Flexibacter columnaris

[BucJason]

It is not present in all aquariums.

Everything I've ever read says different:

"Often mistaken for a fungal infection because of its mold-like lesions, Columnaris is a common bacterial infection in cultured fish, particularly livebearing fish and catfish. Its name is derived from columnar shaped bacteria, which are present in virtually all aquarium environments."

Like any bacteria though, the amount will vary depending on available food source and prefered conditions( warm water and low oxygen). Her tank will probably stabilize itself now that there are no more stressed fish, and once the tank has cycled and the water is clean.

 

[ct-death]

"virtually"

You're saying the same thing...? But yes it is quite common, but it needs to be introduced from somewhere to exist.

 

[BucJason]

You can believe it or not, everyone has thier own theory. All I'm saying is I wouldn't start all over. Cycling is no fun, and takes long enough as it is.

I've had Columnaris outbreak before, and after the effected fish died there's never been a problem since. We are talking about bacteria, and the same rules apply to these as any other. If they have nothing to eat they don't survive long.

 

[Rbishop]

Their tank hasn't even begun a cycle. They put it up, put fish in four days later and they started dying, added more and the deaths continued. It is bacterial, but not there naturally in a new tank that has been properly cycled. It is introduced by bringing in infected fish that have not been QT's properly or maintained in tanks not properly maintained.

 

[Rbishop]

Buc...from your other post to the same member on the same subject....

What causes it is an infected fish gets introduced to your tank, or the water from the pet store had it and was introduced to your tank. It can be very contagious and spread to your other fish quickly.

 

[magakitty]

we just did a 50% water change, vacuumed the gravel very well, removed and cleaned all plastic plants and decorations, (no live plants yet, but thinking about adding some low light plants), lowered the temp to 74 F. and are going to wait now to add fish, then maybe start with 2 hardy danos. sound good?

 

[BucJason]

we just did a 50% water change, vacuumed the gravel very well, removed and cleaned all plastic plants and decorations, (no live plants yet, but thinking about adding some low light plants), lowered the temp to 74 F. and are going to wait now to add fish, then maybe start with 2 hardy danos. sound good?

Sounds like a good plan to me. :thm:

 

[BucJason]

Buc...from your other post to the same member on the same subject....

What causes it is an infected fish gets introduced to your tank, or the water from the pet store had it and was introduced to your tank. It can be very contagious and spread to your other fish quickly.

True , that's what can cause an outbreak, but there are are always trace amounts present ready for ideal conditions to bloom and reproduce. Bacteria are everywhere. Once weakened fish are no longer present the bacteria colony should die off due to starvation, the same way your beneficial bacteria will die if no ammonia/nitrite is present.

We obviously disagree and that's fine. I'm just trying to save her the trouble of totally tearing down her tank and starting all over when it's an unnecessary precaution.

 

[magakitty]

Just to clarify things - my tank was up and running for almost 3 weeks before the outbreak, so we are into the cycle a ways. It wasn't just 4 days we set it up. we added the first fish in 4 days, but we added several more before we added the two that started the outbreak.

 

[Ulan]

The more I read about Columnaris, the more I think that this is exactly what I have in my tanks - all three of them. The description fits perfectly what I observed with my pandas. It fits the symptoms that the guppies show that die from time to time, usually after birthing stress. It fits how crappy my two remaining julii cories look, which never really recovered after that ich outbreak (or was it? They never showed any white spots). And it definitely fits the "saddle" one of my otos sports today.

I'm a bit at a loss what to do now. Isolating fish showing obvious symptoms is not really an option. I know the "keeping up water quality" part. But would you personally come with the antibiotics hammer for three tanks? Prolonged Melafix treatment? Anything else?