20 Gallon Tank New Fish-treating For Ich. Dd Erythromycin?

Greetings Everyone! Recently, I purchased 8 Blushing Pristellas and 3 Powder Blue Dwarf Gouramis from our local independent pet store. I was disappointed that two of the gouramis died in the first week. My fault as I knew the staff had been treating all of the gouramis for various problems since they'd come to them in super bad shape. I should have waited even though one of the said they were cleared to go to a new home. (They're seeking a new source for purchasing fresh and saltwater fishes.) Ok. So, after one and a half weeks the Pristellas started showing signs of Ich. I began treatment immediately with Kordon Rid Ich +. It's been going well for them. No losses. But my remaining gourami had one white Ich spot. It did it's thing as I expected it to by bursting through the white spot, and so on. However, the gourami has what appears to be an infected wound and one or two raised scales where the white Ich spot had been. He's eating well, which is the first step to recuperation. My question is this: I would like to begin treating the gourami with API E.M. Erythromycin. Is it safe to begin this treatment while I'm finishing up the Ich treatment? I'm concerned about over-stressing all of the fish. (Nerites and Cories are in another tank while this one is being treated. Also, I have removed the filter to keep bacteria colony safe. I'm running a sponge filter plus extra air on this tank during treatment with 25% water changes and Ich re-treatment each AM.) Thank you for your assistance. I couldn't find anything specific about this on the Internet.

Water Parameters (live plant tank, cycled a long darn time ago):
Ammonia 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 10
Phosphates .5

 

What do you need erythromycin for?

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa084

Erythromycin is most effective against gram-positive bacteria, such as Streptococcus species. The vast majority of bacteria that cause disease in fish are gram-negative, so erythromycin should only be used after culture and sensitivity test results confirm it will be effective. Also, erythromycin is not very effective in a bath treatment, and it should only be administered by injection or in feed.

 

I don't believe that ICH is ever just one spot. So I don't think that is what you are dealing with. ICH would be tiny white spots all over the body. Not just one or two.

I think you should share some pics in order to get more appropriate advice.

 

Thank you for responding. It started with a couple of the Pristellas having numerous spots, then the others had a few...then the gourami had one spot. I started treatment immediately. I keep a hand held magnifying glass on my aquarium stand. I used it to look closely at the gourami as much as possible. he's a busy guy. Looks like Ich to me, but of course I could be mistaken. The Pristellas are looking good. Today is day 8 of treatment. As I understand it, Ich attacks fish in the mouth and gills before the fins and body, so my presumption is if I'm seeing the first body spot on the gourami, then he must have more that I cannot see. Having a busy day here, but I'll try to snag a photo. Thanks again for responding.

Thank you for the information. I really appreciate it. In your experience, what do you recommend for gram negative treatment? What fish problems fall under the category of a gram negative bacteria? I need to treat my gourami for what appears to be a wound caused by a small area where I believe he had an Ich spot. The area has one or two raised scales too. The tiny white spot is gone and the tissue there appears to be in trouble. He seems fine otherwise.

Forgive, AvanlancheDave. I should have read the info in your link before asking those questions. Reading shortly.

 

Thank you for the information. I really appreciate it. In your experience, what do you recommend for gram negative treatment? What fish problems fall under the category of a gram negative bacteria? I need to treat my gourami for what appears to be a wound caused by a small area where I believe he had an Ich spot. The area has one or two raised scales too. The tiny white spot is gone and the tissue there appears to be in trouble. He seems fine otherwise.

This is kind of an in-depth topic so this paper probably explains it better than I can:



Most infections are Gram negative. Popeye can be Gram positive. Erythromycin is primarily for Gram positive bacteria but isn't well absorbed from the water which complicates things if the fish isn't eating.

Bath treatments require a huge amount of antibiotic. Fish are 60-90% water so let's say 100 mL plasma volume. Even a small 10 gal hospital tank is 37,854 mL so you need approximately 4,000 times more drug. This makes a lot of treatments rather expensive and some manufacturers are tempted to recommend a much smaller dose (which may end up ineffective and encourage the development of resistance) otherwise the owner may opt not to purchase anything at all.

Of course, medicated food has its own challenges. I wish there was a good solution to all this but everything's a compromise.