Two fish dead and one with strange looking disease...

[Zcddrew]

Found two dead African cichlids in my tank this morning. Examined all the other fish and found one fish bloated with what looks to be a hole in his gut. Any idea what this is? Anything I should do?

 

[kno4te]

Could be columnaris. Would dose with kanamycin and furan2. Keep the temps low 70s and add salt 1 tsp per g.

 

[Zcddrew]

Could be columnaris. Would dose with kanamycin and furan2. Keep the temps low 70s and add salt 1 tsp per g.

What kind of salt should I do?

 

[The Morning]

I am not an expert on columnaris but what are the other inhabitants of the tank. That almost looks like something took a bite out of it.

 

[Zcddrew]

I am not an expert on columnaris but what are the other inhabitants of the tank. That almost looks like something took a bite out of it.

It's an all african cichlid tank, mix of mbuna and haps

 

[kno4te]

What kind of salt should I do?

Any salt will do except Epsom salt.

 

[squint]

Aeromonas would be a good guess. Columnaris ulcers spread wide rather than deep.

They're all Gram negative aerobes so it's not that important to know the specific bacteria. Aeromonas is generally more resistant to antibiotics than Columnaris though.

I would recommend a vet since the antibiotics that Aeromonas isn't resistant to are often prescription and injectable.