Blog
Which Carp Disinfectant Should You Choose?
Choosing the right carp antiseptic is not as obvious as it may seem. The market is flooded with a multitude of antiseptics that vary in composition, density, and properties. For most anglers, an antiseptic is an antiseptic regardless of the brand, type, etc. Often, people buy the cheapest antiseptics just to have something in their bag, but that's not the point. We should always use antiseptics on every caught fish, not only by applying or spraying the wound from the hook but also on areas of the fish's body where there are injuries or, for example, missing scales after contact with a landing net or unhooking mat.
Below we present a classification of disinfectants according to their types:
- Disinfectants in spray form or disinfectants with a watery consistency: Such disinfectants are generally the cheapest and most convenient to use, but they have one flaw, they have a "watery" consistency and quickly flow off after application to a wound, and their effectiveness practically disappears upon contact with water. They are good for preliminary disinfection. An example of such a disinfectant is CarpRus Carp Doctor:
- The second group of disinfectants are gel-based disinfectants. They have good antiseptic properties and stay on the wound longer even when the fish is back in the water. They often contain ingredients that accelerate wound healing. An example of a gel disinfectant is Kryston KLIN-IK Medi Skin.
- Propolis-based disinfectants. Such disinfectants are the best due to their antiseptic and healing properties. They contain specially selected propolis which has strong disinfecting properties, killing close to 100% of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. An important advantage of such a disinfectant is that it is in liquid form, and upon contact with water, it coagulates and sticks to the wound, forming a kind of dressing that remains on the fish wound for several days. Thanks to this property, it isolates the wound from the external environment, allowing it to heal faster. Examples of propolis disinfectants include Nash Medicarp or Korda Propolis Carp Care Liquid.
- Disinfectants based on gentian violet. These are popular and very cheap disinfectants. They are effective but only provide temporary treatment of the wound. Upon contact with water, they lose their properties, and also stain the wound/body of the carp purple. Even after a long period, this color does not fade from the wound and looks unsightly.
In summary - it is best to use propolis-based disinfectants and gel-based ones if we want the fish wound to be protected from infections for a longer time. Spray disinfectants prove to be a good "first" disinfectant after removing the hook from the fish's mouth because their thin consistency penetrates the wound well and reaches all difficult-to-access places. After disinfecting with a spray, it is still worthwhile to treat the wound with a propolis-based or gel agent before releasing the fish back into the water, as it will seal the wound and provide longer protection and faster healing.
