Medical and Veterinary Drugs

Medical and veterinary drugs.

Biomycin (Chlortetracycline hydrochloride). — Antibiotic. Powder. Low toxicity, relatively well soluble in water. Therapeutic effect for diseases of infectious origin: Ichthyophthiriasis, Costiosis, Lepidorrhosis, Oodinium disease, Fin rot, Enteritis, Furunculosis, as well as for treating skin wounds in fish. Dose: 1.3-1.5 g per 100 liters. Water temperature is not increased, filters are not turned off. Treatment duration is from 10 days to a month. The initial dose is added to the aquarium every 7 days. Water changes are optional at the end of the treatment course.

Bicillin-5. — Antibiotic. An outdated medication. Powder. Poorly soluble in water. The drug has low toxicity and does not accumulate in the body. It should be stored in a dark place, as light causes its decomposition. Completely cures Aeromoniasis, Gyrodactylosis, Dactylogyrosis, Ichthyophthiriasis, Costiosis, Cryptobiosis, Oodinium disease, Fin rot, Saprolegniasis, Trichodiniasis, Furunculosis, Chilodonelliasis. Promotes wound healing in Ichthyosporidiosis, Mycobacteriosis, Ulcer disease, but does not cure these diseases. Shows the most active effect in the first 2 hours after administration. Rapidly decomposes in water under bright light.

It is better to add the bicillin-5 solution to the aquarium at night. If done during the day, the aquarium is darkened for two hours. The temperature is raised to 24-26°C and maintained until the end of treatment. Temperature promotes the rapid growth and reproduction of parasites, causing them to emerge from under the skin from the cyst state, where they are exposed to bicillin-5. Daily at night, for 6 days, a solution is added at the rate of 500,000 units (1/3 of the vial contents) per 100 liters of water. 250 ml of water at 30°C is poured into a glass, the powder is quickly and thoroughly dissolved and immediately added to the aquarium. Fish can be treated from 2 months of age. During treatment, dry foods are not given, they are fed only with live food so that the dry food does not absorb the medicine. Food is given no earlier than 2 hours after introducing the solution. When added to water, it inhibits certain plants: Echinodorus, Aponogeton, Barclaya, Vallisneria. The drug causes the death of blue-green algae. When performing short-term baths: a dose of 1,500,000 units per 10 liters, exposure for 30 minutes, 1 time per day for 6 days. Used for disinfecting a number of plant species.

Important! When using any antibiotics, smaller doses than recommended should not be used, as this creates antibiotic-resistant strains of pathogenic microorganisms. A fresh therapeutic solution of the antibiotic at the specified concentration is prepared daily. During the entire course of treatment, the water temperature in the containers, including the therapeutic solution, should be 24-26°C.

Comment: — Nowadays, this drug has largely lost its positions. Its main disadvantage is very poor solubility in water and a short effective exposure time. The smallest particles of bicillin remain in suspension in water, showing the greatest effect in the first two hours after dilution. It is more effective in baths. Like any antibiotic, it is not recommended to use it in a general aquarium to avoid disrupting the biological balance and damaging aquarium plants.

Gentian Violet (Merbromin). — Has bactericidal and fungicidal properties. Used only for smears on fish. The solution of merbromin should be applied to the affected area and, if necessary, this treatment should be repeated every other day until the disease is cured. A 1% solution is used for the local treatment of external diseases such as bacterial fin rot, as well as bacterial and fungal wound infections. It avoids the general impact of chemical preparations in cases where only one fish is sick, with fungus affecting only a localized area of the body. It is very important to prevent this chemical from coming into contact with the eyes or gills of fish. Stains equipment and decorations.

Griseofulvin. — Tablets, poorly soluble in water. Used for Branchiomycosis, Hexamitiasis, Columnaris, Pleistophorosis. Used in combination with erythracycline. Dose: 100 mg of griseofulvin and 500 mg of erythracycline per 10 liters of water.

Metronidazole (alternative/similar context as Dimetronidazole) / Dimetronidazole. — For treatment against anaerobic bacteria and protozoan parasites, against Hexamita parasites of Hexamitiasis. It is used only when metronidazole has failed to cure the disease. Dose: 5 mg/l. Perform 3 treatments every 3 days. Change 25% of the water between treatments. All cichlids from the infected aquarium must be treated, so treatment must take place in the general aquarium. Has no harmful effect on biological filtration.

Calomel. — Used in the treatment of Hexamitiasis. Add 0.2 g per 100 g of dry food and feed to fish for 4-5 days.

Kanamycin. — Antibiotic. To fight mycobacteria. Quite stable in water, can be administered as a long-term bath treatment. Used in the treatment of Aeromoniasis, Fish tuberculosis, dose 30-50 mg per 1 liter. Repeat treatment after 10 days. When introduced into the aquarium, the dose is 30-100 mg/l for 5-10 days. A new dose is introduced every 2-3 days, after previously replacing 50% of the water. Can be given with food. Use with caution as kanamycin can be toxic to some fish species.

Collargol. — Crystals. Used for Branchiomycosis, Saprolegniasis. Forms a dark brown, highly toxic solution. 1 g per 10 liters of water for 20 minutes daily for a week.

Concurat. — Used to combat helminths inhabiting the intestines, nematodes. Bloodworms are placed in a concurat solution (dose 2 g per 1 liter). They are kept until they begin to die (a few minutes). Then they are fed to fish for 3-5 days. The drug is manufactured as an anthelmintic for mammals.

Levamisole. — Available as Levamisole hydrochloride. A drug for the treatment of intestinal nematodes such as Capillaria. Can be added to food or added to water at 1-2 mg/l in a 24-hour bath.

Levomycetin (Chloramphenicol, biophenicol). — Sold in pharmacies. In tablets. Poorly soluble in water. It is a medication for treating severe bacterial infections, in particular, dropsy. Has a broad spectrum of antimicrobial action. Active against many gram-positive and gram-negative microbes. Acts on bacterial strains resistant to many other antibiotics and sulfonamides. Effective against Aeromonas causing ulcers. Used for Aeromoniasis, Columnaris, Lernaeosis, White-skin disease, Vibriosis, skin infections.

Not very effective when used in the aquarium. One tablet per 20–30 liters of water. Daily for 3–5 days. Grind the tablet beforehand. Treatment should be carried out in a separate aquarium with 25–30% water changes daily or every other day. Along with pathogenic bacteria, it also kills beneficial microflora in the aquarium and has a negative impact on the functioning of biofilters. Can be administered to fish with food for 6 days at a dosage of 100 mg per 1 kg of fish weight.

Comment: — Combines strong antibacterial action and minimal side damage inflicted on the fish. No severe negative effects on fish, other than the danger of overdose, have been noted. Does not stain the water. Unfortunately, unlike special aquarium medicines, this drug is poorly soluble in water. For better solubility, some experts recommend pre-dissolving the crushed powder in a small amount of ethanol or vodka. Observe the behavior of the treated fish each time after introducing a new dose. If it begins to behave too restlessly, the dosage of the medicine should be reduced by adding fresh water to the treatment aquarium. In addition, it should be borne in mind that over time many microbes have become insensitive to classical antibiotics, in particular, levomycetin, bicillin, tetracycline, erythromycin, etc., which were previously actively used in fishkeeping.

Levorin. — Used for Ichthyosporidiosis, dose 1 gram per 10 liters.

Malachite green or Malachite green oxalate. — Greenish or yellowish crystals with a metallic luster, highly soluble in water, toxic. Included in many liquid aquarium medicines. To combat pathogenic organisms: protozoan ectoparasites of Ichthyophthiriosis, Costiosis, Oodinium disease, Saprolegniasis, Fin rot, Gyrodactylosis, Dactylogyrosis, Trichodiniasis, Chilodonelliasis. Only adult fish of the following species are subject to treatment: livebearers, labyrinth fish, tetras (neon), white cloud mountain minnows, killifish, barbs, rasboras, goldfish. Treatment of other fish species should be approached with great caution.

It is especially successful against protozoan ectoparasites such as Ichthyophthirius and those that cause excessive skin mucus production. It is harmful to biological filtration, some fish tolerate it poorly, and it stains aquarium equipment. A 1% stock solution without zinc can be bought at a pharmacy. As for the dry form of this substance, it is better left to professionals.

The temperature should be 24-28°C at pH 5.5-7; in alkaline water, the medicine loses its properties. Fresh therapeutic solutions are prepared daily. Therapeutic solutions and water in vessels where fish are kept during and between treatments are aerated. Feed only with live food. Treatment in the aquarium: 0.1-0.2 ml of 1% solution per 10 liters, repeated 1-2 times every 4-5 days, replacing 25% of the water each time. Strong aeration is required. In baths: 1 ml of 1% solution per 10 liters for 30-45 minutes, repeat every other day, no more than 5 treatments. For short-term baths, solutions of chemically pure or analytical grade malachite green are used. The sick fish is subjected to four treatments, creating a therapeutic solution concentration for the first 2 days at the rate of 0.5 mg, and on the 3rd and 4th days – 0.7 mg of malachite green per 1 liter of water. Fish are kept in the therapeutic solution for 5 hours.

Combined solution of malachite green and copper sulfate. — Against ectoparasites: a dose of 10 mg of crystalline malachite green (oxalate) and 15 mg of 0.1% copper sulfate solution (see copper sulfate dilution) per 100 liters of water. The water temperature is raised to 28°C and maintained at the set level until the end of the treatment course at pH 5.5-6.8. This dose is administered every 7-10 days. Treatment course is 1 month. Maintain water acidity at pH 5.5-6.8. Water is intensively aerated. After treatment, water is gradually replaced.

Potassium permanganate (Permanganate of potash). — Not recommended for treatment due to the sensitivity of many fish to this drug. Use for plant disinfection. Sometimes used for disinfection and treatment in Costiosis, Lernaeosis, Lepidorrhosis, Saprolegniasis, Furunculosis. Dose: 10 mg/l. Treatment is carried out in a separate vessel. Potassium permanganate crystals are dissolved in a small volume of water at the rate of 0.5 g per 10 liters of water in the treatment vessel. Treatment lasts 10-20 minutes every 12 hours. If the pH of the medicinal solution is greater than 7.5, it is aerated to prevent the formation of manganese dioxide, which is harmful to the gills. The formation of air bubbles on the fish’s body is not dangerous.

Masoten, Neguvon. — To destroy a number of ectoparasites: gill flukes (Dactylogyrus), skin flukes (Gyrodactylus), fish louse (Argulus), and crustaceans (Lernaea). Extremely poisonous, catfish are very susceptible. Due to high toxicity, it is used only in a separate vessel. Dosage: 0.4 mg/l for 7 days. You can pour the medicine into the aquarium, dose 0.25 mg/l. After 12-24 hours, the parasite dies on the fish, the fish are caught and transplanted into another vessel. The course of treatment should start at a temperature of about 28°C and continue for 4 days (be careful with your eyes, the drug is very caustic!). After this, you need to change as much water as possible, and after 8-10 days repeat the treatment, since the medication cannot destroy the eggs of certain parasitic worms.

The aquarium is disinfected to destroy all eggs. Fish cannot be returned to an uncleaned aquarium, as reinfection will occur. Cannot be used to treat catfish, as it is fatal to them. This medicine is designed for commercial fish and is therefore sold in 500-gram packages. For our treatment, no more than 0.4 mg/l is needed.

Mebendazole (Vermox). — Veterinary drug, analog of Flubendazole. To combat intestinal tapeworms (cestodes) and monogenean flukes (Gyrodactylus), skin flukes, which also parasitize the gills and fins. Yellowish powder, poorly soluble in water. Introduced into food at 0.25% by volume and given 1 time per week for 21 days. Added to the aquarium at 1 mg/l for 24 hours. For baths: 100 mg/l for 10 minutes. Has no harmful effect on biological filtration. If the fish do not refuse food, metronidazole can be administered in their diet.

Methylene blue. — Synthetic dye. Can be bought at a pharmacy. An outdated medication. Has bactericidal and fungicidal properties. For the treatment of external bacterial and fungal infections, as well as some skin parasites such as ichthyophthiriids. Used for Aeromoniasis, Branchiomycosis, Gyrodactylosis, Ichthyophthiriasis, Costiosis, Pleistophorosis, Saprolegniasis, Chilodonelliasis, Tetrahymeniasis, Trichodiniasis, partially acts on ectoparasites. However, it adversely affects biological filtration, and it is better to use it in baths and separate vessels. The water turns blue, which makes it difficult to observe the fish, stains equipment and decorations. Treatment is best carried out in a separate vessel, since the drug stains the glass, equipment, and water dark blue. The drug is used as 2 ml of a 1% solution per 10 liters of water. Treatment period is up to 1 month. At the end of treatment, activated carbon filters are used to remove the blue color. For baths: 100 mg/l, exposure 4-6 hours.

Metronidazole (Trichopol). — Sold in pharmacies. Poorly soluble in water, difficult in alcohol. There is also a liquid form of this drug: Metrogyl. The drug is inactive against aerobic bacteria and fungi. For treatment against protozoan parasites, against Hexamita parasites. Sold in tablets, which must first be crushed and dissolved in a small amount of warm aquarium water or alcohol, then poured into the aquarium and stirred. Concentrations of 250 mg per 35 liters are usually used. The first three days, medicines are added daily after a partial water change (up to 25%). Then every other day, changing about 10-15%. Metronidazole does not disrupt biofiltration processes in the aquarium and can be added directly to it without removing the fish to a separate container for treatment.

As an option, such a treatment course: Water temperature – 26-30°C (1-2 degrees higher than normal); First day: evening – 250 mg/40 l of water; Second day: morning change 25% of fresh settled water, 250 mg/40 l, evening – again 250 mg/40 l; Third day: morning change 25% of fresh settled water, MelaFix 5 ml/40 l, evening – metronidazole 250 mg/40 l; Fourth day: morning change 25% of fresh settled water, MelaFix 5 ml/40 l, evening – metronidazole 250 mg/40 l; Fifth day: morning change 25% of fresh settled water, MelaFix 5 ml/40 l, evening – metronidazole 250 mg/40 l; That is, a total of 6 doses of metronidazole over 5 days; if the fish starts taking food, feed it in parallel with cichlid pellets soaked with HexaEx (concentration at the rate of 1/2 tablet per 1 tablespoon of food). Sixth day: morning change 2/3 of the water (including 1/3 from the general aquarium, 1/3 fresh settled), in the evening – levomycetin 500 mg per 30-20 liters (if the fish twitches violently, reduce the dosage by changing 1/3 of the water with fresh settled), or in the morning MelaFix 5 ml/40 l. Seventh day: in the evening return to the general aquarium, anti-stress and vitamin supplements, MelaFix 5 ml/40 l – for two days.

If the disease has not progressed too far, the course of treatment can be shortened to 4 doses of metronidazole. In case of a serious illness: in the general aquarium, feed the fish with medicinal food for another week to consolidate the treatment result; after 3-4 weeks, repeat the weekly course of feeding with medicinal food. If the course of treatment did not achieve the goal (disease symptoms did not disappear): return the fish to the general aquarium for a few days to let it rest, and then conduct a repeated course of treatment.

Comment: — Currently, metronidazole is perhaps the most effective medicine against intestinal parasites, provided that the bacterial component of the disease has not gone too far. In the latter case, it is recommended to use a drug from the nitrofuran group, Sera baktopur direct. To avoid disrupting the biobalance and the effect of metronidazole on other, healthy fish, treatment should be carried out in a separate treatment aquarium. It should also be taken into account that the intestine of the affected fish is usually infected not only with flagellates, but also with various types of bacteria. In addition, the treatment itself with a potent drug can cause a secondary infection (destruction of fin tissue, bluish coating, etc.). Therefore, after finishing the course of treatment with metronidazole, it makes sense to also treat the fish with an antibacterial agent.

Neomycin. — Antibiotic, to combat gram-positive and many gram-negative bacteria. Treatment is carried out using baths, dose 250 mg per 4.5 l of water. Administered every 2-3 days. Can be used for prolonged baths, 65 mg per liter. This medicine destroys beneficial nitrifying bacteria and cannot be used in aquariums with biofilters; it is better used in a separate vessel.

Niclosamide (Yomesan, Niclosid). — To combat intestinal tapeworms (cestodes) and spiny-headed worms (acanthocephalans), which parasitize especially in cyprinids. Administered with food, no more than 10 mg per 1 g of food, and fed only this food for 7 days. Repeat after 10-14 days if necessary. Can only be used for baths, as it can poison the aquarium water. No more than 10 mg per 100 liters in a quarantine vessel.

Nitrofuran (Furanas, Nifurpirinol). — Synthetic antibiotic. Antimicrobial drug for treating internal (systemic) bacterial infections. Against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Mycobacteria are resistant to nitrofuran. In the aquarium, 0.01-0.10 mg/l for 3-5 days. Treatment for a long time can lead to skin lesions. Can be used for a short-term bath with 1-2 mg per liter, up to six hours. Can be given with food. The medicine should not be used in bright light. Toxic to loaches and catfish.

Malachite green oxalate. — Dosage 0.04 mg/l for 7 days against unicellular organisms, for Oodinium disease, Saprolegniasis. Temperature 24-26°C at pH 5.5-6.8. In alkaline water, the medicine loses its therapeutic properties. Water must be aerated. Commercially available malachite green sulfate is more toxic than oxalate. The solution is photosensitive and must be stored in the dark.

Oxacillin. — Used for Pseudomoniasis, Columnaris

Oxytetracycline. — For the treatment of systemic bacterial infections caused by Vibrio and other gram-negative bacteria. Aquarium dose: 20-100 mg/l for 5 days. Repeat if necessary. The more alkaline the water, the lower the treatment effectiveness. Can be given with food.

Oxolinic acid. — Agent for treating systemic bacterial infections caused by Vibrio and other gram-negative bacteria. In the aquarium, 0.5-2.0 mg/l for 1-2 days. Effectiveness decreases in alkaline water.

Basic Violet K (Hydrochloride). — Synthetic dye. Sold in veterinary pharmacies. Used at pH 6-8; in more alkaline water, it precipitates and has no therapeutic properties. The drug has a therapeutic effect on fish diseases caused by ectoparasites, in the initial stages of Saprolegniasis and Fin rot. Used for Dactylogyrosis, Saprolegniasis, Ichthyophthiriasis, Costiosis, Lepidorrhosis, Lernaeosis, Oodinium disease, Chilodonelliasis, Furunculosis, Fin rot.

Treatment is carried out in a separate vessel where the fish are kept for 4 days. First, a stock solution is prepared: 100 mg of hydrochloride is dissolved in 1 liter of water, then 10-15 ml of the stock solution (depending on the sensitivity of the fish) is diluted in 10 liters of water. The concentration of the drug must be carefully observed. One should be attentive to the recommended concentration of the therapeutic solution, as some livebearing fish species may lose their reproductive capacity after bath treatments.