About 10-12 days ago I isolated 3 praecox because 1 of them developed a
'growth' on its side & a 2nd had reddish gills & respiratory distress(?) ie
gulping. I decided to 'treat' them with salt & promethyasul rather than do
nothing. To my amazement, the 'growth' started to become smaller & has remained
so. however, both are still unwell & I've since seen a p'graph of a rainbow
with the same looking growth that had a diagnosis of mycobacteriosis. So I'm
now 99% convinced that's what they have (plus the other 2 that died several
weeks ago).
Question 1: as 2 of these 3 praecox are obviously sick, I'd like to contact
someone who knows what they're doing ie autopsy & acid-fast bacilli test for
myco eg Steve Pyecroft in Brisbane. Adrian or Bruce, can you put me in contact
with him please? or someone else/other advice?
The praecox have come out of a tank with about 20 other reasonably mature
rainbows (boesmani; incisus; trifasciata; splendida australis; parkinsoni)
clown loaches, corys, bristle nose & a silver shark. Last night I noticed that
2 of the 3 parkinsoni have, I think, inflamed looking gills - pinkish in
colour, progressing to their underside. So I guess that the myco infection is
progressing in the primary tank...
Question 2: given the discussion re kanamycin, do you think it's worth a try ie
an attempt to halt spread to the other rainbows? If so, any suggestions how I
might obtain some? I'd be prepared to try the university vet school if you
think it's appropriate.
Question 3: Any point isolating the parkinsoni at this stage? At this rate I
could end up with several 'infected' tanks!!
Finally, re contamination from the 'infected' tanks to others...I'm keeping
cleaning equipment etc separate for the time being but if these bacteria
normally live in water, would the bugs still survive, for example, on a fish
net if it had been rinsed & then allowed to dry?
Deanne