Fish tuberculosis
/Microbacteriosis
•
•Possible Symptoms
-incurable pop eye
-incurable fin rot
-curved back
-ulcers/granuloma/tumors (bumps)
-Dropsy
-loss of appetite
-Lethargy
-white skin patches
-swimbladder issues (sinking, floating or can’t stay upright)
Could also be:
Could be many other things
If it’s curable, you most likely don’t have it
Basic info
Treatment:
None
Illness:
Highly contagious
Bacterial
Infects:
Fresh/salt vertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, and humans
If a human contracts it, it’s called “fish tank granuloma” or “swimming pool granuloma” this is treatable.
‼️
The bacteria that cause fish tb (microbacterium species) are present 80% of the time.
They only become a problem when the animals immune systems are compromised, or there’s to large of bacteria colony, allowing the bacteria to attack.
Cause:
•
•Stress
Stress can weaken the immune system, opening the body for issues.
Stressful conditions:
-aggressive tank mates
-poor water quality
-low oxygen
-improper diet
•
•Over population of microbacterium bacteria
When you give bacteria a perfect place to reproduce, you can get a heavy overpopulation. This can happen with decaying organic matter, or in frequent water changes.
•
•Wounds
Open wounds can give microbacterium a way to get in
•
• infected fish and environment
It’s very contagious if the animals have a compromised immune system. They can contract it from the environment or contact from other creatures.
How to help:
There’s not really a cure. The most you can do is keep them comfortable.
•
•Accommodate
help your fish be as comfortable as you can
•
•euthanizing
If it seems their quality of life isn’t good anymore, consider putting them down.
Just like your beneficial bacteria
Microbacterium mainly grows on surfaces. Meaning it’s incredibly difficult to get rid of without crashing or completely restarting your tank.
If it’s caused by compromised immune systems, you can fix the issues leading to that. If it’s caused by it too large of a microbacterium colony, most likely you will have to restart the tank.
It adheres to the mucus layer of the host. “While healthy fish are protected from the bacteria by their intact mucous membrane, this protective mechanism is lacking in sick animals.”
This can happen If your fish don’t receive enough vitamins as well. (Improper diet)
Fish with fish tb will occasionally develop dark bumps, that will eventually explode releasing more microbacterium into the water.
Deep dive
Bacteria:
Mycobacterium marinum
In most cases, this one ☝️
Mycobacterium fortuitum
Mycobacterium abscessus
Mycobacterium chelonae
The reason it’s called fish tuberculosis,
is because the bacteria that causes traditional tuberculosis is “Mycobacterium tuberculosis”.
But fish tb is “NTM” or non-tuberculosis microbacterium.
Most
Aquarium bacterial medication
are made to treat gram-negative bacteria, which is what you come across the most. Microbacterium is gram positive. Meaning usual bacterial medications like Kanaplex won’t work.
