Erythromycin is not effective agianst true fungus ("EM", as it is called, is
an antibiotic, so is made to treat bacteria, not fungus). If what you are
treating really isn't fungus (some of the things we think are fungus are
not), then antibiotics ARE called for. Make sure you have someone truely
knoweledgeable diagnose what your fish have. Then you will be sure you are
using the right drug for the problem.
Also EM is an old drug, used for literally decades, and the majority of
bacteria found in aquarium fish are resistant to it. In other words, EM is
essentially useless for most of what you would ever buy it for. :-(
Treating with antibiotics (for fish AND people) should not be done lightly,
as resistant bacteria are always developing as a result of drug misuse.
If the fish have true fungus, there are antifungal medicines that would help
them more. If they are suffering from a bacterial infection of their wounds,
and antibiotics are called for, I would like to suggest you choose a more
effective drug than the EM. If the problem is minor, it is often possible to
treat the fish with only really good TLC and they could recover on their
own. Not being able to see these fish, I will have to leave that up to you
and someone who is experienced in proper diagnosis of fish in your area.
:-)
Whichever antibiotic you use, please be sure to follow all directions, do
water changes in between doses, treat for AT LEAST 10 DAYS (very important
to help prevent bacteria becoming reisitant to the drug used!), and add
carbon/do water changes to fully remove the drugs once the treatment is
completed. Also, don't use antibiotics unless you really have to. Drugs are
tough on fish and fish tanks.
There *are* generic and bulk drugs available, and you can also treat in a
smaller "hospital" tank (say, a ten gallon tank) to save money by using a
smaller amount of the drugs. Remove carbon while treating or the drug will
be adsorbed by the carbon before it can help the fish.
Hopefully the other "Rainbow Gurus" on this list will give their opions on
this as well, especially Doc Hansen and Gary.
Julie <><
>From: "Darcey Harding" <darceyh at drizzle.com>
>Reply-To: r_m_l at yahoogroups.com
>To: <r_m_l at yahoogroups.com>
>Subject: [RML] Tank bullies
>Date: Sun, 13 Feb 2005 18:07:01 -0800
>
>I have two Melanotaenia herbertaxelrodi males that have become pretty darn
>pugnacious lately. Despite their smaller size, these guys are constantly
>colored
>up, darting around, and are beating up several bigger rainbows on a
>disturbingly
>regular basis. One of their victims now has nasty bruises on both sides and
>I'm
>treating him separately for fungus.
>
>It's a heavily planted 125-gallon community tank. Rainbows, loaches, and an
>algae crew. I often see pairs of rainbows spawning, but it's usually out of
>sight and any eggs get eaten very quickly. Two questions:\
>
>1) can I get some kind of cheaper, generic version of Maracyn
>(erythromycin?)
>Mardel charges an arm and a leg for it.
>2) Can't they all just get along? Any suggestions for dealing with a bully
>fish
>appreciated.
>
>Thanks