Erythromycin lactobionate

Fishfreak2009 · Mar 1, 2017

Has anybody using Erythromycin lactobionate for fish? I'd be using the intravenous form in the water at a dosage of 400mg/10 gallons. I'm considering trying it for a couple fish I suspect of a gram positive bacterial infection. They haven't responded to minocycline, so if I don't get a response I will give it a go. Worst case scenario, I lose a couple Chromis, but I figured I'd give it a shot unless someone says otherwise.

Humblefish · Mar 1, 2017

Yes, erythromycin is excellent for treating gram positive infections only. You can combine with minocycline which treats gram negative. Both are relatively gentle on the fish, but also a little slow acting. But if its just a gram positive infection then time is on your side.

Fishfreak2009 · Mar 1, 2017

Wasn't sure on the lactobionate part. I'm almost positive it's a gram positive infection. The chromis (and 3 blue devils) were unfortunately beaten up pretty bad by a pair of bankanensis damsels. The bankanensis have since been rehomed. They are the only fish affected. All the other fish that were injured (an anthias, a dottyback, and a blenny) healed up great, but these guys just won't heal up. They've been in minocycline for 2 weeks with no change.

Humblefish · Mar 1, 2017

You sure its not Uronema: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/uronema-marinum.247940/

Chromis are pretty prone to that disease.

Fishfreak2009 · Mar 1, 2017

Humblefish said:
You sure its not Uronema: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/uronema-marinum.247940/

Chromis are pretty prone to that disease.

I'm pretty sure it's not Uronema. I treated them all with Metronidazole prophylactically before introducing them almost 8 months ago, and they all recently went through 4 weeks of copper, followed by 8 weeks of hyposalinity. I had this issue about 5 years ago after treating a display with hypo, but unfortunately I was never able to cure those fish (which included a couple tangs and a butterfly) and they ended up succumbing to open red sores and pop-eye. Ive also had experience with marine TB in the past (actually lost the entire setup after I had the diagnosis confirmed by lab culture). It doesn't seem like TB. Those fish died at a rate of 3-4 per day, vs. these guys, the only one I've lost is a banggai cardinal who had all his fins chewed off.