Angelfish illness progression.

FroFro · Feb 4, 2022

My father updated me just a bit ago that her mouth is white and rotting away. I’ll update with photos but I am at work at the time of posting this. I’ve only ever heard this happen to angels with columnaris. Once I get a sure diagnosis I’ll treat but for the meantime if anyone could help me with medicine. I have kanaplex/metroplex/sulfaplex and Paragaurd at home. I can’t seem to figure out which medicine would treat columnaris or if I should order something else. If anyone could please help as my father is very attached to this angel.

Nothing but water changes have been done for treatment so far. I’ve purchased aquarium salt but have to wait till later to administer it.

Colin_T · Feb 4, 2022

If you Google each medication and put ingredients after the name, it will tell you what is in the medication.

Kanaplex is Kanamycin, an anti-biotic.

Metroplex is Metronidazole, another anti-biotic but normally used to treat internal protozoan infections in fish. It does nothing to Columnaris.

Sulfaplex is Sulfathiazole, a sulpha based medication, probably not strong enough for Columnaris.

Paraguard is Malachite Green and Glutaraldehyde. Malachite Green is used to treat external protozoan parasites like white spot, velvet, costia, chilodonella and trichodina.
Glutaraldehyde is a disinfectant.

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Kanaplex would be my choice, followed by Sulfaplex. Or if you can get Furan 2, that can be used with Kanaplex to kill more bacteria.

When using anti-biotics, try to do it in a bare tank with no gravel or filter. Have an airstone and heater in the tank and maybe some plastic plants for cover.

Wipe the inside of the tank down each day and change all the water before re-treating the aquarium.

There should be a noticeable improvement after 24-48 hours. If there is no improvement after a few days, the medication probably isn't going to work.

FroFro · Feb 4, 2022

Colin_T said:
If you Google each medication and put ingredients after the name, it will tell you what is in the medication.

Kanaplex is Kanamycin, an anti-biotic.

Metroplex is Metronidazole, another anti-biotic but normally used to treat internal protozoan infections in fish. It does nothing to Columnaris.

Sulfaplex is Sulfathiazole, a sulpha based medication, probably not strong enough for Columnaris.

Paraguard is Malachite Green and Glutaraldehyde. Malachite Green is used to treat external protozoan parasites like white spot, velvet, costia, chilodonella and trichodina.
Glutaraldehyde is a disinfectant.

-----------------------
Kanaplex would be my choice, followed by Sulfaplex. Or if you can get Furan 2, that can be used with Kanaplex to kill more bacteria.

When using anti-biotics, try to do it in a bare tank with no gravel or filter. Have an airstone and heater in the tank and maybe some plastic plants for cover.

Wipe the inside of the tank down each day and change all the water before re-treating the aquarium.

There should be a noticeable improvement after 24-48 hours. If there is no improvement after a few days, the medication probably isn't going to work.

I believe kanaplex says to treat every two days for a maximum of 3 doses then perform a water change. Will changing the water in between dilute the dose? Sorry I just want to be sure, I usually use medicated food but with her mouth the way it is all she can swallow is blood worms

Colin_T · Feb 4, 2022

Not sure on the instructions for the Kanaplex.

When I was taught about anti-biotics for use in aquariums, we were told to wipe the glass down and do a complete water change before re-treating the tank. And we treated the tank each day for 1 week.

If the instructions say re-treat every 2 days, then wipe the glass down and do a complete water change before re-treating the tank every 2nd day.

Anti-biotics break down quickly in water and won't be doing anything after a few days.

Try to treat the fish in a bare tank with no gravel. The less stuff in the tank, the more effective the medication.

Make sure you remove any carbon from the filter, assuming there is carbon in it to begin with.

FroFro · Feb 4, 2022

Colin_T said:
Not sure on the instructions for the Kanaplex.

When I was taught about anti-biotics for use in aquariums, we were told to wipe the glass down and do a complete water change before re-treating the tank. And we treated the tank each day for 1 week.

If the instructions say re-treat every 2 days, then wipe the glass down and do a complete water change before re-treating the tank every 2nd day.

Anti-biotics break down quickly in water and won't be doing anything after a few days.

Try to treat the fish in a bare tank with no gravel. The less stuff in the tank, the more effective the medication.

Make sure you remove any carbon from the filter, assuming there is carbon in it to begin with.

Alright I’ve got some more photos of her as well a a pic of the back of the kanaplex

Colin_T · Feb 4, 2022

It doesn't really look like Columnaris but there is definitely an infection in the fish's mouth. Just start treating asap.

Those instructions are misleading too. Kanamycin does not treat fungus, it only kills bacteria. However, the infection is bacterial so anti-biotics are the call for this fish.

FroFro · Feb 4, 2022

Colin_T said:
It doesn't really look like Columnaris but there is definitely an infection in the fish's mouth. Just start treating asap.

Those instructions are misleading too. Kanamycin does not treat fungus, it only kills bacteria. However, the infection is bacterial so anti-biotics are the call for this fish.

It seems they all treat bacterial to some degree accordingly to the packaging

TwoTankAmin · Feb 4, 2022

Columnaris is contagious, you have to treat the entire tank if so.

Columnaris can present in several ways. Do you see white or grayish patches anywhere on the body of the fish or at the base of the dorsal fin? It can also infect the gills but this would be harder to see.

FroFro · Feb 4, 2022

Colin_T said:
It doesn't really look like Columnaris but there is definitely an infection in the fish's mouth. Just start treating asap.

Those instructions are misleading too. Kanamycin does not treat fungus, it only kills bacteria. However, the infection is bacterial so anti-biotics are the call for this fish.

It seems they all treat bacterial to some degree accordingly to the packaging View attachment 153805

TwoTankAmin said:
Columnaris is contagious, you have to treat the entire tank if so.

Columnaris can present in several ways. Do you see white or grayish patches anywhere on the body of the fish or at the base of the dorsal fin? It can also infect the gills but this would be harder to see.

ive already started treating with kanaplex the entire tank. The white spot appeared suddenly and then within a day it progressed to what it is now. There is a sort of filmy/fluffy residue around the damaged tissue.

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Angelfish illness progression.

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