Where can I get metronidazole in AU?

[Beano]

It's now apparent that my big oscar seems to have a hexamita infection
- single long strand of white membranous looking faeces, been there for
24 hours.

I've seen it written about the place that you should use metranidazole
for this. Problem is, it doesn't seem to be such a common finding in
Pet/fish stockists in Australia. It's only on ebay from overseas
sellers, and I'm pretty sure it's illegal to import medication from
overseas.

Is there something else that will work? As I don't really feel like
pretending that I have a gastric ulcer so I can get some prescribed to
me!

[swarvegorilla]

"Beano" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> It's now apparent that my big oscar seems to have a hexamita infection
> - single long strand of white membranous looking faeces, been there for
> 24 hours.
>
> I've seen it written about the place that you should use metranidazole
> for this. Problem is, it doesn't seem to be such a common finding in
> Pet/fish stockists in Australia. It's only on ebay from overseas
> sellers, and I'm pretty sure it's illegal to import medication from
> overseas.
>
> Is there something else that will work? As I don't really feel like
> pretending that I have a gastric ulcer so I can get some prescribed to
> me!
>

Go to a vet.
Say it's hole in the head.
SHouldn't be a prob

[NoSpam]

swarvegorilla wrote:
> "Beano" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>
>>It's now apparent that my big oscar seems to have a hexamita infection
>>- single long strand of white membranous looking faeces, been there for
>>24 hours.
>>
>>I've seen it written about the place that you should use metranidazole
>>for this. Problem is, it doesn't seem to be such a common finding in
>>Pet/fish stockists in Australia. It's only on ebay from overseas
>>sellers, and I'm pretty sure it's illegal to import medication from
>>overseas.
>>
>>Is there something else that will work? As I don't really feel like
>>pretending that I have a gastric ulcer so I can get some prescribed to
>>me!
>>
>
>
> Go to a vet.
> Say it's hole in the head.
> SHouldn't be a prob
>
>
I get my supplies online from www.thatpetplace.com and I just checked
and they do ship around the world. You'll have to contact them by phone
or email for shipping cost. I also checked for metronidazole and it
sells for $42.49 for 100 grams. I use the stuff and it's great. It
doesn't mess with the bio filter and can be added directly to your tank
water. I use it whenever I add new fish as a preventive measure and it's
safe when used correctly. These people are great with answers to
questions you may have. Just bring up their website and put
metronidazole in the search box and you'll get the product. Hope this
helps. Good luck..

[Koi-Lo]

"swarvegorilla" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Beano" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>> It's now apparent that my big oscar seems to have a hexamita infection
>> - single long strand of white membranous looking faeces, been there for
>> 24 hours.
>>
>> I've seen it written about the place that you should use metranidazole
>> for this. Problem is, it doesn't seem to be such a common finding in
>> Pet/fish stockists in Australia. It's only on ebay from overseas
>> sellers, and I'm pretty sure it's illegal to import medication from
>> overseas.
>>
>> Is there something else that will work? As I don't really feel like
>> pretending that I have a gastric ulcer so I can get some prescribed to
>> me!
>>
>
> Go to a vet.
> Say it's hole in the head.
> SHouldn't be a prob
=============================
Here if you want an antibiotic from a vet they want you to bring the fish or
pet in so they can charge you $40+ just to look at it.
--
Koi-Lo....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Frank]

Beano wrote,
>Problem is, it doesn't seem to be such a common finding in
>Pet/fish stockists in Australia....

Mabe under another name - sold around here as Hex-a-mit.............
Frank

[Beano]

I checked for Hex-a-mit. The only Australian websites that come up on
the search just tell you to use it, there's no sites to purchase it.

I figured the vet would have it - I really love this fish, but I
honestly didn't think vets looked at fish... I thought fish were one of
those animals where the vet would laugh and say "meh, just flush
it!"...

Has anyone here taken a fish to the vet???

[Sunny]

"Koi-Lo" > wrote in message
...
<snip>
> Here if you want an antibiotic from a vet they want you to bring the fish
> or pet in so they can charge you $40+ just to look at it.

Went to our local pet shop vet here in Aus, explained what was wrong with my
Betta.
She gave me two antibiotic tablets with instructions - aud$ 5.00 :-)

[[email protected]]

NoSpam wrote:

> swarvegorilla wrote:
>
>> "Beano" > wrote in message
>> oups.com...
>>
>>> It's now apparent that my big oscar seems to have a hexamita infection
>>> - single long strand of white membranous looking faeces, been there for
>>> 24 hours.
>>>
>>> I've seen it written about the place that you should use metranidazole
>>> for this. Problem is, it doesn't seem to be such a common finding in
>>> Pet/fish stockists in Australia. It's only on ebay from overseas
>>> sellers, and I'm pretty sure it's illegal to import medication from
>>> overseas.
>>>
>>> Is there something else that will work? As I don't really feel like
>>> pretending that I have a gastric ulcer so I can get some prescribed to
>>> me!
>>>
>>
>>
>> Go to a vet.
>> Say it's hole in the head.
>> SHouldn't be a prob
>>
> I get my supplies online from www.thatpetplace.com and I just checked
> and they do ship around the world. You'll have to contact them by phone
> or email for shipping cost. I also checked for metronidazole and it
> sells for $42.49 for 100 grams. I use the stuff and it's great. It
> doesn't mess with the bio filter and can be added directly to your tank
> water. I use it whenever I add new fish as a preventive measure and it's
> safe when used correctly. These people are great with answers to
> questions you may have. Just bring up their website and put
> metronidazole in the search box and you'll get the product. Hope this
> helps. Good luck..


i love that place!! i live about an hour from there and im there like
every 3-4 weeks

[Nikki]

"Beano" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>I checked for Hex-a-mit. The only Australian websites that come up on
> the search just tell you to use it, there's no sites to purchase it.
>
> I figured the vet would have it - I really love this fish, but I
> honestly didn't think vets looked at fish... I thought fish were one of
> those animals where the vet would laugh and say "meh, just flush
> it!"...
>
> Has anyone here taken a fish to the vet???
>

yes call around, not all will, but you should be able to find one who will.
or even call and talk to them about what is wrong and maybe you can have
them give you the med you need.
Nik
sorry oscar is not feeling well, hope it works out

[Beano]

well if that fails, does Protozin do the job against hexamita? I can
get some of that mail order in Aust for reasonable price. Possible
that the big fish shop will have it too. I'm sure it's not as good...

[Mellie101]

Hi, i had this with one of my goldfish. I was using 'quick cure' at
the time for a fungal infections and then gave her some antibiotic
food. It was a long process but did work in eventually. Probably not
much help but maybe an alternative if you can't get anything else. I
assume that you can get antibiotic food in AU? The fish hated it but
the problem did stop. Haven't seen anything resembling it for at least
5-6 weeks now.

I'm a newbie and so not experienced like the other 'pro's' here.
It worked for me
Mellie

[Koi-Lo]

Moments before spontaneously combusting <Sunny> at
> was heard opining:

> "Koi-Lo" > wrote in message
> ...
> <snip>
>> Here if you want an antibiotic from a vet they want you to bring the
>> fish or pet in so they can charge you $40+ just to look at it.
>
> Went to our local pet shop vet here in Aus, explained what was wrong
> with my Betta.
> She gave me two antibiotic tablets with instructions - aud$ 5.00 :-)
========================
What a DEAL!!! Too many of our vets here are $$$$$ minded knowing
desperate people will pay the price. Speaking of vets - it cost us over
$300 the last time we took our 3 dogs in for their shots, and unwanted,
unneeded exam at $40 each, and heart-worm medication. Then we had to
replenish the HW meds every few months. Soon the cost of keeping dogs and
cats will be out to the price range of the poor and elderly.
--
Koi-Lo....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Frank]

Beano wrote,
>well if that fails, does Protozin do the job against hexamita?

No - Metronidazole is the drug of choice for the disease... Well, if
you can't find it at the petstore, you can always use Fenbenzadole. It
is a dewormer for livestock (sheep and cattle). You can buy it in
livestock or feed stores. An overdose can kill livestock, so watch what
your doing with it. Treatment and dose = 1/4 teaspoon per 20 gals.
Treat tank day 1, day 2 do a 50% water change, day 3 do another 50%
water change and retreat the tank. Repeat for 2 to 3 weeks. May be a
little hard to mix in the tank - pre-mix it in a jar so you can shake
real good, then pour into your tank. You do know, you will have to
treat *both* fish, don't you. Otherwise they will just reinfect each
other............ Frank

[Frank]

Beano wrote,
>but I honestly didn't think vets looked at fish...

There is one vet in the area that make house calls and will look at
fish - high dollar treatments. I used to put a few shoes on horses and
got to know a couple of vets - they eather call me or give out my phone
# when it comes to treating fish - most vets don't treat fish!
............. Frank

[Beano]

haha I just phoned one and they said "ummm, yeah we dont' really deal
with fish!" HA! If only it was like UK or USA here, where you can buy
things over the counter for your fish - it's not like the antibiotics
for fish would be cheaper, in fact I think they would cost more than
they would for humans... but the potential for abuse is high, and there
has been a few discussions about that here lately.

Thanks for your help everyone! I'll keep looking...

[Gill Passman]

Beano wrote:
> haha I just phoned one and they said "ummm, yeah we dont' really deal
> with fish!" HA! If only it was like UK or USA here, where you can buy
> things over the counter for your fish - it's not like the antibiotics
> for fish would be cheaper, in fact I think they would cost more than
> they would for humans... but the potential for abuse is high, and there
> has been a few discussions about that here lately.
>
> Thanks for your help everyone! I'll keep looking...
>

Hmm...like yourself, we cannot get anti-biotics in the UK without a
prescription from a vet...and long may it remain IMO...the number of
bacteria now immune to antibiotics is proof of the fact that
indiscriminate use of these drugs is wrong.....they were a great gift to
all of us...misuse has lessened this gift....feeding anti-biotics on a
hunch not just for fish but people as well as led to bacteria immune to
this treatment....my GP will no longer prescribe these drugs on his
medical opinion without lab reports....it is wrong for fish keepers to
give these type of drugs without the correct medical diagnosis...and as
a palative or preventitive treatment is even worse...

JMO but strongly held...

Gill

[Beano]

Gill Passman wrote:
> Beano wrote:
>> haha I just phoned one and they said "ummm, yeah we dont' really deal
>> with fish!" HA! If only it was like UK or USA here, where you can buy
>> things over the counter for your fish - it's not like the antibiotics
>> for fish would be cheaper, in fact I think they would cost more than
>> they would for humans... but the potential for abuse is high, and there
>> has been a few discussions about that here lately.
>>
>> Thanks for your help everyone! I'll keep looking...
>>
>
> Hmm...like yourself, we cannot get anti-biotics in the UK without a
> prescription from a vet...and long may it remain IMO...the number of
> bacteria now immune to antibiotics is proof of the fact that
> indiscriminate use of these drugs is wrong.....they were a great gift to
> all of us...misuse has lessened this gift....feeding anti-biotics on a
> hunch not just for fish but people as well as led to bacteria immune to
> this treatment....my GP will no longer prescribe these drugs on his
> medical opinion without lab reports....it is wrong for fish keepers to
> give these type of drugs without the correct medical diagnosis...and as
> a palative or preventitive treatment is even worse...
>
> JMO but strongly held...
>
> Gill

Yeah preventative use is bad. I'm a medical student, and after years of
hearing people get told to take the whole course of antibiotics, I still
know doctors who don't take the whole course!! But the downside to
taking the whole course is if it's not working, then you create
selection pressure, which weeds out all the susceptible bacteria and
leaves the resistant one, then you end up with a colony of resistant
bacteria in you that you can't get rid of. That's why in hospitals,
you'll see them prescribe about 3 antibiotics at once (to cover what
they think the bug could be) and then when the find out, immediately
cease the ones that aren't required and continue with the one that is,
or change it completely without finishing a course. But still, it would
be interesting to find out the results of this practice after years,
whether it's better, worse, or no different. I suppose I should go and
find some articles in case this is on my exam...

[Nikki]

"Beano" > wrote in message
...
> Gill Passman wrote:
>> Beano wrote:
>>> haha I just phoned one and they said "ummm, yeah we dont' really deal
>>> with fish!" HA! If only it was like UK or USA here, where you can buy
>>> things over the counter for your fish - it's not like the antibiotics
>>> for fish would be cheaper, in fact I think they would cost more than
>>> they would for humans... but the potential for abuse is high, and there
>>> has been a few discussions about that here lately.
>>>
>>> Thanks for your help everyone! I'll keep looking...
>>>
>>
>> Hmm...like yourself, we cannot get anti-biotics in the UK without a
>> prescription from a vet...and long may it remain IMO...the number of
>> bacteria now immune to antibiotics is proof of the fact that
>> indiscriminate use of these drugs is wrong.....they were a great gift to
>> all of us...misuse has lessened this gift....feeding anti-biotics on a
>> hunch not just for fish but people as well as led to bacteria immune to
>> this treatment....my GP will no longer prescribe these drugs on his
>> medical opinion without lab reports....it is wrong for fish keepers to
>> give these type of drugs without the correct medical diagnosis...and as a
>> palative or preventitive treatment is even worse...
>>
>> JMO but strongly held...
>>
>> Gill
>
> Yeah preventative use is bad. I'm a medical student, and after years of
> hearing people get told to take the whole course of antibiotics, I still
> know doctors who don't take the whole course!! But the downside to taking
> the whole course is if it's not working, then you create selection
> pressure, which weeds out all the susceptible bacteria and leaves the
> resistant one, then you end up with a colony of resistant bacteria in you
> that you can't get rid of. That's why in hospitals, you'll see them
> prescribe about 3 antibiotics at once (to cover what they think the bug
> could be) and then when the find out, immediately cease the ones that
> aren't required and continue with the one that is, or change it completely
> without finishing a course. But still, it would be interesting to find
> out the results of this practice after years, whether it's better, worse,
> or no different. I suppose I should go and find some articles in case
> this is on my exam...

(off topic)
My 6 year old son Luke has health problems asthma/sinus being two major ones
we deal with a lot, two years ago he got a sinus infection that would not go
away for at least two months, it set off his asthma to the point he was on
oxygen, in the hospital, they did several treatments of amoxicillin through
that winter, which I was against but was forced being he was in bad shape,
this past winter he started again and the first antibiotic they gave was
amoxicillin by the second dose he was covered head to toe in fluid filled
bubbles and could not breath, I wondered if it had to do with them giving
him so much of it the year before, I know sometimes you can just become
allergic to something but it was strange that it was amoxicillin that they
kept giving him and it caused such a bad reaction.
Nik
PS: at one point they gave us a script for antibiotics with four refills and
said any time his nose is running and his eyes are swollen start him on the
antibiotics because its a sinus infection, ugh that's when we decided to get
him a different doctor, now he only gets them when its effecting his asthma
and causing breathing problems, and we are trying to treat what's causing
the problems instead of just treating the symptoms.

[swarvegorilla]

"Mellie101" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Hi, i had this with one of my goldfish. I was using 'quick cure' at
> the time for a fungal infections and then gave her some antibiotic
> food. It was a long process but did work in eventually. Probably not
> much help but maybe an alternative if you can't get anything else. I
> assume that you can get antibiotic food in AU? The fish hated it but
> the problem did stop. Haven't seen anything resembling it for at least
> 5-6 weeks now.
>
> I'm a newbie and so not experienced like the other 'pro's' here.
> It worked for me
> Mellie
>

No you can't get it easily which is good.
It's a very useful drug and it's stupid to just use it all the time.
It wipes out gut bacteria, and continued use leads to resistant strains of
badeeeeees!
Anyway if you have a real use ya can see a vet.
It's a cheap med dude but ya don't wanna just use it at every chance....
Try some spinach/pea/geletin/fresh crushed garlic and beef heart.
Might just need a clean out
or could be worms either way dam

[swarvegorilla]

"Beano" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>I checked for Hex-a-mit. The only Australian websites that come up on
> the search just tell you to use it, there's no sites to purchase it.
>
> I figured the vet would have it - I really love this fish, but I
> honestly didn't think vets looked at fish... I thought fish were one of
> those animals where the vet would laugh and say "meh, just flush
> it!"...
>
> Has anyone here taken a fish to the vet???
>

Many a time.
We cut them up together sometimes.
very romantic
LOL
nah it's good to know sometimes and a good fish vet is worth gold

[Beano]

I remember watching "Harry's practice" on TV here in australia where
this lady took a budgy to the vet which had a massive tumour on it's
leg, it couldn't stand on the perch - they drained it, even though
Harry said it would come back pretty quick. I remember thinking, gees,
all that effort for a bird... now look at me with my fish! He's even
getting vitamins on his food, talk about spoilt!

[Frank]

Beano wrote,
>haha I just phoned one and they said "ummm, yeah we dont' really deal
>with fish!" ...

That's what I thought would happen - well, did you find the
Fenbenzadole (livestock dewormer) - it works...

> If only it was like UK or USA here, where you can buy
>things over the counter for your fish....

Being able to treat your own fish is a lot better than just sitting
around watching them die! Almost like the 'no gun' gun law - at least
here, if we are getting shot at, we can (and have the right) to shoot
back ;-) ............. Frank

[Beano]

Frank wrote:
> Beano wrote,
>> haha I just phoned one and they said "ummm, yeah we dont' really deal
>> with fish!" ...
>
> That's what I thought would happen - well, did you find the
> Fenbenzadole (livestock dewormer) - it works...
>
>> If only it was like UK or USA here, where you can buy
>> things over the counter for your fish....
>
> Being able to treat your own fish is a lot better than just sitting
> around watching them die! Almost like the 'no gun' gun law - at least
> here, if we are getting shot at, we can (and have the right) to shoot
> back ;-) ............. Frank
>

hahah!! I think in Aus, we could probably shoot back in self defence,
if someone was shooting at us, you had just better make sure that gun is
a registered farming or sporting firearm... actually come to think about
it I'm not sure farmers are allowed to have guns... unless they are for
shooting for sport of course...