yellow tang turning red??

[ibrat82]

I have a yellow tang in qt. I noticed some red brown blotches near his eyes and immediately started antibiotics all I have available is seachem neoplex. started it 5 days ago but the tang is now starting to turn red around the mouth and face now. after posting on here I was told it's a bacterial infection but the medicine I'm giving doesn't seem to be helping.. what are other options?

[Sk8r]

Neoplex should get most bacterial infections. How big the qt? Oxygenation? Tangs require a huge amount of flow and aeration.

[Bent]

How new is the tang. That will let you know what organism it is. Typically newly acquired animals are infected with gram negative. If its been in the display a while its probably gram positive.

Neoplex is neomycin. Neomycin isn't extremely broad spectrum. If I remember correctly, it mainly only treats gram negative organisms.

If you are giving it topically through the tank water, it might explain the ineffectiveness. If the infection is severe it needs to be given orally by soaking food in it.

edit:
oh be careful handling it. Lots of people have hypersensitivities to neomycin and it can cause severe anaphylaxis.

edit 2:
give us a pic of this tang. We can probably let you know some idea of the prognosis.

[Sk8r]

Good note, Bent. The manufacturer says 'broad spectrum,' but personally I have had far better outcomes with Furan 2, as a topical med, and I agree, it may be beyond the reach of a topical med. High oxygenation will help. If you are running any carbon, get it out. It absorbs meds and makes the dosage 'off'.

[heathlindner25]

Originally Posted by Bent

How new is the tang. That will let you know what organism it is. Typically newly acquired animals are infected with gram negative. If its been in the display a while its probably gram positive.

Neoplex is neomycin. Neomycin isn't extremely broad spectrum. If I remember correctly, it mainly only treats gram negative organisms.

If you are giving it topically through the tank water, it might explain the ineffectiveness. If the infection is severe it needs to be given orally by soaking food in it.

edit:
oh be careful handling it. Lots of people have hypersensitivities to neomycin and it can cause severe anaphylaxis.

edit 2:
give us a pic of this tang. We can probably let you know some idea of the prognosis.

Explain this "gram -+" to me.......

[Bent]

Originally Posted by heathlindner25

Explain this "gram -+" to me.......

Typical bacteria are classified by the way they react to a dye. The method is called gram staining because its the last name of the doc who invented the method of classification.

They take a violet dye and inject it onto the organism in question. If the dye turns violet, then the organism is gram positive. If the dye turns pink and none of the violet crystals are absorbed, then the organism is gram negative.

Gram positive bacteria have a much thinner wall than gram negative, which makes them easier to treat. Also many gram negative organsims are anerobic, while gram positive are generally aerobic.

Typically antibiotics will work more effectively against one or the other type. When someone says "broad spectrum" they are referring to an abx that is effective against both gram negative and gram positive organsims.

Edit:
I also have more success with Furan 2. I think Furan2 is a combination of two nitrofurans, and nitrofurans are pretty broad spectrum when compared to neomycin.

[heathlindner25]

Originally Posted by Bent

Typical bacteria are classified by the way they react to a dye. The method is called gram staining because its the last name of the doc who invented the method of classification.

They take a violet dye and inject it onto the organism in question. If the dye turns violet, then the organism is gram positive. If the dye turns pink and none of the violet crystals are absorbed, then the organism is gram negative.

Gram positive bacteria have a much thinner wall than gram negative, which makes them easier to treat. Also many gram negative organsims are anerobic, while gram positive are generally aerobic.

Typically antibiotics will work more effectively against one or the other type. When someone says "broad spectrum" they are referring to an abx that is effective against both gram negative and gram positive organsims.

Gotcha, thanks

[ibrat82]

I've had him in qt for 3 weeks in a 20g long with a hob filter, power head and 6" air stone so I think it's had plenty of oxygen. I had to move him to a 10 gallon. he's only 1.5" 2" max in size. in the 10 gallon I have a 6" air stone and hob filter. I'm running 2 air pumps to provide lots of oxygen. I'll try and get a picture

[ibrat82]

I forgot to add I think he has ich as well. I've seen 2-3 small white dots on his fins so that's the reason why I moved him to a 10 gallon to start ttm.


if I get furan 2 upon his next transfer can I give him that instead of neoplex? I know the treatment can take a couple weeks and from what I'm reading giving it in his food seems better than dropping it in three water. so I can start doing that. right now I just have the meds in the water.

[ibrat82]

[Bent]

That looks less bacterial and more like HLLE.

Can you get some more pics?

[niladride]

The doctor is Christian Gram.



I still remember my life science classes.

[ibrat82]

I'm noticing his tail starting to get red blotches I think k it's safe to say this is an infection? can I switch antibiotics to furan 2? he's in a new tank as part off ttm so nothing in this tank but prime.

[Bent]

Originally Posted by ibrat82

I'm noticing his tail starting to get red blotches I think k it's safe to say this is an infection? can I switch antibiotics to furan 2? he's in a new tank as part off ttm so nothing in this tank but prime.

Yes I think that would be fine.

[ibrat82]

or could it be both

here's another picture

[ibrat82]

[ibrat82]

[Bent]

I'd worry more at this point about the suspected infection. It's does look like he has some HLLE, but he most definitely has a infection as well.

Make sure you remove all activated carbon sources.

[ibrat82]

yup no carbon. so is it safe to switch antibiotics from neoplex to furan 2?

[Bent]

Yes I think so, did you dose the neoplex? how much did you dose, and when was the last time?

If you think there still could be some neoplex left over, I would do a large water change first to try to lower the concentration as much as possible before using it.

[ibrat82]

I'm doing ttm so I just transferred him into a new tank today with no meds. Just prime. So I'm assuming it's safe to start using furan since there's no meds in the tank he's currently in?

[Bent]

Originally Posted by ibrat82

I'm doing ttm so I just transferred him into a new tank today with no meds. Just prime. So I'm assuming it's safe to start using furan since there's no meds in the tank he's currently in?

Yes indeed.

[frey]

is it eating?

[ibrat82]

yes it is. is bacterial infection contagious?

[Bent]

Yes it's contagious.

How's he looking?