Columnaris: Need some insight. (Pic)

[tanked37]

I've been treating a young yellow pyramid butterfly in hypo for ich for over 3 weeks now. He has had a rough time with it. I believe he has Columnaris. He has a white fungus like growth directly on his mouth and white growths on his face. He has a lesion on his body and face. I do regular water changes. What should I treat him with? I've read Minocycline? He needs treatment very very soon or I think he might not make it...

 

[HumbleFish]

Columnaris is a gram-negative infection, and minocycline (i.e. Maracyn 2) would be one option for treating it. A nitrofurazone/furazolidone combination (i.e. Furan-2) would be another option that's readily available.

Only thing is I've never done hypo before; so I can't say whether using antibiotics in conjunction with hypo is safe...

 

[tanked37]

Thank you for your response. I went with Maracyn-2. Thankfully my LFS had some in stock. I have no choice. I will have to dose during Hypo. The fungus on his mouth is now preventing him from eating, but he still tries to grab the food (but he can't) so he still has an appetite. I can only hope this works.

 

[HumbleFish]

Thank you for your response. I went with Maracyn-2. Thankfully my LFS had some in stock. I have no choice. I will have to dose during Hypo. The fungus on his mouth is now preventing him from eating, but he still tries to grab the food (but he can't) so he still has an appetite. I can only hope this works.

Do you have the s/w or f/w version? If the latter, you will need to double the dosage for s/w use.

 

[tanked37]

I have the FW version, and yes, I'm double dosing. Thanks though, appreciate it! I read some other threads about FW vs SW version and learned that.

 

[tanked37]

Sadly, he died today after 5 weeks in QT and just about 4 weeks in Hypo @ 1.008. The antibiotic did not seem to have any positive effect (or negative). I think his weakened immune system, and not being able to eat for three days due to mouth fungus was just too much for him. Really is too bad. I love that fish and can't find them anywhere. Fish diseases are so terrible to watch. Hope you never encounter them.

 

[HumbleFish]

Sorry to hear of your loss. Unfortunately, antibiotics are often very slow acting.