DISEASE: RED PEST

Other names: Red plague, saltwater furunculosis (even though it can infect freshwater species), or vibriosis. Type of disesase: Bacterial

Cause: A vibrio bacteria

Symptoms: Red spots or streaks on the body, fins and/or tail. If left untreated, these streaks begin to ulcerate and could lead to fin and tail rot. Corneal lesions that ulcerate and evulsion of the orbital contents can also occur. In severe cases, the tail and/or fins can fall off from fin/tail rot. By the time symptoms are noticeable, this disease is well advanced.

Medications: As the disease is internal, external treatments are usually not effective. Treat the aquarium with a disinfectant like acriflavine (trypaflavine) or monacrin (monoaminoacridine) using a 0.2% solution at the rate of 1 ml per liter and clean the aquarium as best as possible. Do not feed a lot while the aquarium is being treated. Add an antibiotic like chloromycetin (chloramphenicol) or tetracycline to the food. With flake food, use about 1% of antibiotic and carefully mix it in.