Kryston Klin-Ik Shield

This is a bit like that statement in the Marmite advertisements, “You either love it or hate it.” Not that there is anything to hate about Shield, but if you already use the original Klin-ik, which is still available, then you may well ask, what’s the point of buying this new Shield?

Good question! In the past, so many anglers have argued that Bonjela is the best for treating wounds on carp because it forms a barrier that “stays on better in the water”. Look at what Wikipedia says about Bonjela –

“Bonjela gel contains ethanol, glycerol, menthol, choline salicylate, cetalkonium chloride, hyperomellose 4500, anise oil and sodium saccharin intended to kill bacteria around the sore. The choline salicylate, a derivative of aspirin, provides pain relief.”

Now I’m not knocking Bonjela, it’s a terrific product for use in a human mouth and particularly for babies during teething. With fish, I want something designed for a fish and I have used Klin-ik solution for years now and it must be good stuff when Koi keepers and even the EA fisheries officers use it! I’ve even used it on myself when I accidentally shoved a baiting needle through my finger two years ago. I trust it and all I am told is it contains ingredients found in an operating theatre, a veterinary’s surgery, and a dentist’s!

New Shield has all the antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-parasitic ingredients of the original Klin-ik solution with one addition, a thick and sticky gel that will dry slightly to form a kind of plaster over the fish’s wound. And this stuff really does stick, a bit like a PVA/latex glue, but I hasten to add, I have not been told what it is except that it is harmless and will fall off after a few days or perhaps sooner if the fish is very active in weed!

In a test carried out on an aquarium fish, I am told, the Shield gel plaster was still on a treated fish more than 48 hours later. Look at the photograph, this is not a scientific test by any means, I was just mucking about, but all that is holding the 1/2 oz weight to my finger is the Shield. That weight was well stuck on and even a gentle shaking wouldn’t loosen it. Try doing that with Bonjela!

Shield is ideal when a fish loses a scale, for instance, dab the immediate area dry and apply Shield rubbing it around the wound. Keep the remaining parts of the fish damp and out of the sun, of course, but after a minute or two, the Shield will have formed a barrier and the fish can be released. For deeper wounds and lesions treat them first with normal Klin-ik solution and dab off any excess before applying the Shield.

Don’t bother using it in the fish’s mouth. The fish will more than likely just suck it off immediately and spit it out, a complete waste of time and Shield. Just use it on any external wounds including foul-hookings.

So, should you buy it?

If you have previously used Bonjela you should now use Shield and save the Bonjela for a gumboil. If you are happy just using Klin-ik, then by all means carry on just using that, it’s still the best and most penetrating of any treatment. If you want a perfect two-phase treatment that is proven to be the very best for all fish, then buy Klin-ik and Klin-ik Shield. Both are still available!

It’s all you carp anglers who have argued that you want something that will stick to a fish even when it’s released into the water, you should buy it. It’s you that have asked for this. There’s no excuse now for using inadequate human treatments on fish and as for myself, both Klin-ik and Klin-ik Shield will be coming with me in future, just on the off chance.

rating: 10/10