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Hello Everyone,

Just thought i put up ths query of mine.. This may seem totally crazy but does anyone, ever use extracts of aloe vera for their tropical aquariums?

The reason I asked, I been using a 'stress forumla' from a store. It is a gel which contains natural aloe vera and it is used to kill the chlorine and also to maintain the natural slime on the fishes especially during times of stress and water changes.

So I guess it may seem logical, if using a bit of the natural slime from the aloe plant may be of use to aquariums? Anyone of the pros can answer this?

Regards
N.


Hobbyists

Hey, welcome to FishProfiles!

We discussed this not too long ago in relation to another Alove vera product called Melafix. See here: http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/thread.aspx?id=36669&rp=8

Your product sounds like Stress Coat sold here in the US. I use it to dechlorinate, but I've never used it for maintaining natural slime... Aloe vera, as a desert plant, is not exactly found in or near fish habitats. Your fish can be quite healthy without it.

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

If you use Aloe Vera in its pure form I can't see it being a problem, however I would not use hand creams that you would buy at the store, as it may have something in it that the fish would not like. Also aloe by itself will not remove the chlorine, there are other things in the water conditioner that do that.

thanks for the welcome! Great to be here..

yes off course, the aleo vera is from the aloe cactus grown here.. Not those cream products stuff..

Yes, the aloe containing product is Stress Coat but this one is a yelloq bottle and says 'Strss Coat" With Aloe Vera..

I know naturally, aloes wont be in the habitats of these fishes...



Hobbyists

Personally I've found most of them to be minor irritants more than beneficial. It only seemed to happen in bettas but they would dump their slime coat fairly regularly if I was using an aloe product.

If you do use it, keep an eye out for skin problems. Most people don't see any problems at all though


Shiggy, does your melafix have added aloe??


For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

Oh snap, you're right, Melafix doesn't contain aloe. It's been forever since I used it. Wow, I've been making that mistake for quite a while now...

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.