Salt dips to a betta?

Discussion in 'Freshwater Aquariums' started by elweshomayor, Apr 27, 2013.

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  1. elweshomayor

    elweshomayor Giant Squid

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    Hey can anyone tell me if salt dips are effective when treating a betta with ich?

    Can you do said salt dips with regular table salt? If so how much?

    My betta has been suffering for the past week from ich. I dont have the time to go and buy medications at the moment, however I could do a salt dip if its promising to alliviate my fish.

    Eitherway, if I don't do something he might not last much longer. He has been hanging in there, and still eats but he spends most of his time laying on the sand or resting by a rock.

    I just did a 50% water change, so maybe that will help. I have live plants in the tank so i cant add salt directly.. *or can I?*
    ideas?
     
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  3. 2in10

    2in10 Super Moderator

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    Don't add salt. Raise the temperature and add an ich medication. Get the temperature up to 86 to 90. Should help knock the ich out in about 3 days.
     
  4. elweshomayor

    elweshomayor Giant Squid

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    I don't have Ich medication, and can't go to the store and buy it. that's the problem. That's why I was considering to grab a separate container and do a 5-10 minute salt dip since I heard that helps with the ich.

    I can definitely rise the temperature. I have some neon tetras with the betta, will rising the temp that high be ok?
     
  5. 2in10

    2in10 Super Moderator

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    Salt dips don't work that well and cause a great deal of stress. Do not raise the temperature without medication. Raising the temperature quickens the parasites life cycle but it does no good without medication. Use a copper based medication.
     
  6. ClippersTown

    ClippersTown Fire Worm

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    when my neon tetras and platys had ich, what i did was add aquarium salt (which is basically regular old, non iodized salt), raise the temp to 88 degrees, and always kept the lights off. did it for 2 weeks, ich went away completely.
     
  7. skyvern2130

    skyvern2130 Stylophora

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    If you can't get meds then raise temp and put a penny in with them make sure to clean the penny. I did this a few times when I kept my betta. Also I shortened the light cycle for a few days