I just recently bought a bottle of Tetra Pond Desafin. Apparently, it is supposed to cure parasites and bacterial infections.

However, when I examined the bottle, after the fact, I realized that it had expired last month, 7/04. ((bought through the mail))..... I don't have the receipt anymore.

I also fear that the formaldehyde and quinine might interfere with the water treatments that I use. I've been using Amquel which caused my goldies a bit of distress, so I went out and bought a bottle of Stress Coat w/Aloe Vera.

Should this be a concern or should I just wipe away my fear and use it? Perhaps too, should I use less than the suggested amount and mix it with the Stress Coat water treatment......

((The stress coat is supposed to do exactly what the Amquel does, remove chlorine and chloramine. But, it also replaces the natural slime coating on the fish.))

What do you think?


Thx!!!!
Adreamer2
awriter2dream@yahoo.com

The expiration dates on chemicals are usually pretty conservative so the Desafin is still probably useable. I've never used it myself so I can't say how detrimental it is to a pond's life. I avoid using the more toxic fish "medications." I don't think that Stress-Coat interferes with an fish medications to any noticeable extent. I wouldn't mix the two together in a bucket or anything but mix and add each separately to the pond. When trying a new toxic sort of medication, it is useful to try it at half a dose for a few days to see how the animals react before doing a full dose. I have soft water so full doses of certain "medications" are much more deadly than in hard water.

What is it that you are treating or trying to cure?

white spots, and eratic swimming.
There okay they don't always act like that all the time, but that was something i noticed. And one is very calm, and stays alone.

adreamer2
awriter2dream@yahoo.com

If the white spots look like salt on the fish, then that's probably ick and a parasite medication would be in order. Not having done a pond (just tanks) I don't know which medication would be the best to use (least toxic, most effective, cost effective, etc.). Anyone else have recommendations?