How long to treat with Metronidazole?

[JoshuaG]

I just started treatment with Seachem Metronidazole for my Angel who I believe has hexamita. I mixed it as directed with Focus in some frozen mysis, the fish have been eating it now for 2 days. I can't find anywhere how long treatment should be, any advice?

On a side note, my Naso who I thought was perfectly healthy had 4-5 white stringy pieces of poo coming out today. Seems he had something as well!

 

[ssavader]

Marine fish "drink" copious amounts of water daily to avoid dehydration in a salt water environment. So, medicated water is passed through the gut continuously. Hexamita, a flagellated protozoan, lives in the gut of fish.

Treatment can be two pronged and administered simultaneously:

1) Remove any charcoal from filter, treat QT w/Metronidazole at concentration recommended for 48 hours, then repeat dosing at same concentration for second 48 hour period >> then, do 50% water change and place fresh (rinsed) charcoal in filter.

2) In order to deliver concentrated Metronidazole to the fish's gut, prepare fish food with Metronidazole as directed and feed fish medicated food for 10 days.

Repeat 50% water change, add fresh carbon to filter. Monitor fish closely for resolution of symptoms. NOTE: Some people have claimed that Hexamita is exacerbated by the presence of carbon (due to irritation of pores on fishes head and lateral line by carbon dust which leads to secondary infection). Others have also claimed that treatment with high quality green vegetables (food grade nori) can aid in healing as well.