finrot

[richardofengland]

my Regal angel has developed a little finrot.
As it is in a reeftank any idea how mbest to treat. HAve not had any issues with disease for agesm, although this is the most recent addition about a month ago.
help appreciated.
thanks
Rich

[Wombat]

OK, first questions
are you sure it's fin rot?
Are you sure it's getting worst?
Are yous sure the fins aren't ragged from fighting?
You have excluded the parasite Brooklynella?

If you are convinced it is fin rot (Which IMHO is quite rare in marine fish) it is likely to be bacterial in nature so either treat with a reef safe antibactericide or remove the fish to a quarantine tank and treat with a broad spectrum antibiotic such as erythromycin or similar from your vet combined with formalin or other antibacterial preparation.

[chrisgregg]

i have used myaxsin in the past for bacterial infection .... that should cleare it up but the fish should be able to repair itself if in good health :D

[Wombat]

Yep not a bad strategy

[simon garratt]

what are your water perameters ? Id be very very surprised if it was Fin Rot in a reeftank. This condition is usually reserved for fish housed in exeedingly polluted FO water conditions rather than a reeftank which would give early indications via the corals if things were getting anywhere near this stage.


regards

Si.

[popsock]

If I remember correctly fin rot in marine fish is caused by an internal bacterial problem. This should clear up on its own if the fish is well looked after and healthy. Try medicating your food until he's recovered. Seachem do an anti-biotic which can be added to foods, called Focus.
Cheers

[Wombat]

I've not tried focus, it isn't an antibiotic (if it was an antibiotic int he ULK it wouldn't be available for sale in the UK due t our legislation) but an antibacterial polymer. These polymers can work well so it could be worth a try.

Without culture it is hard to say what is the cause of fin rot. IMHO it is very rare to be an internal bacterial infections (fish suffering from systemic infections of bacteria tend to die very rapidly). Often the bacteria causing fin rot is limited to the skin which in some ways make it quite easy to treat.