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Cytophaga columnaris + Chondrococcus columnaris
Synonym: Flexibacter
Type: Ectoparasite, Protozoa(singele celled organisms)
Symptoms: Columnaris has several different appearances. One way which is commonly described is the cotton-mouth disease; where the fish's mouth actually looks like it's filled with a cottonlike substance. Another appearance is a whitish small spot on the mouth, wich slowly increases in width, and where the infected flesh is quickly eaten away. Another appearance is a small white spot above the eye, slowly growing bigger, and suddenly leaving a large hole of 2 mm by 1 mm or larger in the head(see the ps dayi picture, just behind the eye), clearly showing pinkish flesh. The last one is often mistakenly identified as hole in the head, or even Ichthyosporidium
Description: Cythophaga columnaris is a gram-negative myxo-bacteria, up to 0.5* 10 micrometer large. The bacteria are supposed to infect the fish at damaged areas, although this is only remotely true. Fish without any damage whatsoever can easily be infected as well, especially in the mouth and head area. The disease is extremely contagious and dangerous, complete tanks can be wiped out by it if not treated.
Infections: The disease can be introduced to a tank by food(rarely), but is mainly introduced by infected fish. Corydoras are in the authors opinion not susceptible to the disease, but they can carry it. Labyrinthfish and Apistogrammas are highly susceptible to the disease, and if intoduced to a tank infected with the disease, they will start showing the signs of the infection after a two week period.
Treatments:
- Colombo Cerpofor - anti-columnaris
- Sera bactyfec
- Methylen blue
Temperature: During all treatment it is advisable to raise the temperature to 30 degrees, if the fish can stand it.
Feeding: The fish can be fed during the treatment, but only small amounts of food that are eaten immediately.
Quarantine period for new fish, and for treated fish: 15 days.
Additional: Latent forms can be present in some fish.
Picture references:
References: B&R, www, medication
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