Disease transfer between FW & SW

[Rams & Clowns]

I’m wondering if bacterial and fungal diseases can be transferred between freshwater tanks and salt water tanks. I have ram cichlids in one of my freshwater tanks that I’m treating with Neo Plex for columnaris (mouth rot). I wasn’t paying attention and stuck my arm in my reef tank shortly after pulling something out of the infected freshwater tank. I didn’t wash my hands or arm. Could the infection transfer?

 

[Wasabiroot]

@Jay Hemdal

 

[piranhaman00]

Absolutely not.

 

[Rams & Clowns]

thanks

 

[Malcontent]

Shewanella and Vibrio have been found to cause infections in both fresh and saltwater. There was also a paper that found that some live or frozen food of saltwater origin was causing a primarily marine infection in freshwater fish but I haven't been about to find that paper again.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I’m wondering if bacterial and fungal diseases can be transferred between freshwater tanks and salt water tanks. I have ram cichlids in one of my freshwater tanks that I’m treating with Neo Plex for columnaris (mouth rot). I wasn’t paying attention and stuck my arm in my reef tank shortly after pulling something out of the infected freshwater tank. I didn’t wash my hands or arm. Could the infection transfer?

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

Columnaris can’t survive in seawater, so no issues there. Some bacteria can make the switch, but these are found in most aquariums anyway.
Jay

 

[Rams & Clowns]

All that’s so helpful. Thanks you guys.
Jay … my name too ;-)