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The Role of Antibiotics in the Aquarium

Posted on 06. Dec, 2009 by Quinn Baker in Medications

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.

Always remember that antibiotics are strong medications which should only be used after other types of treatment modalities have proved ineffective. Also it is important to point out that antibiotics only treat bacterial infections and are not beneficial for viral infections. It is a good idea to seek professional guidance when using these medications and be sure to use them in a hospital tank if you can so you don’t harm any good bacteria in your main tank. Remove any carbon filtration so the medicine won’t be filtered out. Now on with the list.

1) Penicillins: This is the most frequently used class of medication. It includes penicillin, ampicillin and amoxicillin. These are broad spectrum medications which are effective against many types of gram-positive and some gram-negative organisms. They can be effective treatments for Fin and Tail Rot, Pop-eye, Gill disease, Infected eyes, Skin ulcerations, White Body Slime and Columnaris dieases.

2) Tetracyclines: Several commonly used medications in this class are tetracycline, minocycline and doxycycline. These are broad spectrum antibiotics most effective for gram-negative organisms. Often used to treat Gill disease, Fin and Tail Rot, Pop-eye, Anorexia or other Unusual Behavior, Internal infections and General Listlessness.

3) Macrolides: A broad spectrum antibiotic with similar coverage of the penicillin class, but with a broader range. The most common and well know is erythromycin. The macrolides can help with Patchy coloration, Clamped fins, Heavy or Rapid breathing and Swollen eyes.

4) Quinolones: Ciprofloxacin is the most well know quinolone. The quinolones inhibit DNA repair and block bacterial replication and can therefore be effective against bacteria resistant to other antibiotics. Quinolones are particularly useful against Aeromonas, Vibrios, Furunculosis, Flexibacteria and Columnaris infection.

This concludes my discussion of some of the popular antibiotics used in the treatment of ornamental fish diseases. I hope you have found it to be useful. As always, before starting any medication, check with a fish specialist who can recommend the best treatment.

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