What’s up with the false information spread on social media for cures that work or don’t?

  • I’m not sure if any of you guys are on any Facebook groups, but I’ve seen a TON of false information being spread when it comes to what cures work and don’t for specific diseases. For example I’m seeing a trend of people who are saying heat doesn’t kill ich no matter how hot, or that white cotton fungus isn’t treatable now. Any idea on why so many have committed to spreading false information recently?


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  • Sadly like a range of topics, many either just don’t know, or have received false information from others (even other websites or communities) and they think that it is correct.

    With Ich specifically I have seen this a ton of times where many state that heat doesn’t kill them no matter how hot (or the temperature it does will fry all of the fish), but this has been proven false in many studies and that heat alone can eradicate it completely it the temperature increase is 15F above when they first appeared (or from the tank that they originally appeared from). Similarly have seen many people note specific medicine is or isn’t invert safe when it is under correct dosaging.

  • I do know that people tend to try to help others, with what has worked for them (or others) in the past, but sometimes, the very thing that would be a good thing for one, could very well go bad for another. I would rather get a fish vet to help, than to trust Facebook. Just personal preference here.

  • I think it often happens that a few people start a misinformation campaign or even just are mistaken themselves, and then other well-intentioned people share their posts thinking they are true. Before long, it spreads to more and more people. Unfortunately, on the Internet, it's quite easy for misinformation to spread quickly and widely.

  • I think it often happens that a few people start a misinformation campaign or even just are mistaken themselves, and then other well-intentioned people share their posts thinking they are true. Before long, it spreads to more and more people. Unfortunately, on the Internet, it's quite easy for misinformation to spread quickly and widely.

    That's true. Think how many people hit "share" on anything they find interesting without taking the time to fact-check it first.

  • Social media is just a common meeting place, we have to be careful as where we get information from. It is better to get specialised information from specific sites like our forum where, people who are really interested in the topic share and contribute their knowledge instead of listening to some random strangers without any experience in maintaining an aquarium. My advise is whenever you are going to try some new treatment or new procedure to your aquarium, always do it in an isolated separate tank with some fishes rather than trying our in your main tank with all your fishes.

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