Disease Treatments For Hillstream Loaches
Originally posted: February 24th, 2002
If you've noticed in some of my posts lately, I've had
a deadly disease wipe out several of my prized hillstreams. The disease
was brought in on an unquarantined fish. The symptoms are patchy color
loss, and will often include rapid breathing. Death is usually very
swift from the onset of symptoms. Sometimes a fish can seem healthy
and feeding, only to be dead in a few hours.
Other hillstream owners have experienced similar deaths.
Since these fish are so sensitive to introduced chemicals, I was at odds as what to do. I finally found success by using Maryacyn-Two (minocycline) and Marycyn (Erythromycin) concurrently. I initially started with a lighter than recommended dose to check the fishes response. They seemed un-phased, so I increased to the full recommended dosage. After the first five day treatment, the fish were still patchy, but were feeding well. I then extended the treatment 5 more days, to the maximum recommended total treatment time of 10 days. At the beginning of the second treatment period, the patchy color didn't spread, but the color of the patches got even lighter. Then, suddenly, in a couple of more days, it started fading and the fishes appetites really kicked into overdrive. Yesterday was the last day of treatment, and the fish look much much better. I hope this helps other hillstreams owners to save these valuable fish.
Jim Powers.
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