Mixing Garlic in food...?

[Agamemnon]

So I'm planning on starting to mix garlic into my frozen brine and mysis to overall help with immune health. I know of Garlic Extreme and that seems to be a popular method. I would imagine that pressing a fresh clove of garlic and adding it to the food may be even more beneficial? I grow my own garlic so is pretty plentiful in supply so I figured I would try and use it fresh if I could. Does anyone have a method they used for mixing in DYI garlic in food? I just put a clove through and little hand press and it in a tiny tupperware container in the fridge. Then added a little bit to some thawed out brine/mysis I strained through a net. Then added a little tank water in my feeding cup and let it sit for 5 min and soak. Sound good? Or is there a better way? Thanks for all helpful responses.

 

[stingythingy45]

You will be wasting your time.There is absolutley no facts supporting that garlic does anything for fish.

 

[inverted]

You will be wasting your time.There is absolutley no facts supporting that garlic does anything for fish.

We'll that's not really true, as I recall, there were a few studies that showed in increases metabolism, causing the fish to burn through food quicker (maybe why they seem to eat more) and in high doses may lead to kidney and liver disease... If you meant no evidence that it boosts immune function then I agree. I think there may be some evidence that it can interfere with chemo reception of certain parasites, but IIRC this was questionable. Regular use may do more harm than good though for all we know. Generally organisms have enzymes to break down specific foods, if it's not a natural food, they probably won't have the right enzymes and will have trouble digesting it. This can lead to complications such as the potential ones mentioned above. Never know, generally if it doesn't come from the ocean though, I try to avoider regular feeding of it...

 

[Nicole79]

Im not looking to start a war here, but in my experience garlic has its usefullness

I used a combination of garlic Extreme and metronidazole as a last hope effort to treat Ick in my reef tank, I wont claim that it was the Garlic alone and I cant know for sure BUT the ICK was gone (from the fish) completely in 3 days. I have heard good and bad about it but the thought of breaking down my reef to catch the fish and then set up a second tank and quarantine all my fish to treat with a copper based treatment for 8 weeks is not something I want to do while working full time and being a mom to four kids..I'm exhausted as it is! lol

I noticed no ill effects on any of my corals, anemone, snails or crabs and the fish all seem fat and happy.My water parameters stayed great as well, Of course time will tell, but i was pretty impressed at how quickly it seemed to work. it all happened in the past week, the fish have been clear for only 2 days, I have my fingers crossed. Im going to continue for a few more days to be on the safe side..

If it was just a coincidence or a fluke (no pun intended) i will go to plan be and set up a sick tank, but for me Garlic seems to have some usefullness.
That being said, I don't think I would dose daily as I have been for this treatment, but I do think I will add a little when i do water changes

 

[Agamemnon]

All advice is much appreciated. It has been suggested to me that garlic is somewhat beneficail to immune health as well as Selcon. I had an outbreak of ich in the last month and lost a few fish regetably. I will set up a QT if I have to but don't want to stress out my remaining livestock moving them if I could help it. As none of my remaining livestock are showing any signs of ich, are eating well and are not acting strangely. I have so much liverock it would be very difficult to catch everyone without alot of moving structure and stress. I've read up here and know it is not the best way and only "managing" ich by not QT'ing the remaining fish but thats my choice and I'll suffer the consequences. The hard way or otherwise.


If anyone else has had luck with Garlic (Extreme or natural), Selcon or Kick Ich, etc. Please comment and let me know your experience. Thanks again for your advice/experiences.

 

[stingythingy45]

I've used Selcon in the past.
It will help "manage" ich as it has Omega 3 fatty acids in a concentration and contains Vitamin B12 and stabilized Vitamin C to help enhance the immune system.

 

[P-Nut]

I heard that garlic is good because parasites dont like it, so when the fish eats it, the parasites dont attach it. kinda like OFF for mosquitoes.

A friend had a tang that one day had 3 black dots, and 3 days later had around 10 black dots. He started adding garlic to the water and food. in less than a week all the black dots were gone and didnt come back. Because of that I bought the kent garlic and always feed it to my fish.

 

[THE WOOKIE]

Even if there is no proof it helps, when i feed my fish garlic there is a feeding frenzy. Even my wrasses like it. I used some minced garlic from the store soaked it in water for a hour, then i let it dry out over night, in the morning i would add four or five drops of selcon to it and feed my fish once the garlic absorbed it all. I have also soaked my tangs nori in garlic juice before to entice him to eat. Garlic is used in many of my rubber worms and frogs for bass fishing, it seems to entice freshwater fish to feed so i don't see why it would not make a SW fish want to also. Some of the newer soft plastic baits are even infused with coffee grounds and other spices.