Application only after prescription / explicit recommendation, consultation and order by the veterinarian
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Antibiotics originally referred to certain substances that are produced by microorganisms and kill bacteria or other microorganisms or prevent their growth. Meanwhile, chemically produced substances such. B. Nifurpirinol is sometimes called an antibiotic.
Unfortunately, antibiotics are often used indiscriminately and in large quantities in aquaristics worldwide without precise diagnosis. As a result, strains of bacteria have developed that are particularly difficult to combat and some have become resistant to certain antibiotics.
For some fish species, e.g. B. butterfly cichlids, there is a suspicion that they are pumped full of antibiotics, especially in Asian breeding farms, that they only survive in the aquarium for a few weeks because they could hardly develop any natural defenses.
Such behavior is negligent not only because of the general risk of resistance developing, but also because of the large number of different bacterial pathogens, the difficulty of making a clear diagnosis and the resulting risk of incorrect treatment with incalculable side effects. Antibiotics are therefore only available on prescription and in pharmacies in Germany. Given the many side effects of antibiotics, e.g. B. Liver damage and risk of cancer, more fish are likely to die than are cured due to incorrectly used antibiotics. Not every antibiotic kills every bacterium.
If an unsuitable medication is used, not only is valuable time lost, but there is a great risk, especially in the case of a bacterial infection, that the bacteria causing the disease will even become resistant to other antibiotics if an unsuitable antibiotic is used.
Another danger is that the treatment is stopped too early without medical supervision or the dosage is too low. If not all bacteria have been killed, the disease can break out again. The danger that the antibiotic originally used and even other antibiotics remain ineffective is then particularly high.
types of treatment
Addition to the aquarium water
The vet recommended dose of an antibiotic is dissolved in a small amount of water from the aquarium. The water is then slowly filled into the aquarium and mixed well. The duration of treatment is about one week. The fish are carefully observed. If there are signs of discomfort, a partial water change is carried out immediately or the fish are transferred from the aquarium to an untreated aquarium.
If there is no improvement after a week, the treatment is repeated after changing the water. In hard water, the absorption of the antibiotic by the fish can be reduced, so that higher dosages are necessary.
Medicated feed
An antibiotic is added to the fish feed. Dosage and antibiotics must be adjusted by the vet according to the severity of the infection and the condition of the diseased fish. With this treatment method, the drug can only have a delayed effect.
Injecting antibiotics
The vet injects the diseased fish with antibiotics, if necessary several times. This form of treatment can be lengthy, but promises the highest chance of recovery.
Area of application Symptoms
Field of application diseases
dosages
The information provided by the manufacturer per kilogram of body weight is applied to one liter of water. i.e. with a specification of 5 grams per kilogram of body weight, 500 grams are dosed in an aquarium with 100 liters of water.
Disadvantages
- Antibiotics are difficult to obtain.
- Only doctors are able to determine which bacteria are present and which antibiotics are effective.
- Beneficial bacteria such as filter bacteria can also be killed.
- If used improperly, there is a great risk of resistance developing.
- Numerous resistant strains of bacteria already exist in aquaristics.
- Plants can be harmed.
- The balance in the aquarium is disturbed, which can result in algae plagues etc.
Medium
- nifurpirinol
- trimethoprim
Miscellaneous
Due to the numerous resistances that already exist, treatment with antibiotics is often unsuccessful if no resistance test has been carried out beforehand. Antibiotics may only be used on medical advice. Antibiotics should only be used in the quarantine tank due to the numerous disadvantages.