In the past months I have been struggling with a columnaris problem in a melanotaenia praecox tank and have lost many fish. I have tried different treatments (kanamycin; Maracyn I and II; Acryflavine) with mitigated results.
The solution was too simple for me to see :
1) Salt dip (1,5 tablespoon/L) for 10 to 20 seconds. The fish immediately starts to float and to turn on his side. When put back in the tank, he may have lost coloration, that is only transitional.
2) Salt in the tank (2 tablespoons/10 gallons)
When the infection is rapidly treated, the fish may heal after only one dip. It is also possible to do more dips.
Studies have shown that columnaris bacterias do not thrive well in salted water. Anyway, I don't think the salt dip kills the bacterias but it promotes the formation of a strong mucus coat on the fish, which helps it to fight the disease.
Antibiotics fight the bacterias; salt dip helps the fish to fight by himself the bacterias.
The solution was too simple for me to see :
1) Salt dip (1,5 tablespoon/L) for 10 to 20 seconds. The fish immediately starts to float and to turn on his side. When put back in the tank, he may have lost coloration, that is only transitional.
2) Salt in the tank (2 tablespoons/10 gallons)
When the infection is rapidly treated, the fish may heal after only one dip. It is also possible to do more dips.
Studies have shown that columnaris bacterias do not thrive well in salted water. Anyway, I don't think the salt dip kills the bacterias but it promotes the formation of a strong mucus coat on the fish, which helps it to fight the disease.
Antibiotics fight the bacterias; salt dip helps the fish to fight by himself the bacterias.
