FISH DISEASE: BACTERIAL DISORDERS
 

Bacterial Disorders
Many of our customers have called and are wondering what the difference is between gram-negative bacteria, and gram-positive bacteria.  These terms are used to identify bacteria under a microscope.  Gram-negative bacteria cause the most fish diseases in the tropical fish industry.  Gram-negative bacteria show up as "rods" under a microscope, where gram-positive bacteria have a nucleus and are round or spheroid in shape.
Also, if anyone out there is making slides... make sure that you are staining them with methylene blue or gentian violet.  If you are not staining your slides, you are missing out.  Dr. Brian

Symptoms

  

Cause

  

Treatment and Links
A).   The Bacteria move on their own Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Are they gram-negative?  
If not, look down the chart further   If yes, look below
    Do they move fast in a living mount?  Probably Bacteria of the genus Vibrio are involved Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Use:  Doxycycline -or- Oxytetracycline. Kanamycin may also be effective in marine tanks.
B).   Do the Bacteria  move moderately fast Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Are they 1 to 2u long and 0.5 to 1u wide?  Did the fish have any symptoms of abdominal dropsy? Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart These Bacteria also belong to the genus Aeromonas.  Treat with:  Oxolinic Acid in the food+ Forma-Green in the water.  Or you can treat the water with one of the following: Koi Fix® -or- Oxytetracycline.
If not, look down the chart further
C).   Are the Bacteria 0.8 to 2.5u long and 0.3 to 0.8u wide? Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Was the Bacteria taken from lesions or bleeding organs, or rotting Fins?  Your fish are affected with Pseudomonas Bacteria Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Use:  Kanamycin -or- Gentamycin -or- Neomycin.
If not, look down the chart further
D).   Do the Bacteria glide slowly along or do they "inch" along like a caterpillar, attach to the glass in the aquarium? Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart FlexiBacteria are involved, which cause Columnaris disease Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Treat with:  TMP Sulfa -or- Sulfa 4 TMP -or- Parinox.
If not, look down the chart further
E).   The Bacteria are spiral-shaped, long, thin, measuring 5 to 30u long and 0.5 to 1u wide Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Spirochetes are involved Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Use:    Gentamycin -or- Oxytetracycline
If not, look down the chart further
F).   Are the Bacteria immotile and gram-negative? Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Are they 1 to 2u, almost round or spheroid?  Do they occur in pairs or in chains? Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Did the fish exhibit bloody lesions, boils or hemorrhaging in their organs
If not, look down the chart further   If not, look down the chart further   If yes, look below
    Are the Bacteria 1 to 2u long and 0.5 to 1u wide?  Do they form pairs and short chains? Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart These Bacteria also belong to the genus Aeromonas.  Treat with:  Oxolinic Acid in the food+ Forma-Green in the water.  Or you can treat the water with one of the following: Koi Fix® -or- Oxytetracycline.
 
G).   Were the Bacteria taken from Skin lesions? Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Bacteria of the genus Brucella are involved. Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Treat with:  Oxytetracycline
If not, look down the chart further
H).   Are the Bacteria gram-positive and immotile? Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Are they about 1u long and 0.5u wide and do they occur as pairs in V or Y form? Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart They are affected by Corynebacterium.  Treat with: Erythromycin
If not, look down the chart further
I).   Do the Bacteria form long, branched threads which sometimes break into long fragments? Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Were the Bacteria obtained from purulent lesions of the Skin or from the organs? Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Actinomycetacae or Nocardia Bacteria are involved.  Treat with:  TMP Sulfa -or- Sulfa 4 TMP.
 

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