apisto Elizabethae

[fredmir1]

I spawn around 25 apisto Elizabethae
They grown to young adults around 10 month s and it look like they get Ulcer on the side of there body and then die
What could be causing this
george

 

[gerald]

Probably a bacterial infection, Mycobacterium is one possibility and is common in dwarf cichlids. Besides ulcers on the body and head, other symptoms of "Myco" can include jaw deterioration, eyes bulging, abdominal swelling, rapid breathing, spine bending, weight loss, paralysis of jaw or fins, and loss of body color control. Of course many of these symptoms can occur with other diseases too, or from old age. If head/body ulcers tends to happen on a few fish at a time over several months or years, rather than all at once, then I'd suspect Mycobacterium.

 

[fredmir1]

any treatment for this

 

[wethumbs]

It generally takes 30 days and require vitamin B-6 supplement. The disease can spread to human and manifest as a skin disorder through a cut or opening on the skin.

 

[gerald]

Wethumbs - Treat with what for 30 days? And how ... in food or water? I assume you are referring to treating fish rather than humans, right?

It generally takes 30 days and require vitamin B-6 supplement. The disease can spread to human and manifest as a skin disorder through a cut or opening on the skin.

Diana Walstad has some good info on understanding and managing Mycobacterium in fish tanks here:
http://www.bookmasters.com/marktplc/00388mycoarticle1.pdf

Myco adheres to surface film and can accumulate on glass and tubing above the water line, and has a waxy coating, so meds dissolved in the water may not get it. Even using bleach it takes a longer exposure to kill it than other bacteria, due to the hydrophobic coating.

 

[wethumbs]

Treatment is for fish of course, this is after all a fish forum. Certain type of water-soluble antibiotic has been known to be effective against it.