What is the BEST medication for swim bladder disease?

captmicha

captmicha

Le tired.
Dec 6, 2006
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Maryland, USA
What, in your opinion, is the best medication for swim bladder disease? I mean if the disease is caused by bacterial infection and not from improper feeding or bad water quality?

I have good water quality, none of my other fish are sick, I presoak foods, I offer frozen foods such as brine shrimp, daphnia and bloodworms, and I fast my fish one day a week.

I already used Erythromycin and Minocyclin but there's been no improvement. So either the strain of bacteria is immune to these medications or I don't know what... I'll try anything at this point. What medication is really effective for this and is known for working on resistant bacteria strains?

Furthermore, there is a new symptom that has developed. My cory is whirling in tight circles. It usually happens when the water is disturbed from a water change or from the air pump but it also does it when the water is calm. I'm a little doubtful that it could be whirling disease or gill flukes but at this moment, I'd treat for anything if my fish can tolerate it.
 
If Erythromycin and Minocyclin are not working after a couple of treatments then it is probably physiological and not an infection. Both of these antibiotics work against a broad spectrum of bacteria.

Whirling in circle can mean whirling disease or just exhaustion because something is stressing the fish out. What else do you have in the tank with them?
 
Swim bladder disease is often misdiagnosed. It isn't a disease as such but more of a condition. It can be caused by bacteria, supersaturation and high nitrates. Adding cold water to a warm tank can cause the condition to appear suddenly. Check the gills and watch carefully as it may also lead to "brown blood", they may appear to gasp for O2.

For treatment I recommend metronidazole and very clean water. You will need to wait this out and do not feed during treatment. It will be a slow recovery, if at all.

For the whirling you can try TMP Sulpha.
 
There's nothing in the tank with him. He's in a hospital tank. His water is very clean and I presoak any dry foods, like stated above. His water is warmed to about 79 and is aerated, filtrated, and he has a cave to hide in.

Can I use Metronidazole and TMP Sulpha together at the same time?
 
I'm a little confused. I thought whirling was due to parasites. TMP Sulpha is for bacterial infections.

I have some more questions.

Can I use Praziquantel instead of Metronidazole?

Can I use Praziquantel and TMP Sulpha together?

Are Praziquantel (Prazi-Pro, Praz Tastic, etc.), Metronidazole, and TMP Sulpha things that I will be able to find at a pet store, big box pet store, or local fish store? My fish can't wait for me to order these things online and wait for them to arrive.

Also, I used Copper Sulphate. Is that sufficient to kill any parasites or should I still try the recommended parasite medications?
 
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If its honestly only one fish, It might not be worth the effort. But thats your desicion. Goodluck.

PS. I dont know much about those medications
 
Flagyl is a brand name for metro. Metro is the generic name. I would use one or the other if using Supha or metro. Copper can be used but overdosed easily, you will need a copper test kit if using.

The whirling can be because of a parasite or due to a bacterial infection. I lean towards the bacterial infection due to the other symptoms present. Whirling disease and whirling as a symptom of another problem are difficult to determine. I'm no ace with medical problems on fish and base this on experience as to what I found to work and has worked for others as well.

Erythromycin is a very good antibiotic, Since you get no improvement from it, then it's time for a different approach. Another option is to use Quick-Cure which is Formalin and Methylene Blue. It is also a very potent treatment. Sometimes the cure can be worse than the infection.
 
I like the sound of the TMP Sulpha. If Erythromycin is good, and the strain of bacteria was just resistant to that and the Minocyclin, it shouldn't be resistant to TMP Sulpha from what I read.

I'm a little skeptical myself about the whirling being due to parasites since there's such a slim chance that it came in contact with any parasites, no other fish are acting this way, and because I didn't feed any Tubifex worms. But I'll get the meds for that and treat for that if the TMP Sulpha doesn't do the trick.
 
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