at approximately the same time of day the first dose was administered.

No additional salt or epsom.
No Feeding

Day 3: Mix clout in water bottle again and dose tank again, at approximately same time of day first two doses were administered.

No additional salt of epsom.
No Feeding.

Day 4: Observe the fish for signs of bloat- coughing, lethargy, fin clamping and/or stringy feces.
If the fish still look obviously bloated, then repeat clout administration again (Option A). If the fish seem to be more active, then it is water change time.

Option A- Clout tank per instructions above.

Option B- Perform Large water change on the tank again, 75-90% of tank.
Add 1TBSP of salt per 10 gallons and add 1 TBSP of epsom salt per 10 gallons.

No Feeding.

On Day 4/5, I feed the fish the diet they are used to eating and observe fish to see that each and every one of them is eating well. If anyone spits food out and/or coughs. I prepare to clout for 3 days again. I will allow the fish to de-stress in clean water for a day or two and then repeat the clout treatment if bloat signs are still present.

To be honest I have only had to clout when getting new WC fish and/or acclimating them to new food. Once the fish are established in the tank, I have rarely had any problems.

I do keep salt and epsom salt in the tank at all times. 1 TBSP per 10 gallons of each.
I water change my tropheus once a week if possible, every 2 weeks at a minimum.
Every 2- 3 weeks I will do the normal 90% water change and skip the salt and epsom salt. The next water change, it is added to the tank again. This flushes any excess salts. I prefer to keep the two salts in the tank because the fish seem alot healthier with it in there and it buffers to water closer to their natural lake parameters.

There is much debate over what causes bloat but much evidence points to a parasite in the intestines, which is usually present in the water/fish but only takes a hold if the fish is stressed. Stress can cause this, from other fish attacking a fish or from improper foods being fed to the fish without their being acclimated slowly to the new food. Slimy foods such as meaty shrimp can cause a blockage in the fishes intestines and allow the parasite to multiply in numbers and cause the bloat. Other fish in the tank often "mouth" the feces of other fish in the tank and when one fish gets bloat, the other fish will quickly contract it this way.

The goal with the water changes is to flush the fishes gastrointestinal systems and help get rid of the parasite. The epsom salt is a natural laxative and also really helps the fish to clear their intestinal systems. Clout becomes inactive after 8-12 hours (approximately), which is why you want to dose at the same time of the day every day, to keep the fish in an "active" bath of the medication.

Metro has an even shorter "active" time in the water (4-6 hours approximately) and you must keep dosing at shorter intervals to keep the drug working at peak effectiveness. There are lots of articles out there on this, just do some research and find whats best for you.

These are my experiences and methods after much research and thought on the problem, use them at your discretion, feel free to ask me any questions if you like.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Question about bloat

I use Metro but feel both work.

Do a search on Metro or Clout to see the discussions in the past about them.

[oldgeezer]

Re: Question about bloat

I would like to thank all of you who replied it will help me for sure.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Question about bloat

Are you going through a bout with bloat?

I have found that a good steady diet, clean water and large colonies fair really well and keep the bloat from happening.

[geoff_tropheus]

Re: Question about bloat

I would suggest always treat for 5 days minimum no matter what when using CLOUT for Bloat.

CLOUT has always worked for me and never had issues. Pure METRO has only been marginally effective for me.

I will suggest that with catfish and other silver-sided tanganyikan fish, always treat 50% then treat again the other 50% about 4-8 hours later until you know for certain they can handle the doseage.

Always start with 50% or more waterchange, remnove carbon if used, and dose as directed on the bottle.

Waterchange 50% every 3 days and dose daily as directed. Don not deep gravel vaccum only surface skim the gravel bed.

Always treat for a minimum of 5 days to a maximum of however long it takes to get all the fish eating.

At the end of the treatment filter with carbon for about a week and then discard.  For the next couple waterchanges take it easy on the bacteria colonies by only changing water or very lightly clean filters.

Hope this helps...

Geoff

[oldgeezer]

Re: Question about bloat

No I am not having any problems with bloat at this time I was going to buy some medican to have on hand and I have been reading on the subject and these two medications were stated to be the best.

[Zulaab]

Re: Question about bloat

I would like to move this thread to Diseases and Disasters when the thread dies down.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Question about bloat

Keep an eye out cause most of the stuff has a shelf life.