Bacterial infection in tank

[acomps]

Hello All,

I have a main tank up and running with no issues. In my QT tank In the last few months I seem to get new fish and they die or get sick within a few days. While it was follow I ran copper in it for 30 days. Anyway I recently got a puffer from the LFS and it seems to be letharic almost right away. The next day I go down there and its eyes are cloudy and stopped eating. I treated it with Maracyan and it seems to be working. He isn't eating but is swimming and breathing fine. Just cloudy eyes. My questions are:

1. Can a bacterial infection stay in a tank? I have fresh RODI water all the time so I know it isn't a water issue. I do a partial change every two days. If so do i need to empty the tank and sterilize it?
2. How soon can I expect this puffer to get better/cleared. Again, still cloudy eyes seems like a mucus on it, and not eating. but breathing fine and swimming.
3. Can I run a Maracyan right away to help prevent a bacterial infection?

Thank you

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Hello All,

I have a main tank up and running with no issues. In my QT tank In the last few months I seem to get new fish and they die or get sick within a few days. While it was follow I ran copper in it for 30 days. Anyway I recently got a puffer from the LFS and it seems to be letharic almost right away. The next day I go down there and its eyes are cloudy and stopped eating. I treated it with Maracyan and it seems to be working. He isn't eating but is swimming and breathing fine. Just cloudy eyes. My questions are:

1. Can a bacterial infection stay in a tank? I have fresh RODI water all the time so I know it isn't a water issue. I do a partial change every two days. If so do i need to empty the tank and sterilize it?
2. How soon can I expect this puffer to get better/cleared. Again, still cloudy eyes seems like a mucus on it, and not eating. but breathing fine and swimming.
3. Can I run a Maracyan right away to help prevent a bacterial infection?

Thank you

Maracyn is Erythromycin - it is mostly effective against gram positive bacteria, but most marine fish disease causing bacteria are gram negative. Then, most of those bacteria are normally found in aquariums, they only become a disease when fish have damaged immune systems or some injury. A better choice would be Neomycin or Kanamycin. All three should be dosed in a hospital tank though, as they can harm the beneficial bacterial in a display tank.

Can you post a video of the puffer? It may not have a bacterial infection.....

 

[acomps]

Maracyn is Erythromycin - it is mostly effective against gram positive bacteria, but most marine fish disease causing bacteria are gram negative. Then, most of those bacteria are normally found in aquariums, they only become a disease when fish have damaged immune systems or some injury. A better choice would be Neomycin or Kanamycin. All three should be dosed in a hospital tank though, as they can harm the beneficial bacterial in a display tank.

Can you post a video of the puffer? It may not have a bacterial infection.....

I will get a video when I get some time. I also am using Maracyn 2 which is gram negative too? So I am using both at the same time.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I will get a video when I get some time. I also am using Maracyn 2 which is gram negative too? So I am using both at the same time.

Maracyn 2 is Minocycline - that does not work well in marine aquariums (despite what they say). The calcium in seawater deactivates that antibiotic.

 

[acomps]

I will get a video when I get some time. I also am using Maracyn 2 which is gram negative too? So I am using both at the same time.

Also thank you Jay. Should I use those medications during quarantine for a preventative? -

Neomycin or Kanamycin - is that the same as neoplex and kanaplex?

 

[acomps]

 

[acomps]

I brought him home last thursday, He ate thrsday friday and saturday while not moving much. I suspect I got him getting sick. I come down sunday and he had cloudy yes and didn't eat. He is moving much better but the eyes are bad. Not eating either.

 

[Jay Hemdal]

I brought him home last thursday, He ate thrsday friday and saturday while not moving much. I suspect I got him getting sick. I come down sunday and he had cloudy yes and didn't eat. He is moving much better but the eyes are bad. Not eating either.

I don't see any signs of ich (another cause of cloudy eyes in this species) so I would treat with an antibiotic in a hospital tank. Yes, Neomycin and Kanamycin are the same as neoplex and kanaplex.

 

[MnFish1]

Hello All,

I have a main tank up and running with no issues. In my QT tank In the last few months I seem to get new fish and they die or get sick within a few days. While it was follow I ran copper in it for 30 days. Anyway I recently got a puffer from the LFS and it seems to be letharic almost right away. The next day I go down there and its eyes are cloudy and stopped eating. I treated it with Maracyan and it seems to be working. He isn't eating but is swimming and breathing fine. Just cloudy eyes. My questions are:

1. Can a bacterial infection stay in a tank? I have fresh RODI water all the time so I know it isn't a water issue. I do a partial change every two days. If so do i need to empty the tank and sterilize it?

I don't think it's a water issue (agree with you) - it could be a bacteria (like vibrio) thats established - but that would be uncommon with healthy fish. 2 recommendations (neither of which I would necessarily do) 1. Bleach your QT tank - and start over with it (including the filter and media). 2. Send a test to @AquaBiomics. Do you change your water and clean your 'QT tank' between fish? You should at least clean the tank - not necessarily the filter IMHO.

2. How soon can I expect this puffer to get better/cleared. Again, still cloudy eyes seems like a mucus on it, and not eating. but breathing fine and swimming.

No way of knowing. Can you send pictures, etc - not eating is going to be a problem. My guess the puffer issue is unrelated to bacteria in your tank, but rather issues with shipping stress, etc. What is in your filter- are you sue you're not filtering out the antibiotic?

3. Can I run a Maracyan right away to help prevent a bacterial infection?

You can - and maracyn will not prevent a bacterial infection unless the 'unknown' bacteria are sensitive to it. Where are you planning on 'running' Maracyn

Thank you

No problem - hope you get the answers you need - please keep updating - a picture or video under white light is often very helpful. PS I cant see your pictures or other media if you already posted a video - apologies

 

[acomps]

I don't think it's a water issue (agree with you) - it could be a bacteria (like vibrio) thats established - but that would be uncommon with healthy fish. 2 recommendations (neither of which I would necessarily do) 1. Bleach your QT tank - and start over with it (including the filter and media). 2. Send a test to @AquaBiomics. Do you change your water and clean your 'QT tank' between fish? You should at least clean the tank - not necessarily the filter IMHO.

No way of knowing. Can you send pictures, etc - not eating is going to be a problem. My guess the puffer issue is unrelated to bacteria in your tank, but rather issues with shipping stress, etc. What is in your filter- are you sue you're not filtering out the antibiotic?

You can - and maracyn will not prevent a bacterial infection unless the 'unknown' bacteria are sensitive to it. Where are you planning on 'running' Maracyn

No problem - hope you get the answers you need - please keep updating - a picture or video under white light is often very helpful. PS I cant see your pictures or other media if you already posted a video - apologies

Good news the puffer is eating today after not eating for 3 days. And looks on the mend.