Lactoferrin for treatment of Ich

[Randyp79]

I came across some literature which discusses the effectiveness of oral administration of Lactoferrin against cryptocaryon irritans in red seabream. I also found an article that states Lactoferrin improves physiological conditions of fish held under deteriorating conditions.

I am wondering if anyone has tried adding this to fish food?

 

[Dmorty217]

It may help the fish but at what concentration in the food? It's not a proven method so it would be a lot of what if's type deal... Same can be said about ORP and ich and fish

 

[Randyp79]

From the abstract of the study...


"The defensive effect of bovine lactoferrin on Cryptocaryon irritans infection of red sea bream, Pagrus major, was studied. Neither mortality nor clinical sign of white spot disease was observed in the fish orally administered with lactoferrin (40 mg/kg body weight/day) for 28 days, whereas most untreated controls died within 28 days. These facts suggest that the lactoferrin has a defensive effect on C. irritans infection of red sea bream."

 

[Dmorty217]

Seems it does work. I guess if you were able to get the 40mg/kg body weight/ day in each individual piece of food it would work. Not sure how you would be certain you accomplished this? Orally feeding a fish for 28 days straight forcefully that is is easier said then done and at the very least would require sedation of said fish to avoid injuring the fish. Not that it can't work but it will be more involved then you're making it out to be

 

[ThRoewer]

Immune boosters like this or beta-glucan can work, though they are not an actual treatment, but rather a preventive measure.

This particular case seems to be geared towards fish farms. With many of the same fish that get fed with pelleted food it is possible to administer it via food.
In a reef tank with a very diverse population of fish it will be hard to get everyone to eat the same food in the right ammount.