skin problem. What to do.

[terryl]

I have a big male ranchu that has recurring skin problem. It had the same problem last year. I treated it with PM, no improvement. Then I put it outside in the green water pond, it recovered quickly. It has the same problem again this winter, in different area of the body. Here are the pictures. I have tried a full course of antibiotic, no use. PM several times, no use. I am now trying formalin, hope that it will help.

The fish otherwise is doing very well. Eating and swimming normal. It is now in its own 10g hospital tank. It is not an option to put it outdoor in Minnesota winter.

Any advice will be much welcomed.

terry

[judge]

Have you tried praziquantel?

Looks like parasite problem to me.

Salt + Prazi works really well. With excellent water quality while treatment with bio filteration, the fish should recover fast.

[terryl]

The fish was treated with Parzi in Sep when I moved it back indoor. But, I think it was before the skin problem. It may worth trying. thanks. Any other input are much appreciated.

Terry

[judge]

The fish was treated with Parzi in Sep when I moved it back indoor. But, I think it was before the skin problem. It may worth trying. thanks. Any other input are much appreciated.

Terry

I see. In that case, I know you said you have tried antibiotic. Did you use Tetracycline?

When I had my fish red streaks on the scales I used that and it went away within 3 days.

Just a thought.

[SeaWitch]

Is the fish acting normally; swimming okay, eating good, no bottom sitting? If so, then I would just treat with plain aquarum salt and maybe some Mel-Fix. No need to medicate with antibacs if the fish is acting okay.:youtellme:

[small_ranchu]

I used to have one with the same problem. It doesn't go away until it died. I tried salt, mel-fix and antiparasite/antibiotic food from Goldfishconnection. It keeps coming back after each fix. :(

[suphi]

For chronic recurrent skin infection you have to think of pseudomonas and aeromonas species. There're very few medications that can treat those effectively especially pseudomonas, because they are resistant to most antibiotics out there.

The only non-prescription drugs I can think of right now that would work are kanamycin and oxolinic acid. Prescription drugs such as Baytril injection will work even better against these infections.

[George Ludrosky]

It almost looks like the scales are a bit lifted, could this be the beging of dropsey?

[terryl]

I am very sure it is not dropsey. Yes, the scale is a little bit raised in the infected area. Can anyone help me positively identify the problem?

Terry

[small_ranchu]

Suphi,
Where can we get kanamycin and oxolinic acid?

[bekko]

Looks like the beginnings of an ulcer to me.

-steve

[suphi]

If you're gonna treat for pseudomonas, then I suggest oxolinic acid which is a newer drug technology-wise (kanamycin didn't work for me in the past). I got my kanamycin from ebay so it could've been a sham also.

Oxolinic acid can be bought from typical fishery stores or you can do a google search. The store that Gary's son runs has the best price so far (just IM Gary about it).

If the problem is due to gram-negative bacteria infection such as pseudomonas, significant improvement will be seen as quick as 3 days but it's best to continue the drug for 5-7 days. This will completely nuke the biofilter so it's best done in a hospital tank.

The only 2 meds that I always have to have at home right now are oxo and prazi. I don't use/need anything else.

[jinyu_fan]

Looks like the beginnings of an ulcer to me.

-steve

I agree with Steve. I had a ranchu that had ulcers on and off for several months and they start off looking very much like your picture. These ulcers would go away, only to return some weeks later. The fish eventually developed dropsey and I ended up euthanizing it.

[Hondataeg6]

I can't really see the pictures that clear, I'm on my iPhone.... Aneways if it is a ulcer here is a great link for taking care of that ulcer:
http://thegab.org/Illness-and-Treatment/how-to-clean-an-ulcer-or-fin-rot.html

[terryl]

It is not ulcer. The infection is on the skin. The fish otherwise is very active and eat a lot. I think it is either parasite or bacteria. Lack of positive identification making me uncomfortable and unsure about the treatment.

Terry

[bekko]

Ulcers are caused by bacteria; usually Aeromonas, Pseudomonas or Flavobacterium (Flexibacter). It usually starts when the cuticle is broken by biting skin parasites or mechanical damage.

-steve

[suphi]

^ What steve said.

Treating with antibiotics will not harm the fish and you should have nothing to lose. Waiting to establish diagnosis when this is nearly impossible (except if you're a vet or work in a lab), may lead to grave outcome.

Fish may act normal, but they always do that unless they're very sick. And you don't really want to treat at that stage because the success rate will be much lower.

Think of it as prevention. The goal is to prevent a local infection from becoming a systemic infection. Again, antibiotics used correctly is safe.

[Cincy Ranchu]

Suphi,
Where can we get kanamycin and oxolinic acid?

Jones Fish Hatchery stocks Oxilinic acid ~~~ as most of you know my son manages the place ~~ adam@jonesfish.com


I would also consider injectable AMIKACIN - go to your local vet for this


I am not sure about the diagnosis on this page, I might label this cancerous but not infectuous and ditch the fish ~ sorry

[terryl]

Thanks everyone. I tryed Maracyn-TC a few weeks ago and the fish did not respond to the treatment. I am hestitate to use antibiotic at this time - I don't want to create superbug in my fish room. I am treating it with Formalin for other week, and keep water change. Hope that the treatment focusing on external problem will help solve the problem. If it doesn't work, I will try the Oxilinic acid as suggested.