Melafix and Pimafix pulled off the shelf?

[Edgezilla]

Not sure where this goes. I called up a store tonight and they said melafix got pulled off their shelves by health Canada. Anyone has the word on the news behind this?

Also, Does anyone know if there any store that carry the melafix and pimafix value pack (1 8 oz bottle of each)? I got the value pack last year from Big als online but couldn't find the valuepack on the page now.

[fishenthusiast]

Strange, I wonder why. I bought some Melafix today from Kramer's. Not sure if they have the value pack, I wasn't looking for it.

I think I am going to do some searching to figure out why it would be pulled:idea:.

[Melody]

All Aquarium Pharmaceuticals products (or most) have been pulled by Health Canada as 'unsuitable'.

There has recently been a crack-down on antibiotics being sold illegally by pet stores when they should only be available by prescription. I don't know if that's the law in Canada or not, but it appears that something similar is up. Furan is one of the products pulled and that's one antibiotic named in the UK crack-down. Melafix isn't an antibiotic but I suppose if the company is under investigation they will be checking it out.

This is what went down in the UK:

Dealers Unknowingly Selling Illegal Antibiotics (http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=1135)

[Edgezilla]

Ugh.. talk about a terrible time to run out of melafix and pimafix

[Melody]

Call around and see who still has it, then move very quickly...lol. You can make your own 'Melafix (http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/forum/showthread.php?t=494)' - I haven't bought it in ages.:smile:

Melafix should return if it is indeed a case of illegal antibiotics.

I remember a store owner telling me that antibiotic food was only available by prescription here. He taught me how to make my own using the water antibiotics.

Antibiotics have been shown in studies to not do much for fish anyway. I think the University of Victoria studied that, come to think of it, I'll see if I can find the bookmark.

[Melody]

Here we go:

Evaluation of Aquarium Antibiotic Formulations (http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=444656)
T. J. Trust and Diane C. Chipman
Department of Bacteriology and Biochemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Yes, I do read too much :GEEK: :laugh: .

[Edgezilla]

Thanks, that is a good place to start. Any idea how to replicate pimafix?

[Melody]

If you can find a pure source of Pimenta Racemosa you can mix a 1% solution. I've never tried to find it but its worth a shot.