Pond Meds?

[indigoj]

Hi, Can you help at all?

I've had a couple of problems in my big tank (6ftx2ftx2ft) recently. Water stats are all ok - ammonia and nitrite 0, nitrate between 20-40 depening whether a water change just done or not.

Despite this I had a fungal problem about 3 months ago - fairly minor, no deaths. Then more recently an Oscar died within 24hrs of going in there - he got struck down with what (with help here) I have identified and treated as if it were columnaris with septacaemia. Another Oscar added at the same time has had a much milder case (see my sick oscar thread)

Now my big clarias is covered in what look like ulcers, to be honest I doubt he's going to make it as he's gone downhill very fast. Meds (myxazin) and water changes have made little difference. I can't isolate him yet as I've an Oscar in my hospital tank.

Rest of the stock - 2 pink kissing gourami and another clarias is fine though the smaller clarias and one kisser were the ones affected 3 months ago.

I have found a pond med - Interpet Koi Anti Fungus and Bacteria that claims to be successful against the flexibacter that causes columnaris but also says not suitable for Orfe, Rudd and Tench.

I know nothing about pond fish at all but this med sounds like it would treat my tank and hopefully get rid of the columnaris problem once and for all as stripping and drying out the tank to sterilise it really is not an option due to it's size. (couldn't lift it for starters, and nowhere to put the big fish)

I know and am of course wary of using strong meds but what are people's thoughts? Would this med work? Any other suggestions? Anyone treated tropical fish with it before?

Any thoughs and suggestions welcome, I'm in the UK so antibiotics are hard to come by and would also wipe out my filter bacteria which I could do with avoiding if at all possible.

 

[WILDER]

Ulcer are pink or red with a circling of dead white tissue around the edges.
Also ulcers can be caused by parasites.
Any signs of flicking and rubbing, and excess mucas.

There anti internal bacteria med by interpet and pimafix for columnaris and ulcers.

The pond med does it say what the bacteria med treats.
Does it list ingredients.

 

[indigoj]

Ulcers are red and white - like a hole in the skin. No flicking, rubbing or mucus. On more internet reading it seems to be a pond version of the interpet anti fungus med - says it treats fungus and bacteria, no list of ingredients though.

Is it possible to treat for external and internal bacteria at the same time? (eg 2 different meds?)

 

[WILDER]

For columnaris in the uk usually you have to use two meds. Anti internal bacteria med by interpet and pimafix.
Or myxazin by waterlife and pimafix.

The interpet anti fungus and finrot med not that good on columnaris.

Also the anti internal bacteria med by interpet for ulcers.

If you have a severe bacteria infection in your tanks lfs bought meds might not work.

 

[indigoj]

Done 2 courses of myxazin.

Will get Pimafix and try anti internal bacteria meds.

 

[WILDER]

Go in with anti internal bacteria med and pimafix.

If that dosn't do much you might need to get some antibiotics from the vet.
Antibiotics wipe the beneifical bacteria out in the filter.

 

[indigoj]

Clarias died in the night

He went from normal to dead in about 30 hours.

Still going to treat the whole tank and do a deep clean - boil the wood and other decor, maybe even remove the gravel and boil that. That is something for the wet weekend though.

For today a big water change and try to get hold of the internal bacteria meds

 

[WILDER]

Bless Him. R.I.P.

Good Luck with the rest of the fish.

 

[indigoj]

Thanks Wilder, thanks for your advice too.

 

[WILDER]

Good Luck.