EPSOM SALT

[EXVISOR]

Hi all, I have a puffer that my be constipated and was told epsom salt is good to use and is safe and wont hurt fish ,was told to put 1 spoon per 10 gallons ,anyone ever here of this, I don't want to add into my tank and kill my fish

[Telco Guy]

Epsom salts are used by some in saltwater tanks. I'm not certain on the dosage though.

[EXVISOR]

so its safe, wont hurt the fish

1 Teaspoon (not tablespoon) per 10 gallons is perfectly safe.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/epsomfaqs.htm

[EXVISOR]

you know what the guy said a table spon but if you say a teaspon then I will try it, will this raise my salt level

A little. It will raise your magnesium level more.

[EXVISOR]

ok well I will go with a tea spon per and see what happens, now will magnesium hurt the fish?

[Doctor_Reef]

No, not at all! I am glad you found out some things that might help!!!

[EXVISOR]

Thanks, for all your help

[Doctor_Reef]

No problems....hope that this is the solution to the problem!!! :thumbsup:

[cich1]

i've used epsom salt to raise mag. before with no ill effects on the tank occupants, alot of people in the fw hobbie use this for constipation as well as shelled peas if you can get the fish to eat them, i always put a can of peas in the food i make up for my cichlids

[EXVISOR]

Thanks for the info ,I added a teaspone for each 10 gal, didnt want to over add

[Doctor_Reef]

How goes it???? Any change????

[EXVISOR]

Well he went to the little boys room for the first time in four days, it was weird looking thoug, it was like liquid sand
Also I was told phosphates could cause this problem, is that true, have not checked them

I'm glad things are improving.

Phosphates are in every single living cell on the face of this planet. I'm not going to say that they don't cause constipation but I definately have my doubts.

BTW....humans also take Magnesium for constipation and other gastro-intestinal ailments. What do you think is in Milk of MAGNESIA???

[Whiskey]

I am not sure but I think that may be a cure for Fresh water fish, I was told to add Epsom salt for an ailing Oscar. You may want to look around for other options, but then again I may be talking out my a$$.

Whiskey

[Doctor_Reef]

Any progress on puffer today???

[EXVISOR]

Not really ,he is still eating sand, cant believe it he is eating the sand ,he digs in
The guy at the store says maybe he's getting some nutrients from or out of it
For the heck of it today since he was diging and going threw the sand I burried some krill, I think he might of got some while he was eatng threw the sand

[Doctor_Reef]

What ever it takes....

[EXVISOR]

figured if thats how he's eating or looking for food then I will pt some in the sand for him to get

[Doctor_Reef]

I would be doing the same thing....Hope he is getting it!!!

[EXVISOR]

I had a gy tell me his did not eat one time for two months, im even hearing stories now of some that have gone longer then that, weird, dont know how they do it ,never seen a fish make it past a week not eating

[Doctor_Reef]

It is strange...but I have had my snowflake go for several weeks .... really freaked me out...but he started eating again and boy he went to town...I got him one of the frozen sea food mixes...muscle, calamari, shrimp, etc and tried all of it and he went nuts for the calamari...and started eating again!!! Go figure!!! I figured if he wouldn't eat any of it we could have a sea food salad!! :)

[EXVISOR]

Im just out of idea's and really just tired, I think I exhausted every idea so its really up to him now, I'm just a little sad that he wont even come to me anymore ,he runs from me now like I hurt or mistreated him in some way, I spend alot of timing thinking about everything to see if theres some way possible I did something wrong
I also think about could this be a late reaction to having other fish in the tank, maybe he wants all the attention if that's the case then I brought this on my self

[Doctor_Reef]

I don't know if that could be the problem or not....Just hard to get into a fishes head!!!! But don't be hard on yourself you have been more than in a rescue mode for several weeks now and have tried everything that you and others can think of....So my friend just hang in there!!!!

[EXVISOR]

im trying, its just hard, cant help but think, cant sleep at night ecause all I do is think, I just wish I had the answer to what's gong on so I could fix it, if its the other fish that is causing him to act this way I would gladly give thm back to the store or find a good home for them but I hate to give them up is thats not whats bothering him so Im just playing the waiting game to see what happens, every morning I wake up thinking culd today be the day he eats