Bacterial Infection.

[JamesTasker]

Well, I have lost a lot of fish recently to what must be a bacterial infection. I posted in the gourami forum where we thought it might be TB but the guy at the lfs (who seems pretty knowledgable to me) said that my symptoms weren't necessarily caused by TB - he said that emanciation would be a more definite symptom.

The symptoms were varied and all sorts of the fish listed in the signature died, but not all of them fortunately. The symptoms were heavy 'breathing', loss of appetite, ulceration, frayed fins and scratching. I think some of the ones left also have this because they 'scratch'.

I treated the tank for 6 days with myxazin but it hasn't seemed to help - as soon as i stopped using it 6 neon tetras died (I posted in the emergency forum about this but didn't get much of a response).

I'm really not sure what to do next because if I don't know what it is then i can't really treat it. .

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I have been advised to treat internal bacteria infections with Epsom salts (available at Boots for £1 or so) at one tablespoon per 19litres.

Other than that I have use the Interpet med 'anti internal bacteria' which works well IME.

HTH

 

[JamesTasker]

I have Epsom salts (which I was advised to treat constipation). Is it just sodium chloride or does magnesium sulphate count as 'salt' and will harm loaches? And would the salts kill the beneficial bacteria as well? Thanks for the suggestions - very useful .

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Hmmmm dunno about the loaches. You might not want to risk it. I can recommend the interpet med though. I just wanted to suggest something else before meds.

 

[JamesTasker]

Ok thanks, I'll try interpet. I hope it will be better than the myxazin which didn't seem to do anything. Waste of money .

 

[Tropjunky]

well i'd always go get meds that are for fish as u can never be sure of what goes in things that are ment for us. I was advised on using salt in my gold fish tank the guy said any salt would do just use about a tablespoon of it and well i was new to it all so i did well the fish didn't like it and died so USE MEDICATION MADE FOR FISH.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

well i'd always go get meds that are for fish as u can never be sure of what goes in things that are ment for us. I was advised on using salt in my gold fish tank the guy said any salt would do just use about a tablespoon of it and well i was new to it all so i did well the fish didn't like it and died so USE MEDICATION MADE FOR FISH.

I entirely disagree. Meds should be a last option. Aquarium salt can be very good for most fis bar salt intollerant fish.

I doubt the salt had anything to do with the goldfish's death. The salt should be added slowly and at 1 tablespoon per 19 litres. Epsom salts work very well, it is a more natural remedy.

 

[JamesTasker]

Its not that I don't know what's in Epsom salts because they are just magnesium sulphate, I was just bothered about the loaches. THe guy at the fish shop might know - he seems fairly helpful.

 

[Fish Buddy]

I was advised on using salt in my gold fish tank the guy said any salt would do just use about a tablespoon of it and well i was new to it all so i did well the fish didn't like it and died

Did you use your table salt? Table salt has iodine in it and that is harmful to fish... might have killed them

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I was advised on using salt in my gold fish tank the guy said any salt would do just use about a tablespoon of it and well i was new to it all so i did well the fish didn't like it and died

Did you use your table salt? Table salt has iodine in it and that is harmful to fish... might have killed them

Also anticaking ingredients are harmful. Aquarium salts should be used or Epsom in the case of an internal infection.

 

[JamesTasker]

Just out of interest, does anyone else know whether Epsom salts are harmful to loaches?
Thank you very much .

 

[Tropjunky]

well i'd always go get meds that are for fish as u can never be sure of what goes in things that are ment for us. I was advised on using salt in my gold fish tank the guy said any salt would do just use about a tablespoon of it and well i was new to it all so i did well the fish didn't like it and died so USE MEDICATION MADE FOR FISH.

I entirely disagree. Meds should be a last option. Aquarium salt can be very good for most fis bar salt intollerant fish.

I doubt the salt had anything to do with the goldfish's death. The salt should be added slowly and at 1 tablespoon per 19 litres. Epsom salts work very well, it is a more natural remedy.

Well i've always used Meds as a 1st choice unless there's a natural remidy to treat the problem like metaflex. I'm not saying that getting something that was not ment 4 fish is bad but i've had some nasty experiances b4 and i'd stick to stuff that says safe to use on fish and if possible on the bactria in my filter.