Melafix
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Melafix is a brand of aquarium medicine made by Mars Fishcare, marketed as a natural remedy for
bacterial infections Pathogenic bacteria are bacteria that can cause disease. This article focuses on the bacteria that are pathogenic to humans. Most species of bacteria are harmless and many are beneficial but others can cause infectious diseases. The number of t ...
, made from cajeput oil.


Uses

Melafix is used by hobby fishkeepers to treat and prevent bacterial
fish diseases Like humans and other animals, fish suffer from diseases and parasites. Fish defences against disease are specific and non-specific. Non-specific defences include skin and scales, as well as the mucus layer secreted by the epidermis that traps ...
, including
fin rot Fin rot is the phenomenon where the fins of a fish gradually decay and are eventually destroyed. Typically, fin rot is either a symptom of a disease, oftentimes a bacterial or fungal infection, but it can also sometimes be a disease by itself. Fi ...
and cottonmouth disease. It is an option for those who prefer to use natural remedies on their tank. However, among
aquarist An aquarist is a person who manages aquariums, either professionally or as a hobby. They typically care for aquatic animals, including fish and marine invertebrates. Some may care for aquatic mammals. Aquarists often work at public aquariums. They ...
s, its usefulness is debated on the basis of its efficacy and potential harm to
anabantoid The Anabantoidei are a suborder of anabantiform ray-finned freshwater fish distinguished by their possession of a lung-like labyrinth organ, which enables them to breathe air. The fish in the Anabantoidei suborder are known as anabantoids or la ...
fish such as ''
Betta splendens The Siamese fighting fish (''Betta splendens''), commonly known as the betta, is a freshwater fish native to Southeast Asia, namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is one of 76 species of the genus ''Bett ...
''. It is also sometimes used in laboratory settings involving fish. In an effort to improve
animal welfare Animal welfare is the quality of life and overall well-being of animals. Formal standards of animal welfare vary between contexts, but are debated mostly by animal welfare groups, legislators, and academics. Animal welfare science uses measures ...
of studied fish, Rácz ''et al.'' refined a protocol for the tagging of
zebrafish The zebrafish (''Danio rerio'') is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Danionidae of the order Cypriniformes. Native to South Asia, it is a popular aquarium fish, frequently sold under the trade name zebra danio (an ...
(an important
model organism A model organism is a non-human species that is extensively studied to understand particular biological phenomena, with the expectation that discoveries made in the model organism will provide insight into the workings of other organisms. Mo ...
) which includes the use of Melafix as a post-procedure antiseptic. The product is on the list of approved treatments for fish during mandatory quarantine after being imported to Australia.


Safety and efficacy

A 2015 study on Melafix found it had no antibacterial properties against several common fish pathogens, and suggested that reports of success with the product from hobbyists might point to
immunostimulant Immunostimulants, also known as immunostimulators, are substances (drugs and nutrients) that stimulate the immune system usually in a non-specific manner by inducing activation or increasing activity of any of its components. One notable example i ...
properties instead. It also concluded that the product had no harmful impact on either
goldfish The goldfish (''Carassius auratus'') is a freshwater fish in the family Cyprinidae of the order Cypriniformes. It is commonly kept as a pet in indoor aquariums, and is one of the most popular aquarium fish. Goldfish released into the w ...
or common clownfish. Another study the same year tested its efficacy against the common
guppy The Greater Underwater Propulsion Power Program (GUPPY) was initiated by the United States Navy after World War II to improve the submerged speed, maneuverability, and endurance of its submarines. (The "Y" in the acronym was added for pronouncea ...
parasite, '' Gyrodactylus turnbulli''. An ''
in vitro ''In vitro'' (meaning ''in glass'', or ''in the glass'') Research, studies are performed with Cell (biology), cells or biological molecules outside their normal biological context. Colloquially called "test-tube experiments", these studies in ...
'' experiment found that Melafix, as well as the cajeput oil and an emulsifier used in the product tested separately, were as effective against the parasite as the
antihelminthic Anthelmintics or antihelminthics are a group of antiparasitic drugs that expel parasitic worms (helminths) and other internal parasites from the body by either stunning or killing them without causing significant damage to the host. They may also ...
drug
Levamisole Levamisole, sold under the brand name Ergamisol among others, is a medication used to treat parasitic worm infections, specifically ascariasis and hookworm infections. It is taken by mouth. Side effects may include abdominal pain, vomiting, ...
. An ''
in vivo Studies that are ''in vivo'' (Latin for "within the living"; often not italicized in English) are those in which the effects of various biological entities are tested on whole, living organisms or cells, usually animals, including humans, an ...
'' experiment found Melafix highly effective against the parasite when used in combination with another product from the company, Pimafix. However, neither product was significantly different than the control on its own.


References

Fish medicine Veterinary drugs Mars brands {{Veterinary-med-stub