Flexibacter (Flavobacterium Columnare) - The Treament and Diagnosis of This Aquatic Disease

QUESTION: An aquarist has a cichlid with a white spot/wound about mid body maybe 3/16 inch below the dorsal, within a week the white increased to about a 3/8 strip from dorsal to belly. There was a thin white cottony growth (fungus?) but it appeared to be eating away the cichlids skin, and it appeared the outside skin was eaten away and was down to the 'meat'. Despite its blackish color this patch was definitely fleshier in color. The fish died within a few hours. A local fish store informed the aquarist that yes a problem had arisen in the tank it came from. He gave him 200 mg Erythromycin said apply as directed (5 tabs per 24 hours 4 four treatments, w/ one water change) and that should solve any future problems. That did not work.

When he came home to apply the first round another cichlid had what appeared to be a small white spot between his upper lips and eye. About 5 days later - he pulled out the cichlid (after sterilizing the other tank) and not only has it spread towards the other eye but there is a white film growing above its eyes.

White Changing Tab

ANSWER: Erythromycin should not have been used. The disease the aquarist seems to be dealing with is Flexibacter (Flavobacterium columnare), which is gram negative, while Erythromycin treats gram positive bacterial infections. I would
have started with a blend of Nitrofurazone and Kanamycin (Chloramphenicol is
a better choice than Kanamycin if it can be found, but it is not easily
found due to problems in humans). Pimafix shows allot of promise as a natural treatment for flex bacteria. Pimafix is effective for a broad range of bacterial and fungal diseases that typically afflict fish and other aquatic animals. Fish diseases that may be treated in accordance with this product include bacterial fish diseases, such as fin and tail rot, mouth fungus (often caused by the bacterium Flavobacterium columnaris); fungal fish diseases (such as those caused by microorganisms of the genera Saprolegnia and Achyle) and the like. Many fish diseases, it should be noted, are caused by different bacterial or fungal pathogens that often exhibit similar symptoms, so identification of a specific bacterial or fungal pathogen is not usually possible from mere visual inspection of the symptoms on the fish. Since the Pimenta extract (Pimafix) treatment of this product appears to have broad-spectrum effectiveness against many diseases affecting fish and other aquatic animals, precise identification of specific bacterial or fungal pathogens causing the disease is not usually necessary.

Additional salt is helpful too. A dip
in Mebromin or methylene blue (not to be confused with malachite green)
has also helped speed cure for my fish. I have other treatments I have
used, especially to prevent reoccurrence once the fish are OK (such as "Medicated Wonder Shells", which contain Acriflavin, which is active against flex bacteria).

This is a disease where a lot of misinformation is circulated on the internet and elsewhere such as confusion with fungus or incorrect recommendation of treatment with Erythromycin or Tetracycline. Getting the correct information is essential for this disease as it con devastate an aquarium in short order. For further reading I suggest this article: FLEXIBACTER- COLUMNARIS- The Proper treatment of.

Flexibacter (Flavobacterium Columnare) - The Treament and Diagnosis of This Aquatic Disease

By Carl Strohmeyer