External Bacterial Infection
What is it?
An external bacterial infection may be caused by a number of things. It is quite common after a parasitic disease, as the wounds on the skin become infected. For this reason it is always a good idea to treat with antibiotics after parasitic treatment has ceased.

External bacterial infections are quite common in stressed fish, but thanks to antibiotics are easy to treat. However this is a serious ailment and it will kill fish, but only if left untreated.

Symptoms:
Bacteria can manifest in many forms, so it is quite hard to diagnose this condition easily. A good indication is red or orange patches or streaks, excess mucus in certain areas or white growths resembling fungus (which are actually a bacteria named Columnaris).

If these symptoms appeared after a parasitic infestation, and the growths appear on or around the wound site then it is most likely an External Bacterial Infection.

Cure:
Antibiotics will treat this problem in no time. Most good aquarium shops should supply antibiotics designed for fish. As do some caring vets. Follow their instructions, as different types will require different dosages.

From my experience the white, tablet form works best. These were from a vet, and I ground two up each night with two spoons and put them in the aquarium. They worked within a couple of days. This case occurred after my fish had been treated for ich.



Remember, water quality is always extremely important- so always check that first as it is often the cause of disease in aquarium fish. When treating sick fish, try to put the least amount of stress on them as possible, as stress will hinder the heeling process. Another thing is to remember is that generally, a healthy fish is a happy fish.

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