Best antibiotic against finrot and bacterial skin infections?

[ThRoewer]

I have 4 new percula in QT that came basically straight from the Solomons with only a few hours at the importer.

All got a formalin dip and two now show signs of a bacterial infection on their fins - a pale white rim around the tailfins (very hard to take a picture of).

The smaller of them had been pretty beet up in the collection site holding tank and several of his fins are frayed.
The larger one is much less injured but shows the clearest signs of a bacterial infection: slight clamping of tailfin and above mentioned whitish rim around the fin edges.

Now my question is which is the best treatment?

Antibiotics I have on hand:
- Bifuran (nitrofurazone & furazolidone)
- Fish Mox (amoxicillin)
- Ciprofloxacin - only 7 doses of 250 mg
- Septra (trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole) - only 12 tablets with 80/400 mg

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Nice pick ups! Have you tried Maracyn 2? It works really well. Furan 2 worked well in the past for me as well. I have Cipro but never used it on a fish. Keeping it for anemones just in case.

 

[Dmorty217]

I personally use Ciproflaxcin

 

[CoralsAddiction]

How do ya'll know what dosage to use with Cipro, Septra, etc? I don't like paying $11 on anti-bacterial medication each time I QT fish but at the same time I don't feel competent enough to use antibiotics not made for aquarium use. May be you can shed some light...
Just checked Maracyn 2 and its active ingredient is Minocycline.

 

[ThRoewer]

I personally use Ciproflaxcin

Same dose as for anemones? 250 mg on 10 gallon?

I wanted to keep the cipro in case I need it for an anemone getting sick but as a broadband spectrum antibiotic it may be a good choice.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Same dose as for anemones? 250 mg on 10 gallon?

Why re-invent the wheel? Lol. Just go with fish medication.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Why re-invent the wheel? Lol. Just go with fish medication.

Although I do understand that if you are treating 4 clowns in 2 separate tanks or one large tank that requires more dosing the cost of treating is pretty high compared to what you are trying to do. Looking forward to seeing how it goes because I would love to find a way to cut cost on meds.

 

[ThRoewer]

Why re-invent the wheel? Lol. Just go with fish medication.

I found most fish medications highly ineffective. Keep in mind that they are usually non prescription.

 

[Dmorty217]

Same dose as for anemones? 250 mg on 10 gallon?

I wanted to keep the cipro in case I need it for an anemone getting sick but as a broadband spectrum antibiotic it may be a good choice.

That's what I have done but only once (ended up losing the fish anyway) Every book I have names other antibiotics. I would imagine any broad spectrum antibiotic would work well. Not sure if fin rot is gram negative or positive

 

[ThRoewer]

At this point it doesn't look like I need to treat it. It seems to have gotten better over night and the two I'm most concerned about are stuffing themselves with life tigger pots.
From previous experience I learned that sometimes it's better to wait as most medications have unwanted side effects that my matters worse.

Though I still would know which medication would be best, just in case.

 

[DasCamel]

I would wait before treating, clean water, less stress should do it.

 

[ThRoewer]

I would wait before treating, clean water, less stress should do it.

I agree. Rush treatment may do more harm than good.
Though it is also important to be prepared since bacterial infections can move quickly.