Should Medications Be Your First Line of Defense?

Should Medications Be Your First Line of Defense?

by | Mar 7, 2022 | Best Choices, Freshwater Fish Keeping

Should Medications Be Your First Line of Defense?
submitted by Dena Edwards (Everything Aquatic) 2022

Over the years there has been a trend of reaching for medications without first analyzing the situation to determine if medications are appropriate. And this approach had been leading to medications losing effectiveness over the years. Back in the 80s Metronidazole was a miracle drug as it could treat both protozoa and bacterial disease; however, today it is useless on its own for bacteria and can only treat a small range of parasites.

Our first line of defense starts by following a proper quarantine process with new purchases. It is critical to have enough time to evaluate the overall health of new purchases to avoid spreading disease. I have always held new fish 2-4 weeks minimum in QT. Once I got very busy and fish ended up being in QT for much longer. And I learned a difficult lesson too as at 6 weeks in QT the new fish started to develop a flesh eating bacteria. And by 4 months everything was lost. If I had moved them into my main tank at a month I potentially could have lost everything, not just the new fish. So now, I QT for 3 months minimum.

I am aware that many fish-keepers use medications as a preventative measure; however, most medications are not intended for such use. I am not going to say anything is wrong with this practice, but I will say if medications are not used appropriately then resistance can build up and medications will become less effective. I am also aware that those who import fish will notice over time fish will arrive with certain issues from specific vendors; and they will immediately medicate. This is a different approach in my mind to just tossing in meds to see what sticks or when there is no identified issue. Each of us will follow what we are comfortable doing and need to make educated decisions.

I have been approached by many recently asking for recommendations on what medication to use, yet have no idea what they want to treat. Without first evaluating to identify the root cause there is no way to recommend anything other than moving to a QT and closely monitoring the fish in questions. Anyone who approaches me with this type of situation asking for recommendations on which medication to use I always ask for the following information:

What are the current water parameters? Specifics are required to determine if the tank is cycled and being maintained with enough water changes
Ask how often water changes are done and the water volume. There is nothing better for freshwater fish than fresh water. Same is true on a smaller scale for saltwater environments. Doing water changes not only removes waste, but it also replenishes minerals that are lost to growing fish and to hungry plants.
How long have the fish been in your tank? We they quarantined?
What tankmates are in the tank? Need to rule out incompatibility in species, such as keeping long finned fish with notorious nippers

With the case of fin rot, it is very different from environmental damage. Rot is often noticed at the fin tips and will gradually eat away at the fins; plus the fin edges will be very dark in most cases. Environmental damage will appear as ripped or torn edges or shredded finage. And when fins begin to repair themselves they will first look clear or white on the edges and many think this is fin rot when it is actually fin growth. Any time there is no sign of actual rot, the first approach is to do nothing more than offering a variety of high quality foods, doing small daily water changes and sometimes adding botanicals to add tannins to the tank. And in 1-2 weeks the fins will repair themselves.

We don’t take antibiotics for a leg cramp or a migraine, so why would we do so for our pets?

Powerful Ways to Become Your Best Self Today

Powerful Ways to Become Your Best Self Today

by | Sep 7, 2021 | Best Choices, Mental Wellness

Powerful Ways to Become Your Best Self Today
submitted by Cheryl Conklin
www.wellnesscentral.info
2/15/21

You know that you are capable of great things. If you achieve your potential, you’d feel confident, assertive, and ready to take on the world. Well, what’s stopping you? It’s easy to soothe the mind, to tell ourselves we’ll get to future greatness later. But if you’re going to look, be and feel your best – there’s no time like the present to start.

If you push yourself to grow and develop gradually, you will reap the benefits tenfold for a great life. Here’s what to do, presented by SLC Aquatics.

Focus on Healthy Habits

If you feel good, you look good. And https://www.insider.com/ways-to-look-feel-more-attractive-confident-2017-8 has proven that when you look good, your confidence skyrockets. Start from within by nourishing your body and fuelling it well for all your activities. Incorporate lots of fresh greens and protein to feel light and refreshed, and avoid fatty, oily foods that can make you feel heavy and bloated.

Start spending a portion of your day moving in some shape or form – according to VeryWell Health, even 30 minutes of exercise can work wonders in preventing the effects of old age down the line. It’s mind, body, and spirit for a reason – so try and incorporate a meditation practice into your daily routine. This will center you and fill you with the gratitude and appreciation needed to take on each day.

Embrace the ‘Goal-Digger’ Mindset

Get goal setting. Consider the most important areas of your life, and visualize how they would look in the ideal situation. Then, think of concrete goals to help get you there. Set both short and long-term goals to create the life you’ve always dreamt of. Short-term goals could include saving up for a car or phone, while long-term goals could be landing that dream job or investing in a worry-free retirement.

And don’t forget to switch your life up if it’s not aligning with your future goals. For example, if you’re working a job that isn’t serving you, it might be better for your stress levels and mental health to make a change. If you want to switch careers, consider going back to school to brush up on the required skills for your intended industry. Some programs allow you to explore various careers simultaneously – from criminal justice to business and psychology. Online degree programs make it easy to get a master’s while working and managing home life. Just make sure the school you refer to is accredited and offers competitive tuition fees, and you’ll be good to go!

Obliterate That Comfort Zone

Your comfort zone exists for one reason and one reason only – to be broken. While you may feel confident and calm within your safety net, you can only evolve when you push yourself. According to Greater Good Magazine, the adrenaline and serotonin released when you challenge yourself releases powerful endorphins, evoking feelings of confidence and power. If you’re resistant to change, start small – having that difficult conversation you’ve been putting off is a place to start. Adventure sports, travel, breaking your routine – all these activities require bravery but come with immense satisfaction and fulfillment.

Positive Thoughts Only

Healthline reports that the way you speak to yourself is make or break. Rather than beating yourself down, drowning in insecurity, and nitpicking your behaviors, learn to work with what you’ve got. Repeating positive affirmations and mantras will help you coach your way to betterness and help you believe that you are already your ideal self.

We hope these powerful tips help you along your self-actualization journey. The stresses and pressures of daily life may bring you down, and becoming your best self may seem unattainable, but we are here to tell you it is not. Big change starts slow, so give yourself time to develop into a healthier, happier you.