Disease

Dear Lelia:

You did very well to notice the discolored ovals so quickly. Early detection and treatment is the key to dipping potential health problems in the bud. A discrete, localized loss of pigmentation is often an early indication of a skin infection or external parasites that attack the skin, as we will discuss in more detail below, but in most cases that are symptomatic of a serious problem the discolored areas are white or perhaps yellow in coloration initially, rather than a light brown coloration such as you describe. It’s possible that the oblong light brown markings are simply a transitory color phase your seahorse is going through, but they could also be an infection in its early stages that may develop into the characteristic white lesions if left untreated.

For now, Lelia, I would suggest that you monitor the suspicious spots very carefully while you obtained the necessary medications (see below) to treat the problem should it become necessary. Watch the oblong spots carefully for any change in size, color, or texture that could indicate they are not natural markings or that the problem is worsening or spreading. Be particularly alert for any indications that the skin within the discolored areas is beginning to erode or break down and treat the seahorse immediately in isolation at the first sign of such a problem as explained below.

In addition, Lelia, you might consider treating the suspicious spots with Biobandage as a first-aid miniature. This is a combination of neomycin, a vitamin complex, and unique polymers that form a sort of "biological bandage" that binds the medications to the wound, thus helping to prevent infection and promote rapid healing. It can be obtained online from the following vendor:

http://www.seahorsesource.com/cgi-bin/shop/detail.cgi?id=300133

At this point, it is impossible to say exactly what caused the oblong spots if they are pathological, since various protozoan parasites (especially Uronema), fungal infections, and/or bacterial infections of the skin can all cause discoloration of the affected area and appear as a this colored Arielle or localized loss of pigmentation in the initial stages.

If the suspicious spots are the only symptom right now and the seahorse is behaving normally otherwise, then we may be able to rule out protozoan parasites since they typically attack the gills as well as the skin, causing rapid respiration, labored breathing, and excessive mucous production. I’m therefore going to assume the oblong spots or due to a fungal infection and/or bacterial skin infection, possibly the initial stages of white patch disease (marine columnaris — Cytophaga or Myxobacteria spp.) or the early stages of marine ulcer disease (Pseudomonas or Vibrio spp.), and recommend that you treat the seahorse in isolation with antibacterial agents in conjunction with a series of formalin baths if you detect any change in the suspicious spots.

If treatment proves necessary, drop the temperature in the hospital tank during the course of the treatments. Gradually reducing the water temperature will slow the metabolism and reproductive rate of the pathogens, making them easier to control, and the virulence of many bacterial infections is markedly reduced at lower temperatures (Giwojna, Nov. 2003).

As I mentioned, there are a number of parasitic infections that can easily be mistaken for for bacterial and/or fungal infections in the early stages. For example, Brooklynella, Costia and Uronema parasites all cause cloudiness or turbidity of the skin accompanied by heavy mucous production in their initial stages, which are similar to the filmy appearance of the white patch on your seahorse, Angie (Giwojna, Nov. 2003). In their later stages, these parasitic infections result in respiratory distress and ulcers or open sores that are very like the symptoms of white patch disease or marine ulcer disease when the enzymes the bacteria produce erode away the skin and the gills are involved (Giwojna, Nov. 2003). Parasitic infections are often followed by secondary bacterial/fungal infections, and such parasites are one of the stressors that can result in a bacterial or fungal infection. This can make it difficult to determine whether you are dealing with bacteria, fungus, a parasite problem, or a mixed infection (Giwojna, Nov. 2003).

But that really doesn’t matter, Lelia, because the treatment regimen we are discussing should be effective whether bacteria, fungus, protozoan parasites, or all of the above are involved. If you treat your seahorse with a potent combination of antibiotics, gradually reduce the water temperature in your hospital tank to as low as 68°F if possible, and administer a formalin bath (see instructions below) every other day for total of three treatments, you should be able to resolve this problem.

The antibiotics I recommend for this are nifurpirinol (the active ingredient in Furanase) and neomycin sulfate, if you have them on hand or can obtain them from your LFS. If not, then I suggest you try Neo3, a concentrated formulation of neomycin combined with sulfa compounds, which is available online from the following web site:

Click here: AquaBiotics.net <<http://www.aquabiotics.net/neo3.html>&gt;
<<http://www.aquabiotics.net/neo3.html>&gt;

Neo3 has also been difficult to obtain lately, and if that’s the case, Lelia, kanamycin sulfate or neomycin sulfate combined with triple sulfa is a suitable substitute. Kanamycin and/or neomycin sulfate can safely be combined with various sulfa compounds. One that seems to work particularly well is combining neomycin sulfate with triple sulfa. You may be able to get neomycin sulfate and triple sulfa compound at a well-stock LFS. If not, you can obtain both neomycin sulfate powder and triple sulfa powder from National Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. You can order them online at the following site: http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/products.html

Formalin baths used in conjunction with these antibiotics will help eliminate any ectoparasites or secondary fungal infections that may be involved. Formalin is basically a 37% solution of formaldehyde and water. It is a potent external fungicide, external protozoacide, and antiparasitic, and seahorse keepers commonly use formalin to cleanse new arrivals of ectoparasites during quarantine. Formalin (HCHO) is thus an effective medication for eradicating external parasites, treating fungal lesions, and reducing the swelling from such infections. As such, formalin baths combined with the broad-spectrum antibiotics mentioned above should be very effective in clearing up a bacterial lesion.

Many commercial formalin products are readily available to hobbyists, such as Kordon’s Formalin 3, Formalin-F sold by Natchez Animal Supply, and Paracide-F, sold by Argent Chemical Laboratories. Or whatever brand of formalin is available at your fish store should work fine.

A formalin bath simply involves immersing the seahorse in a container of saltwater which contains the proper dosage of formalin for a period of 30-60 minutes before transferring it to your hospital tank. Include a hitching post of some sort in the container and follow these instructions: place the fish in a three-gallon bucket or a similar clean, inert container containing precisely one gallon of siphoned, aerated tank water. Medicate the bucket of water with with the appropriate amount of formalin for a concentrated bath according to the directions on the label. Place an airstone in the bucket and leave the fish in the bath for 30-60 minutes. If at any time the fish becomes listless, exhausted or loses its balance, immediately place the fish in clean, untreated water in your hospital tank.

I want you to be aware of these precautions when administering the formalin bath:

Formalin has limited shelf life and degrades to the highly toxic substance paraformaldehyde (identified as a white precipitate on the bottom of the solution); avoid using any formalin product which has such a precipitate at the bottom of the bottle.

Formalin basically consumes oxygen so vigorous aeration must be provided during treatment.

Time the bath closely and never exceed one hour of chemical exposure at this concentration.

Observe the seahorse closely during the bath at all times, and it show signs of distress before the allotted time has elapsed, remove it from the treatment immediately.

If you can obtain Formalin 3 from Kordon at your LFS, these are the instructions you should follow for your formalin dip:

METHOD 2 (DIP) FOR THE PREVENTION OR TREATMENT OF FISH DISEASES
(a) To a clean, non-metallic container (i.e., a plastic bucket), add one or more gallons of fresh tap water treated with Kordon’s AmQuel . For marine fish use freshly prepared saltwater adjusted to the same specific gravity (or salinity) as in the original tank. Make sure the temperature in the container is identical to that in the aquarium
(b) Add 1 teaspoons of Formalin·3. This produces a concentration of 100 ppm. formaldehyde.
(c) Agitate the solution with an airstone and adjust for a moderately strong flow of air.
(d) Remove the fishes to be treated and deposit them in the container for a treatment period of not more than 50 minutes. Immediately after the treatment period, or if signs of distress are noted, remove the fishes to a previously prepared recovery tank. The fishes may be returned to their original tank, but the presence of the original disease-causing agents in the tank water may result in a reoccurrence of the disease condition.
(e) Observe recovering fishes. Make sure that tankmates do not molest them during recovery.
(f) Repeat treatment as needed, every week. Each treatment is very stressful to the treated fishes. Do not reuse the dip solution.

For additional information on treating fishes with Formalin 3 by Kordon, she the following web page:

Click here: KPD-54 Formalin-3
<<http://www.novalek.com/kpd54.htm>&gt;

If you get another brand of formalin, just follow the instructions that it comes with for a concentrated bath or dip (not prolonged immersion or a long-term bath).

It’s equally important that you keep your stallion eating well you and the very best thing you can feed him at this time would be Vibrance-enriched frozen Mysis. Not only will this provide your male with nutritional support to keep his strength up, but it’s also the best way to get your seahorse to ingest beta-glucan. Administering a daily dose of beta-glucan (a potent immunostimulant) to boost the immune system of your seahorses and speed her recovery. This can easily be accomplished simply by enriching frozen Mysis with Vibrance (both Vibrance formulations now include beta-glucan as a primary ingredient).

The research on the health effects of Beta Glucan is pretty phenomenal. It has long been used in the aquaculture of commercially valuable food fishes and seafood, such as cod, turbot, salmon and shrimp. It improves the growth rate and reduces mortality rates among the fry (or larvae in the case of shrimp), and improves disease resistance in juveniles and adults.

Not only should Beta Glucan help keep healthy seahorses healthy, it should also help ailing seahorses recover faster. Research indicates that it helps prevent infections and helps wounds heal more quickly (Bartelme, 2003). It is safe to use in conjunction with other treatments and has been proven to increase the effectiveness of antibiotics (Bartelme, 2003). It will be great for new arrivals recovering from the rigors of shipping because Beta Glucan is known to alleviate the effects of stress and to help fish recover from exposure to toxins in the water (Bartelme, 2003) .

For more information on the potential benefits of Beta Glucan for aquarium fish, please see the following article:

Click here: Advanced Aquarist Feature Article
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/sept2003/feature.htm

Be sure to observe the following precautions when handling your seahorses to apply the Biobandage or to administer the formalin baths:

Handling Seahorses

I do not like to use an aquarium net to transfer or manipulate seahorses, since their delicate fins and snouts can become entangled in the netting all too easily. I much prefer to transfer the seahorses by hand. Simply wet your hand and fingers (to avoid removing any of the seahorse’s protective slime coat) and scoop the seahorses in your hand. Allow them to curl their tail around your fingers and carefully cup their bodies in your hand to support them while you lift them out of the water. When you gently immerse your hand in the destination tank, the seahorse will release its grip and swim away as though nothing out of the ordinary has happened.

Composed of solid muscle and endowed with extraordinary skeletal support, the prehensile tail is amazingly strong. Indeed, large specimens have a grip like an anaconda, and when a 12-inch ingens or abdominalis wraps its tail around your hand and tightens its hold, its vise-like grip is powerful enough to leave you counting your fingers afterwards!

In fact, it can be quite difficult to remove an attached seahorse from its holdfast without injuring it in the process. Never attempt to forcibly detach a seahorse from its hitching post! When it feels threatened, it’s instinct is to clamp down and hold on all the tighter. When you must dislodge a seahorse from its resting place for any reason, it’s best to use the tickle technique instead. Gently tickling the underside of the tail where it’s wrapped around the object will usually induce the seahorse to release its grip (Abbott, 2003). They don’t seem to like that at all, and will quickly let go to move away to another spot. Once they are swimming, they are easy to handle.

In short, I would suggest monitoring your seahorse closely for now, feeding it plenty of vibrance the enriched frozen Mysis to boost its immune system, and perhaps applying Biobandage to the suspicious spots as a precaution. If additional treatment proves necessary, treat the seahorse in isolation with broad-spectrum antibiotics and formalin baths as discussed above and gradually lower the water temperature in your hospital tank.

Best of luck monitoring the situation and treating this problem, if necessary, Lelia. Here’s hoping the discolored ovals clear up in no time!

Respectfully,
Pete Giwojna

Dear Lelia:

Okay, that’s good! It’s great that you had a suitable medication with you and could begin treatment immediately.

As long as you have Furan2 on hand and have begun treating with it, by all means go ahead and complete your treatment regimen. It’s an effective combination of antibiotics and there’s no reason to change the medication if the suspicious oblong spots seems to be receding and responding to the nitrofuran antibiotics you are using.

Furan2 is a good combo medication that consist of two nitrofuran antibiotics (nitrofurazone and furazolidone) plus good old methylene blue. That gives it both bacteriostatic and bactericidal properties, and makes it active against various gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Best of all, it can be safely combined with Aquarium Pharmaceuticals antiparasitic medications to increase its effectiveness and guard against secondary infections when you are treating for parasites.

Thus, when combined with a good antiparasitic medication, a good combination drug like Furan2 can be the ultimate weapon in your medicine cabinet. It is effective against a wide range of diseases, making it a versatile shotgun for restoring order when trouble breaks out in your tank. When you suspect an infection is at work, but don’t know whether you’re dealing with fungus, bacteria, protozoan parasites or a mixed infection, don’t hold back — break out the heavy artillery and give the bugs both barrels (Furan2 + Aquarium Pharmaceutical antiparasitics)! Furan2 is especially effective for treating mild skin infections, so it could be a good drug for this particular problem, Lelia.

However, you have to take special precautions when administering nitrofuran antibiotics such as this because they are photosensitive and can be deactivated by light. That means you’ll need to darken the hospital tank while you treat the seahorse. Do not use a light on your hospital tank, cover the sides of the tank with black construction paper or something similar, and keep an opaque lid or cover on the aquarium during the treatments. Remove this cover from the aquarium only long enough to feed your seahorses. That is one of the reasons they include some methylene blue with the Furan2 — the discoloration of the water it causes helps prevent light from impairing the antibiotics.

The methylene blue and Furan2 will result discoloration of the aquarium water, turning it a shade of blue-green. This is harmless and can be removed after the treatments using activated carbon filtration.

I would continue to drop the temperature in the hospital tank, keep feeding your stallion Vibrance-enriched frozen Mysis, and complete the regimen of Furan2 while you line up the Biobandage and alternative antibiotics we discussed in my previous post. They are good medications to have on hand whether or not you need them in this instance or not.

Best of luck resolving those suspicious spots on your male, Lelia!

Respectfully,
Pete Giwojna

P.S. their new home, a 57 gal tank, is almost ready for them.