Goldfish Health Management
  Part II

by Bill and Cheryl Sanders, K.A.W.
First published in "Tank Topics", Greater Akron Aquarium Society, Feb/March 2001
Aquarticles

If your goldfish are showing obvious behavioral changes, but your water parameters are normal and you have confirmed that there are no parasite infestations, it is a good bet that the fish are suffering from a bacterial infection. It is very important to immediately start treatment if a bacterial infection is suspected. There have been many advances in this arena, especially with the injectable antibiotics. Listed below are different antibiotic treatments and their pros and cons.

Topical Treatments: These are treatments such as bacitracin ointment or Neosporin ointment. They are used for obvious open sores on the fish. With the initial treatment, you cleanse the wound with hydrogen peroxide and dab ointment to the affected area, up to three times a day. With subsequent treatments, do not re-clean the area with the hydrogen peroxide, as you run the risk of removing healing tissue.

Oral medication: Such as Romet medicated food and Tetra medicated flakes. This used to be the number one recommended treatment for bacterial infections, but its popularity is rapidly diminishing. This is because the medication is losing its effectiveness against the bacteria as a great many resistant strains of bacteria have appeared. If using an oral medication, you should use one that has a combination of antibiotics rather than a single antibiotic. Then your chances of being able to fight the infection are improved. One such food is Medi-gold. This food contains three different antibiotics. You may find more information on this food on the Internet at www.goldfishconnection.com.

Water treatments: The antibiotic pills and solutions that are commonly sold at pet stores to be put in the water are virtually ineffective against bacterial infections.

Injectables: Rapidly becoming the treatment of choice. Dosage is much better controlled and you quickly achieve the desired levels necessary to fight the infection. When treating with injectables, you should see a dramatic improvement within 24 hours and many times only one injection is needed. Currently, one of the safest, most cost effective medications utilized is amikacin. It is effective against gram negative bacteria, such as aeromonas, which are very prevalent among goldfish. The preferred route is intraperitoneal, as you don't have to worry as much about possible scarring. To locate the site go midway between the anal port and ventral fins, then just to the side of midline. A TB or insulin syringe is used for giving the injections. There are two good sources on the Internet for treating bacterial infections. http://www.koivet.com will provide you with current treatment regimes, dosage ranges, and new research topics. http://www.koicamp.com has online ordering service for the medications, syringes and even microscopes. Both sites are jam packed with helpful information.

Another frequent problem noted with goldfish is "Swim Bladder Disease". This really isn't a disease but an indicator of other problems. Reversal of swim bladder problems is dependent on what the root cause is. Generally, swim bladder problems can be attributed to genetic conditions, infection, overfeeding and elevated nitrates. If swim bladder is due to genetic conditions or infection, chances of reversal are very poor. If you are experiencing problems relating to overfeeding, there is an excellent chance of reversing the problem. We simply place a few grains of Epsom salts into the fish's mouth (this acts as a laxative). We then withhold one or two feedings until the fish is swimming normally. A new theory on swim bladder disease is that chronic exposure to nitrate levels of 30 PPM and higher causes a swim bladder problem. Increased nitrates have a sedative affect on the fish and cause a paralysis of the gastrointestinal system. Epsom salts can provide temporary relief, but you really need to get your nitrate levels to 20 PPM or less to reverse the condition.

If you suspect any problems with your fish, you should take immediate appropriate action to rectify them. By waiting until the problem is fully apparent, the chances are good that you may have waited too long. Early detection and appropriate action are your greatest allies in combating these problems.

Good luck with your troubleshooting!!