Columnaris?

[LongS]

Hello, 
 
I currently have 8 Odessa Barbs that are showing signs of what I believe to be Columnaris. I have had them about 5-6 months now and have been what appeared to be healthy up to this point, however reading up on this disease I suspect i might have been wrong. 
 
They Originally showed strange signs/markings in the first few weeks of owning them which I believed to be harmless and normal for this type of fish. Only now, 4-5 months later have any definite signs of disease appeared.
 

The symptoms were the following (after 2-3 weeks of purchase):
 
Small white markings on a few of the fishes lips. Almost like white bottom lips.
 
After 3-4 months some of the fish appeared to have markings on the top of the head. I originally thought the catfish they share a tank with had mistaken the individuals as a snack and damaged the scales through the night. The markings appeared to be grey/white colour and looked like the scales had been rubbed off (perhaps even through rubbing or flashing). Only 3-4 individuals up until now have this symptom. 
 
 
The symptoms now are:
 
White Lips (on 2-3 individuals)
 
Grey/white Scaless appearance on top of head (on 3-4)
 
Damaged and frayed fins and swimming off balance, sunken abdomen (on 1 individual) 
 
Swimming off balance only (on one individual)
 
Frayed fins resulting in Death (previously had nine)
 
 
One or two show zero symptoms and others show more than one. The loaches and catfish that share the tank show zero symptoms of infection.
 
All readings such as ammonia and nitrites are zero and nitrates are well in check. 

I am tempted to run a course of Melafix and see if the problem disappears. Please advise if this treatment would be suitable taking into consideration the above facts.

Thanks for reading
 
Longs 
 

 

[LongS]

Infact, i've just read a few reviews on melafix and more than one claim that it is a waste of time and money.

Does anybody recommend a treatment for the above?

 

[jeffadams]

I had two mollies that were diagnosed with columnaris. First I tried melafix for about a week you will need to remove you carbon from your filter so it doesnt filter out the medication. Unfortunately the melafix did not work for me. I bought maracyn oxy that doesnt require you to remove the carbon from your filter. I saw major improvments in two days. So good luck!

 

[And76reW]

Hi.. Is there any chance you could have a look at the pic of my gourami a few threads under this as I'm not sure if he is suffering with colomnaris? Once I know what it is then I will treat it. Good luck with yourfish though.

 

[Ninjouzata]

I'd definitely go with Maracyn of some sort. I used Maracyn & Maracyn 2 together to treat my tank. I hope your fish get better soon. :c

 

[DoubleDutch]

Sounds like Columnaris to me. Melafix isn't a "real" med and can be used (prevention) for smaller infections. For Columnaris you'd better get some heavier stuff (antibiotics)

 

[LongS]

I've ordered some Oxytetracycline Hydrochloride antibiotic food. Flakes and pellets off a guy in the U.S.
 
I'll treat the entire tank with the antibiotic food. Does anyone recommend combining this with the heat and salt treatment? I used this technique before with white spot and it totally eradicated the parasite in less than a week. Would this work for the above disease as well? 

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Columnaris is a bacterial disease. Heat and salt are no real help here at all.

 

[LongS]

Columnaris is a bacterial disease. Heat and salt are no real help here at all.

Ok thanks, id just been reading about treating this, (if indeed that's what it is) and one of the treatments mentioned were salt baths. I gues this would be to treat secondary illnesses brought on by the columnaris?

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Have a read:
 

 
ABSTRACT: The impact of salt and low pH on columnaris disease of fish was studied. Survival of Flavobacterium columnare after exposure to either 4% NaCl (pH 7.2) or pH 5.0, pH 4.86 or pH 4.6 for 15 min or 1 h was studied in vitro. All conditions significantly reduced the numbers of viable bacterial cells. The effects of salt (4 and 2%) and acidic baths (pH 4.6) were studied in 2 experiments in vivo with rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss infected with F. columnare. Both salt and acidic baths failed to prevent fish mortality; the overall mortality reached 100% in all groups. However, according to survival analysis, the mortality rate was lower in fish treated with 4% salt baths compared to a control group. The buffering capacity of fish skin mucus against low water pH was also studied. Fish skin mucus was an efficient buffer against decreased water pH and the pH of the skin could be remarkably higher than that of the mucus. This may explain the failure of bath treatments to prevent mortality providing that attached F. columnare are located below the mucus surface. We suggest, however, that salt and acidic bath treatments can be used to disinfect water containing F. columnare cells shed by infected fish and thus prevent the  transmission of the disease.

from http/www.int-res.com/articles/dao2005/65/d065p115.pdf
 
There is research that indicates chloramine and ammonium salts can both be a somewhat effective treatments.
 
Salt in the water can help prevent the bacteria that are in the water from spreading, but it won't cyre infected fish.

 

[LongS]

Ah understood, so whilst the salt does not affect the diseased fish, it helps clear up 'loose' columnaris cells laying about the tank and stops further infection?

So if my understanding is correct, treating with antibiotic food AND treating the tank with salt would be more affective in combating columnaris and stopping the spread to other fish?