Erythromycin for Aquarium Fish

 

Updated 1-16-19

Erythromycin is a primarily gram positive antibiotic with a slightly "wider" antimicrobial spectrum to otherwise similar to penicillin.

A popular albeit often incorrectly and over recommended for fish infections. In humans Erythromycin is often used respiratory tract infections, which of coarse does not exist in fish (gills versus lungs).

During treatment Erythromycin is rapidly absorbed in a microbiologically active form into most tissues and phagocytes found in vertebrates (such as fish). Due to the often resulting high concentration of Erythromycin in phagocytes (white blood cells), Erythromycin is actively transported to the area of infection.
Over use of Erythromycin may result in muscle (including heart) and kidney damage, providing electrolytes, in particular calcium while treating with Erythromycin can aid in prevention or reversal of this damage

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USE:

The primary disease pathogens for use of Erythromycin are Staphylococcus and Streptococcus (which often includes many eye and mouth infections of fish).
Occasionally these bacterial pathogens can result in fin and tail rot as well.

Erythromycin can generally be combined safely with Triple Sulfa for a more wider spectrum treatment (especially for use against Staphylococcus infections).

Another use for Erythromycin is for cloudy aquariums and cyanobacteria blooms, however Erythromycin Sulfate is much more effective for these applications (as well better for fish pathogens) and most Erythromycin (such as API) is not of this form of Erythromycin.
Sometime in 2019, "AAP Professional Aquarium Treatments" will have this preferred form of Erythromycin available for aquarium/pond use again.
Resource: AAP Professional Aquarium Treatments

Although often recommended for Columnaris and Fish Fungus, these are simply INCORRECT uses for Erythromycin.

As with ANY treatment regimen, it is extremely important to follow correct procedures that includes addressing ALL water parameters and stressors (including oxidative stress.
Please read this easy to read article and follow ALL advice given as to proper treatment regimens:
Fish Diseases | How to Treat Sick Fish

DIAGNOSTIC CHART
Please realize diagnostic charts are generalizations with many inaccuracies such as use for "true" mouth fungus.
Please click on the picture to enlarge for better view

FINALLY: While I strongly recommend the use of a UV Sterilizer both before and after treatment (24/7), use of this device should be discontinued during treatment with Erythromycin.



"API Erythromycin" can be purchased here (A business with professional aquarium medication experience dating back to 1978):
API Erythromycin

Sources:
*Aquarium Medications; How They Work
*Aquarium Medications; Antibiotics, Erythromycin *http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erythromycin
*https://www.drugs.com/pro/erythrocin.html

Suggested other aquarium information resources & products:

Fish Diseases | How to Treat Sick Fish

*For a proven step by step method to reduce the incidence of disease in your aquarium fish:
Aquarium Fish Disease Prevention; A Healthy Aquarium

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*For Replacement UVC Bulbs to keep your UV Sterilizer (such as a TMC Vecton or Advantage UV) in peak performance, please visit this resource:
UV Bulbs

*Submersible Quartz & Digital Titanium Heaters

*Economy Submersible Aquarium, Vivarium, or Terrarium Fountain Pumps
Pumps ranging from 160, 238, 238 Gallons per Hour (gph)

Triple Sulfa & Sulfathiazole; For Aquarium, Pond

 

This article is copied in part courtesy:
"Aquarium Medications 2, Antibiotics/ Anti-microbials


Updated 11/27/21

Sulfas drugs are among the oldest in the medicine and are considered anti-microbials.
Sulfas are bacteriostatic, meaning they inhibit the growth of the bacteria but do not kill them. Sulfas are generally most effective against aerobic gram-negative organisms but are not reliable against aerobic gram-positive bacterium.

Sulfa drugs arrest cell growth by inhibiting the synthesis of folic acid, a component required for growth by bacteria. Folic acid is a large molecule and is unable to enter bacterial cells, so the bacteria must synthesize the compound intracellularly. Animal cells are unable to synthesize folic acid and it must be provided in the diet. For this reason sulfa drugs are not toxic to animal cells.

Sulfa drugs are among the oldest in the medicine, the first being a sulfonamide was trade named Prontosil dating back to experiments by Bayer in 1932.
For aquatic use Sulfa are often maligned by many aquarists as not effective or out of date, yet in reality Triple Sulfa often will work where other antibiotics fail and sometimes with less side effects as well (this is not to say Sulfas do not have side effects as they are somewhat toxic, producing blood abnormalities and kidney damage when indiscriminately used). Sulfas also do not tend to be as sensitive to poor use (meaning not following the full treatment regimen).

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TIPS

• As a broad spectrum primarily gram negative antibacterial medication; Triple Sulfa can be used for fin and tail rot, mouth fungus and collapsed fins, Columnaris, and hemorrhagic septicemia.


• Triple Sulfa is also useful for fin rot or damaged fins caused by fin nipping.


• Since Sulfas are more effective at higher pH levels, this can be a good choice for livebearer or goldfish fin rot (as well as any other fish generally kept at a higher pH)


• Sulfas can also be safely used with other mild broad spectrum parasite/fungal treatments to boost anti bacterial effectiveness,; a good example would be the Medicated Wonder Shell.


• Sometimes effective when other often first choice gram negative treatments (such as Kanamycin) fail.


• An old standby that is still useful and can be used in combination with Malachite Green (especially effective in combination with MG at ½ strength when treating Ich in scale less fish) or Acriflavin (do not combine with copper sulfate).
  As an example, using Sulfathiazole (Seachem-AAP Sulfaplex) with AAP ParaGuard or AAP Super Ich Plus will render it safer for sensitive fish such as a Clown Loach.


• Sulfas are also more effective at higher pH levels, unlike Nitrofurazone, so often a good choice over Nitrofurazone or Nitrofurazone/Kanamycin combinations in lower pH aquariums. For this reason the synergistic combination of Sulfamethazine and Trimethoprim found in Maracyn Plus might be a good alternative when Nitrofurazone/Kanamycin combinations fail.
  Please note though; Trimethoprim can lower blood platelets in fish which means any use with fish suffering from any bleeding issues can be much worse, often fatally worse since these platelets ("thrombocytes"), are blood cells whose function is to stop bleeding.
  Reference: Wikipedia; Platelets

IMPORTANT NOTE: While I strongly recommend the use of a UV Sterilizer both before and after treatment (24/7), use of UV-C Sterilization should be discontinued during treatment with Sulfa Drugs.

As with ANY treatment regimen, it is extremely important to follow correct procedures that includes addressing ALL water parameters and stressors (including oxidative stress.
Please read this easy to read article and follow ALL advice given as to proper treatment regimens:
Fish Diseases | How to Treat Sick Fish

Diagnostic Chart
Please realize diagnostic charts are generalizations

Sulfathiazole or Triple sulfa can be purchased here (A business with professional aquarium medication experience dating back to 1978):

Sulfathiazole (Seachem-AAP Sulfaplex) (Superior Blend)
*AAP/API Triple Sulfa
*AAP Bettamax
*AAP PolyGuard
*Maracyn Plus (Contains Sulfamethazine and Trimethoprim)

Suggested other aquarium information resources & products:

Fish Diseases | How to Treat Sick Fish

AAP Wonder Shells
The ONLY Authorized online seller of the full line of this unique product. Only FRESH product, not clearance product!!

If you are looking to expand your planted aquarium or reef lighting and want to know how to determine the best lights, this article is the most researched and regularly updated for this subject available free:
*Aquarium Lighting

*Aquarium Chemistry; In depth

For the best, patented high bio capacity aquarium sponge filters:
*Sponge Filters