The Role of Antibiotics in the Aquarium

By Quinn Baker

If you own a pet fish or have an aquarium you have probably had to deal with the issue of disease. Keeping the tank clean and balanced helps but even this is no guarantee against the development of disease. Multiple products have been sold to help cure diseases in fish, some good, some not so good. Here I would like to explain the possible uses for antibiotics to treat fish disease.

Please be advised that antibiotics are powerful and potentially dangerous medications and should be used as a last resort after other treatment failures. Discussing your case with a professional is a good idea to make sure that antibiotics are really indicated. Use a hospital or quarantine tank if possible and don't use any carbon filtration during treatment. That being said, here a list of commonly used medications.

1) Penicillins: The most well know class of antibiotics. Includes amoxicillin, ampicillin and of course penicillin. The penicillins are broad spectrum antibiotics used to treat gram-positive and some types of gram-negative bacteria. The penicillins are commonly used for the treatment of Sin ulcerations, Columnaris disease, White Body Slime, Infected eyes, Pop-eye, Fin and Tail Rot and Gill disease.

2) Tetracyclines: The most commonly used medications in this class include tetracycline, doxycycline and minocycline. The tetracyclines are broad spectrum antibiotics that are most effective against gram-negative bacteria. They can be useful for Fin and Tail Rot, Pop-eye, Gill disease, General Listlessness, Anorexia or other Unusual Behavior and Internal infections.

3) Macrolides: The most commonly used medication in this class is erythromycin. The macrolides are broad spectrum antibiotics with a similar but broader range than the penicillins. They are also effective against some atypical bacteria. The macrolides are useful for Clamped fins, Swollen eyes, Heavy or Rapid breathing and Patchy coloration.

4) Quinolones: This class of medication is quite potent and can be effective where others fail because it stops bacterial replication and DNA repair. Ciprofloxacin is the most popular and can be used to fight Vibrios, Furunculosis, Flexibacteria, Aeromonas and Columnaris infection.

This has been a very brief synopsis of the possible uses for antibiotics for the treatment of common ornamental fish diseases. Please consult your local aquatic specialist for proper diagnosis and treatment if you are concerned with the health of your fish or the health of your tank as a whole. - 29953

About the Author:

Sign Up for our Free Newsletter

Enter email address here