How best to treat barbel rot on banjo cat

[bekateen]

Hi All,

After routine tank maintenance, I just found a lethargic male banjo cat (

Bunocephalus coracoideus

) with barbel rot. Will get water params for you later, can't get them now.

Thinking melafix and pimafix to treat, both at full strength. Other tankmates include more of the same banjo species, and several Cory species (aeneus, ambiacus, c141, trilineatus, and S. barbatus).

Is this the best treatment? If not, what would you suggest?

Thanks, Eric

[CharlieM9]

Eric,

If it's a form of bacterial infection, I have had very good luck with Seachem Kanaplex. I haven't ever used it on banjos, but it has become a staple for wild whiptail types for me. Typically, if I have an issue that I could not place it specifically with them, the Kanaplex has cured it.

[bekateen]

Thanks! I'll pick some up tomorrow.

[bekateen]

What about clindamycin? I have a supply of that. Standard dose is 150 mg/10 gal.

[amiidae]

waterlife myxazin

[Bas Pels]

I wouild change water. A lot of water and expectthe fish to sterngen up from this. Thus I would see no reason to treat the barbel rot / apart from the water change which must be overdue

[bekateen]

Water change is what I was doing when I discovered the sick fish. Will do another water change today or tomorrow. Don't know if myxazin is available in my area.

Again, does anybody know about clindamycin? Is it too narrow an antibiotic?

[bekateen]

UPDATE: Didn't find myxazin or Kanaplex at either of two LFSs, so I went with the medication I had on hand: So for the last three days, here's what I've done:

• Day 1 (April 23): Removed charcoal from HOB filter; 25% water change, replaced with 5 gal DI water and 4 gal tapwater dechlorinated with Aquavitro Alpha (=SeaChem Prime, but more concentrated, and much cheaper $$), 18 ml melafix and 18 ml pimafix (both used full-strength following manufacturer's instructions), and 600 mg clindamycin powder (slightly higher than the recommended 150 mg/10 gal, since this is a 36 gallon tank).
• Day 2 (April 24): Exactly the same treatment as day 1: 25% water change, using 5 gal DI water and 4 gal tapwater (treated with Aquavitro Alpha), 18 ml melafix and 18 ml pimafix, and 600 mg clindamycin powder.
• Day 3 (April 25): No water change today, but I again added 18 ml melafix, 18 ml pimafix, and 600 mg clindamycin powder.

This morning I got a look at the male. His right barbel fell off, but his left barbel has healed (it's bent against the glass in the photo, but I don't think it's stuck in that position). The redness and fungal fuzziness are both gone:

• 

This treatment seems to be working. So far none of the other fish in the tank seem to be getting sick or seem to be adversely affected by the therapy. I will continue it for two more days, then replace the charcoal in the HOB filter and do a big water change, then wait to see if additional treatment is necessary.

Even though I wasn't able to use your suggested medications, thank you all for the advice. When I'm travelling around LFSs in the future, I'll keep my eyes open for these brands... Heaven forbid my fish get sick again, but realistically I know it's going to happen sometime. And I'd like to be prepared when it does.

Cheers, Eric