Can You Use Antibiotics On Fish?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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When fish are under the weather, they can be treated with antibiotic pills

, which are popped into their tanks and absorbed through the skin. Ailing fish are often given the same antibiotics—amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, penicillin—that humans take, Maya Wei-Haas reported for Smithsonian in 2017.

Can antibiotics hurt fish?


Antibiotics can also, unfortunately, lead to resistant bacteria in their system

. You do not want your fish to become infected with resistant bacteria. Resistant strains of bacteria can be produced with indiscriminate use of antibiotics.

What do antibiotics do to fish?

When antibiotics are mixed with fish food, residual antibiotics may be found in fish products and fish meat. People who eat these products will be inadvertently consuming antibiotics,

leading to changes in their normal microbial environment, or ‘microflora' and making them more susceptible to bacterial infection

.

What does amoxicillin treat in fish?

Fish mox is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that generally comes in 250 mg or 500 mg dose tablets or capsules (as well as bulk powder form) and is intended to treat

common bacterial infections

in ponds and aquariums.

How do you treat a sick fish?


Add antibiotics to the water and use antibiotic-medicated food

. Maintain good water quality. Quarantine any fish with signs of the disease. Treat affected areas with topical disinfectants.

How do you save a sick fish?

  1. Step 1: Check Your Water Quality. Poor water quality is the #1 cause of illness and disease in fish. …
  2. Step 2: Fix Your Water Quality. …
  3. Step 3: Check Your Fishes' Food. …
  4. Step 4: Call Your Veterinarian About Your Sick Fish.

What is erythromycin for fish?

ERYTHROMYCIN fish remedy helps broad spectrum treatment and control of bacterial disease, such as body slime, mouth fungus, Furunculosis (open lesions and swelling), bacterial gill disease and hemorrhagic septicemia (blood spots without sign of skin damage). For use in both freshwater and saltwater aquariums.

How do you treat Aeromonas in fish?

Treatment. Depending on the type of Aeromonas bacteria the fish has,

the veterinarian will prescribe medication to eliminate the infection — usually antibiotics

. This medication can either be injected into the fish or added to the fish's water.

Is amoxicillin for fish the same as humans?


Fish are given many of the same antibiotics as humans

—amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, penicillin and more—sometimes even in the same doses. These pills, which are intended to be dissolved in fish tanks and be absorbed through fishes' skin, can also look extremely similar to the human versions.

Can I take fish amoxicillin?

Study:

Human Consumption of Fish Antibiotics May Lead to Dangerous Consequences

. The consumption of these antibiotics may lead to dangerous unintended consequences, such as adverse effects that include treatment failures, and antibiotic drug resistance.

What does enrofloxacin treat in fish?

Enrofloxacin (ENR) has been approved for the treatment of

infections

in aquaculture, but it may cause tissue residue.

How do you take enrofloxacin for fish?

Enrofloxacin has been used

as a bath at 2.5–5 mg/L for 5 hr, daily for 7 days

. Water changes are recommended after the 5-hr contact time, and the drug may be chelated by hard water.

How much amoxicillin do I give my fish?

Amoxicillin sodium is administered by intramuscular route as a dose of

12.5 or 40 mg/kg bw of fish

, once a day, in olive flounder, against streptococcosis (Streptococcus iniae).

Does Petco sell fish antibiotics?

If medication is recommended,

shop Petco's wide assortment of antibiotics, antifungal and antiparasitic treatments

all in one easy place and even arrange same-day or Repeat Delivery to get treatment started fast.

How do you use amoxicillin in a fish tank?


Add 1 capsule (250 mg) into aquarium for every 10 gallons of water to be treated

. Repeat in 24 hours. It is suggested that a partial water change be made between treatments.

Does salt help sick fish?

Next time your fish are sick, the remedy might not be farther away than your kitchen table.

Ordinary table salt (Sodium Chloride or NaCl) is a useful remedy for the prevention and treatment of several diseases

.

How do you treat a sick fish with salt?


1 Tbsp Salt per 3 Gallons of Water

It's used to fight mild cases of bacterial and fungal infection. Plus, it gently irritates the fish's slime coat, causing the fish to make more beneficial mucus that can block some parasites and microorganisms from reaching its body.

How do you know when fish is dying?


Loss of appetite

. Weakness or listlessness. Loss of balance or buoyancy control, floating upside down, or ‘sitting' on the tank floor (most fish are normally only slightly negatively-buoyant and it takes little effort to maintain position in the water column) Erratic/spiral swimming or shimmying.

What to do if your fish is laying on the bottom?

If one or more fish suddenly start laying ONLY at the bottom of the tank, you'll need to monitor them closely. Signs like a lack of appetite, labored breathing, clumsy swimming, or loss of buoyancy control are red flags. In this case, it's best to

quarantine the fish immediately and address the root problem

.

Why is my fish laying on its side?


Swim Bladder Disease

Swim bladder disease is a common fish illness and it's often the reason why your betta fish is laying on its side. Swim bladder disease refers to a condition that means the swim bladder can no longer function correctly.

Why is my fish at the bottom of the tank?

Other possible causes are

overfeeding and improper water quality

. Sitting on the Bottom: If your fish is spending lots of time at the bottom of the tank, it may be normal behavior. Many fish, like catfish, are bottom-feeders and spend their time there. Fish also often sleep at the bottom of their tank.

Will erythromycin hurt my fish?


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.

Can I use aquarium salt with erythromycin?

ERYTHROMYCINTM or FIN & BODY CURETM. In addition,

add AQUARIUM SALT to replace electrolytes

. Bacterial pathogens include Pseudomonas, Mycobacterium or Streptococcus.

Can Melafix treat Popeye?


API MELAFIX fish remedy heals bacterial infections such as fin & tail rot, eye cloud, popeye, body slime, and mouth fungus

. As a general note, all API fish remedies can be used in conjunction with each other safely, as long as you are able to follow the directions for both during treatment.

How do you treat a fish bacterial infection?

Effective treatments include

levamisole, metronidazole or praziquantel

. Metronidazole and praziquantel are especially effective when used as food soaks. Antibiotics such as nitrofurazone or erythromycin may also help prevent secondary bacterial infections.

What causes bacterial infections in fish?

Most bacterial infections are caused by

Gram-negative organisms including the genera Aeromonas, Citrobacter, Edwardsiella, Flavobacterium, Pseudomonas, and Vibrio

. Aeromonas is more commonly a pathogen in freshwater fish, whereas Vibrio usually affects marine fish.

Are bacterial infections in fish contagious?

A common bacterial infection, Columnaris presents as mold-like lesions on your fish. Poor water quality and inadequate diet are among the causes. This disease is

highly contagious

and can spread from fish to fish and tank to tank. Medication is available for treatment.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.