Is Maracyn Harmful To Catfish?

[BORGUSX]

Well, I used some Maracyn and later that day, one of my upside down catfish died! The only reason why I used it was because my Long Finned Black Skirt Tetras has fin rot and I didn't have a hospital tank! Note:That I'm in no position to buy a hospital tank at this moment! So, was it the Maracyn that killed my fish?

 

[WILDER]

Its more the parasite meds that cat fish don't tolerate to well.
Did you increase aeration in the tank as med reduce 02 in the water.

 

[BORGUSX]

How would you increase the aeration?

 

[WILDER]

If you can't turn your filter up, you run a pump and airstone.
Airstone are not only good for when using meds, there good in warm weather, some fish like playing in the bubbles.

 

[BORGUSX]

Well, the air filter is up, but I had to remove the charcoal from the filter? P.S. Can fish die from an oxygen-rich environment? In addition, the package for the Maracyn stated that I suppose to use it for 5 days, but if the fish didn't completely regenerate their fins within 5 days, are you suppose to keep using it until they are fully healed?

 

[WILDER]

Yes over oxygen can be bad.
Yes you can retreat, but make sure before you retreat that you don't have to do a water change and run some black carbon.

 

[BORGUSX]

What is black carbon? Thank you for your help, Wilder!

 

[WILDER]

Black carbon is used for removing meds, so if you have it in your tank you need to remove it when adding meds.
You only ever need to have black carbon in your filter when you are removing meds from the tank.
You can replace it with another sponge or filter floss, as running black carbon all the time is a waste of money.

 

[BORGUSX]

I check it up so are you referring the black carbon as the charcoal in the filter?

 

[Inchworm]

Hi BORGUSX

I think it's possible that your catfish was sick and died from whatever bacterial infection caused your tetras to have fin rot.

Maracyn is Erythromycin which is effective against gram-positive bacteria. I usually recommend that if you use Maracyn it's a good idea to use Maracyn2 (which treats gram-negative bacteria) at the same time. Or, use one of the broad spectrum antibiotics such as tetracycline.

It's also important to figure out what caused your fish to get sick in the first place and do whatever is necessary to remove the problem.

 

[WILDER]

I check it up so are you referring the black carbon as the charcoal in the filter?
Both the same I think.
Come under different names.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Doesn't maracyn kill of filter bacteria, so makes the tank mini-cycle? So isn't it posible that the fish died from unstable water quality conditions?

 

[Inchworm]

Doesn't maracyn kill of filter bacteria, so makes the tank mini-cycle? So isn't it posible that the fish died from unstable water quality conditions?

Hi Tokis-Phoenix :0

It's possible, but it seemed to me that it happened too quickly. I think you're on the right track though. The fin rot and death of the catfish were probably caused by a water quality problem. If it wasn't due to elevated ammonia, nitrate or nitrites, it might have been to to over feeding, insufficient water changes, temperature too high, or low oxygen content.

We don't know if the tank is overcrowded, if there are aggressive fish in with the peaceful ones, or if new fish have been added recently. Any of these factors might have brought on the disease too.