Are all Methylene Blue create equal?

[hypersushi]

Methylene Blue is Methyelene Blue right? It's basically made up of the same chemical formula. So my question is, why is there such a big price difference between brands.. some are very very cheap, some will burn a hole in your pocket. Does it really make any difference in performance?

[michael lai]

Well, to answer your question. There is research cost, QC cost, packaging and branding costs. And if I understand you correctly, nope not all are the same. Some just cure ICH alone, others cure a variety of diseases, some will not affect plants, not affect shrimps, not affect your biological filter. It makes a difference as time and time again proven, I don't quote from hearsay but extensively on hands experience with my own tanks and critters.
But lastly, just ask yourself this if you have a 'prized' critter would you risk it with the lowest medication available, a brand unheard of? Or a time tested brand, with a proven track record?

[Quixotic]

Hmm... interesting thoughts. I understand the costs and so on, but not too sure on the curing and affects part.

Isn't Methylene Blue just Methylene Blue chemically? So they should work the same right?

Unless some are marketing a compound product, that includes Methylene Blue, as "Methylene Blue" itself?

[michael lai]

Hmm...I would have to concur that. I believe either certain elements were taken off or added on. I have used the normal Met Blue with horrific results in one of my shrimp tanks( no brands please )and wipe out a batch of barilus sp in another tank. Some of the brands which I always recommend are those that have worked time and time again without fail. But as with all medications there will also be new developments along the treatment process.

[Barra21]

Well different brands have different costs due to (as already mentioned by the above bros, branding), and most importantly the concentration. Some cheaper ones u got to use lets say 3 capfuls but an expensive one will prob do the job in a capful. so if used long term, the more costly one might be more worth it.

[hypersushi]

OK, so I guess if all products were PURE Methylene Blue with no additives or neutralizers, then the cheapest one would do the exact same thing as the most expensive one if using the same dosage. So all those branded ones have something "extra" that differentiates it and makes it special...

[michael lai]

Hyper is there another question behind this one because it sure sounds like it. The something special you mentioned about is probably the research done into the product and the protozoan itself. Do not stumble into the 'pounds foolish, penny wise' syndrome.
If the fish is special then do not take the risk.

Ps: I used to take alot of panadol but the doctor said it is very bad for my gastric. Then came panadol which is stomach friendly but it is still panadol.

Ps: There are Viagra and Ciallis, then there are about 101 different brands in china which proclaim the same thing. I wouldn't take something that is named, "Holy land No 1 wolf". Would you??

There are such things as fake medicine even in our hobby.

[Quixotic]

Do they actually list the ingredients of the product? Some brands do list the ingredients, but I vaguely remember most of them do. That may actually help understand why some are different than others, though most probably won't care and won't understand.

[michael lai]

Precisely my point! Quixotic. Anyway, Hyper the cheapest Met blue I ever bought was in Malaysia( no pun intended ) after conversion about singapore $0.40 cents. It was in a bottle form, the packing looks strangely similar to another brand. It says cure ICH, no mentioned about dosage and the percentage of the compounds inside. Oh..the fish didn't make it either, that was 6-7 years ago.

Ps: Things back then I bought in bulk, I had like 1 box of those... which accounts for why it only costs $0.40.

[StanChung]

Hi Kevin[hypersushi],
Sometimes the fish is also beyond help no matter what you do. Prevention is best. Prudent selection of healthy fishes is best and take care not to shock them etc.

Knowing the enemy is also important-it's life cycle, when it's most vulnerable etc.

MB kills plants. A famous brand that uses low doses in addition to other additives says theirs is plant safe. I don't use it in my planted tanks for the reason it stains the hardscape. You also have to raise the temp to 30C to speed the pest's life cycle. Not good for the plants.

Best is some salt[1ppt] + some MB and air stone in a pail. Put the affected fish in and leave for 3 [or longer] days in somewhere warm or add small heater set to 30C.

Some don't make it but most usually do unless the problem wasn't ich itself but a weak immune system.
I've had the alpha couple in the tank totally unaffected by ich but the rest were severely affected.
How can this be explained?
I can only guess healthy fishes don't get sick, stressed fishes do.