Columnaris And The Treatment Period

[JmeSomers]

Hi All!

Last week I discovered that my rainbow fish had developed Columnaris on his mouth. It was late in the day and by the time I was able to dose the tank (24 hrs later) with "methylene blue", the fishes mouth looked angry and swollen.

I have read the guide for the fish, and it stated that they should be treated for 7 days. I have read online and some say 3 days. What I am worried about is that the rainbows mouth isn't as angry but is still swollen.

My Tank:
2 Angelfish
4 Rainbows
1 Guppy
3 White cloud minnows
3 xray tetras
4 glass cats
1 plec
1 corry

I have a 150 liter tank with living plants (currently in another tank because the treatment would kill them). It is a mature tank and the fish have been together for at least 3 months. I do water changes every 2 weeks about 30-50% depending.

Now, some background leading to this. My male guppy was being bullied by the Angelfish about 3 weeks ago. As a result he had some fin damage and I noticed that he had a swollen stomach so I put him in quarentine within the tank and dosed it with an antibiotic once a week for 2 weeks. So all the fish were dosed.

I was told by my local pet store that if my rainbow wasn't ok within the week of treatment, that he should be taken out of the tank and killed. I just don't know if I should redose or take her advice? Sounds cruel to me but at the same time, I would rather see one fish die than my whole tank.

Can anyone suggest the next route for me to take?

Kind Regards,
Jaime

 

[Luzi]

You should read the guide that comes with the medicine and treat for however long it says on there. If you don't want to overdose the other fish you should put your rainbow in a treatment tank and carry on medicating there. it's best not to euthanize until you're absolutely sure that the fish can't be saved, so if there's been some improvement it's better to carry on treating the fish.

 

[bricko]

I had a columnaris outbreak on my festivum a few weeks back and treated with Melafix and Pimafix combined and aquarium salt. I also performed daily water changes every day of around 25% and ran the treatment for a week with great effect. All is now cleared up and looking good again.

 

[JmeSomers]

You should read the guide that comes with the medicine and treat for however long it says on there. If you don't want to overdose the other fish you should put your rainbow in a treatment tank and carry on medicating there. it's best not to euthanize until you're absolutely sure that the fish can't be saved, so if there's been some improvement it's better to carry on treating the fish.

I was told that I had to do the whole tank because it is so contagious and that most likely the other fish in the tank would have it too. The pamplet that came with the medication isn't clear. It says that you should leave it for 7 days, do a 30% water change and that is it. My point is that it is well over 7 days, I have done the water change today and am not sure to redose or not because it isn't completely cleared.

I chatted with my LFC today and he said to give them 3 days to go back to him and that he has something very powerful that will get rid of it, he just tries not to encourage it. Sorry don't know the name of the meds.


I will keep this posted, thanks.

I had a columnaris outbreak on my festivum a few weeks back and treated with Melafix and Pimafix combined and aquarium salt. I also performed daily water changes every day of around 25% and ran the treatment for a week with great effect. All is now cleared up and looking good again.

Thanks for the advise. I have already treated the tank with Intercept Methelyne Blue which is all I can get in Ireland. It is supposed to be effective although it has been the 7 days and it is still not cleared up.