Just a bit of reading which i have found for those that have taken an interest
Identification:
If staining for identification, Mycobacteria stain bright pink against a blue background (as these bacterium are acid fast).
However, most aquarium fish keepers do not have the ability to grow cultures or make slides; so the symptoms of Fish TB are usually wasting away, lesions on the fish' body, loss of scales and/or coloration, and especially skeletal deformities such as curved spines.
The fish in the picture above (
please click to enlarge) displays classic symptoms of Fish TB in finage, skeletal deformity, and wasting to the point light can slightly penetrate her abdomen as seen in the light spot.
From
Testing for "Fish TB"; AquariaCentral
Mycobacterium triplex can only be identified by 16S rDNA sequencing, so positive identification is difficult.
Treatment:
Mycobacterium marinum
Time of Treatment is VERY long and is generally administered for at least three months.
A hospital tank treatment is advised for fish TB since this generally is a very long treatment regimen and a three month treatment of ANY antibiotic can result in serious damage to your aquarium bio filter.
The three most proven antibiotic methods, which can
and should be used in a combination of two of these drugs along with the other described alternative treatments:
*
Kanamycin (Kanaplex)
*
Neomycin
*
Isoniazid (from Aquarium Medications Part 2)
A forth consideration, albeit less field tested (it does show lab results though) is
Usnea, which from my experience should only be administered in a "Fish Bath" form for 30 minutes. Methylene Blue should also be used in this bath, but no other antibiotics should be used in this bath with Usena.
These baths can be rotated; meaning one bath with Usena and Methylene Blue and the next bath with MB along with one or two of the other antibiotics, then back to the Usnea
Usnea is best as a used as a bath ALONG with an in tank treatment with one of the first three noted medications (or better hospital tank).
Further Information:
Organic Fish Treatments; Usnea
A
fifth consideration is Allicin, the active ingredient in Garlic. Mycobacterium marinum) has been demonstrated to be effectively treated with Allicin, at least in vitro.
SeaChem Garlic Guard can be used in a fish food slurry preparation and mixed with both Neomycin and Kanamycin for improving the potential effectiveness of tuberculosis treatment.
See:
Fish Nutrition; Garlic
ISONIAZID 300 mg:
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Symptoms include: the fish have been sick for several months, the fish is lethargic, anorexic, has fin or scale loss and a sunken stomach.
Isoniazid Can be combined with Kanamycin or Neomycin.
As noted, Isoniazid is used alone or can be used with other drugs to treat tuberculosis (TB) and to prevent it in fish that have had contact with tuberculosis bacteria.
It eliminates ONLY ACTIVE (growing) bacteria.
Since the bacteria may exist in a resting (nongrowing) state for long periods, therapy with isoniazid (and other antituberculosis drugs) MUST be continued for a long time (usually 6-12 months) often making TB treatments in aquariums impractical due to costs, time, and damage to the aquatic environment (I strongly recommend using a quarantine tank).
Unfortunately, Isoniazid has become very difficult to obtain since the premier aquarium medications company, "Aquatronics" went out of business due to the declining business climate in the aquarium industry.
Neomycin is an alternative for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, as well Kanamycin is considered a second line drug for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (not a first line since many strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are resistant to Kanamycin) An organic alternative is Usnea, which has shown very good lab results in treating the Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
For more about Usnea, please see this Aquarium Answers article:
USNEA; USING USNIC ACID AS A FISH REMEDY
Note: Aquatic tuberculosis can be very difficult to treat (in fact nearly impossible). Also note that this is caused by a very similar bacterium in human TB, but is not the same, and the only danger to humans is to an open wound exposed to the bacterium, which then only causes a localized rash.
Further Reference about TB in Fish:
TB in Fish, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
DOSAGE: 1 tablet per 20 gallons, every other day for 14- 30 days
www.aquarium-pond-answers.com/2012/04/tb-in-fish-mycobacterium[/URL]
but then he didn't eat any and swam off in the corner and slumped in the sand like a sad sack. It broke my heart. Any advice on how to get him to eat again? Is it because of the meds and all the water changes? Other than that his color is still there, but he's been pretty chill and scoots around on the bottom. barely see him swim anymore. 