Mouth rot or mouth fungus is not a true fungus but rather a bacterial disease that can quickly kill fish. It is most often found in tanks that have a high bacterial load and need more frrequent water changes and gravel vacs, overfeeding is often one of the culprits.
The disease is Flexibacter columnaris and in the more virulent cases usually accompanied by a second infection of the Aeromonas bacteria. The disease can also manifest as tail-rot and cotton wool disease. It can also (less commonly) cause swollen, smelly bodies by expressing as systemic septicemia. Listless behavior and lack of appetite are also early symptoms.
It occurs most commonly in the spring.
The bacteria grows poorly at temps. below 76 degrees F. but very quickly above 77degrees F. so it is one of the diseases that you actually want to lower the temp. for, 74-75 F. is ideal during treatment. Aquarium salt at 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons will prevent most outbreaks but not all.
Once an outbreak does occur it is important to move quickly as small fish can succomb within 24 hrs and large ones within days.
The bacteria responds well to any antibiotics but the Aeromonas also often present responds best to minocycline while the Flexibacter is less responsive to that than to other drugs.
Kanacyn (kanamycin) will treat both. A simultanious use of both Maracyn (erythromycin) and Maracyn 2 (minocycline) is reported as treatment of choice but several other meds such as Tri-Sulfa, and Myxazin or interpet's Anti-fungus and Finrot are also reported as reliable treatments.
Anti-biotics usually impact on your biofilters bacterial colony so if possible bypass that and rely on mechanical filtration and water changes during treatment. Follow the dosage directions on any medication you choose to use.
Because it can also cause systemic internal infections feeding antibiotic medicated food during treatment is not a bad idea.
This information comes from both personal experience and a combination of several articles on the disease, the best of which is found at this website http://www.flippersandfins.net/flexibacter.htm#
Good luck,
Guppy
The disease is Flexibacter columnaris and in the more virulent cases usually accompanied by a second infection of the Aeromonas bacteria. The disease can also manifest as tail-rot and cotton wool disease. It can also (less commonly) cause swollen, smelly bodies by expressing as systemic septicemia. Listless behavior and lack of appetite are also early symptoms.
It occurs most commonly in the spring.
The bacteria grows poorly at temps. below 76 degrees F. but very quickly above 77degrees F. so it is one of the diseases that you actually want to lower the temp. for, 74-75 F. is ideal during treatment. Aquarium salt at 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons will prevent most outbreaks but not all.
Once an outbreak does occur it is important to move quickly as small fish can succomb within 24 hrs and large ones within days.
The bacteria responds well to any antibiotics but the Aeromonas also often present responds best to minocycline while the Flexibacter is less responsive to that than to other drugs.
Kanacyn (kanamycin) will treat both. A simultanious use of both Maracyn (erythromycin) and Maracyn 2 (minocycline) is reported as treatment of choice but several other meds such as Tri-Sulfa, and Myxazin or interpet's Anti-fungus and Finrot are also reported as reliable treatments.
Anti-biotics usually impact on your biofilters bacterial colony so if possible bypass that and rely on mechanical filtration and water changes during treatment. Follow the dosage directions on any medication you choose to use.
Because it can also cause systemic internal infections feeding antibiotic medicated food during treatment is not a bad idea.
This information comes from both personal experience and a combination of several articles on the disease, the best of which is found at this website http://www.flippersandfins.net/flexibacter.htm#
Good luck,
Guppy
I will be at Petco bright and early tomorrow. Thanks for the info.
