Need advice...(long)

[Jim Powers]

I mentioned this in the L. disparis thread about the river tank infection I had a few years ago. Anyone who has been on this board for a few years may remember previous posts on this. Now, I'm seeking advice and opinions again.
A few years ago an unquarentined Sinogastromyzon brought a severe infection into my original river tank. I lost a few fish, but treated it with Maracyn 1 &2 and thought things were settled.
But every few months it would seem to return and require retreatment for a longer period of time and at stronger doses. Finally, it seemed to develop a strong resistance to antibiotics. I tried Kanamycyn with no effect at all.
I finally broke down and bought a UV sterilizer. That seemed to help, but then the infection began returning until it finally killed every thing in the tank but a few old fish who are still alive today. There is one each of Sinogastromyzon wui, beaufortia, and Schistura scaturgina (all are 4-6 years old!), there are also two very nice Homaloptera smithi (one is the largest I have ever seen) a lone Gastromyzon ctenocephalus and a few gold white clouds. Other than losing a couple of white clouds that were old, I have not lost a fish in that tank in almost a year. Now, I want to redo the tank a bit and restock with a few more fish. I am, however, very concerned that if I do, I will start the cycle all over again. I don't want to move the fish in the tank out if I can help it. They have lived in that tank for a long time and its home to them. The schistura was one of the first fish to go into that tank when I set it up in Feb. 2000. I had planned on letting these fish die out, breaking the tank down, sterilizing everything and starting over. However, the fish just keep thriving!
While these fish have survived the infection, they may still carry the pathogen. There are also a few pond snails which are notorius for carrying disease. Any advice as to what I should do. There is some tank space here I would like to fill but don't want to get that terrible plague going again. By the way, it is a 29gal. tank.

[Dr. Momfish]

Jim, print up this article on biofilms from American Scientist nov/dec2005. it's really very very interesting and totally applicable to the situation you find yourself.

http://www.americanscientist.org/templa ... ltext=true

your older fish are immune but any fish you introduce may not be. it's unfortunate that we inadvertently create these little universes in our aquaria.

[Jim Powers]

Thanks, Momfish. It looks like some its full of some interesting stuff. Not exactly light reading though
If I had to do this situation over again, I would handle it quit differently. Of course if I would have put that infected fish in a Q tank to start off with, I wouldn't have had the problem in the first place. I guess, with this hobby, you learn as you go along.

[Dr. Momfish]

that's why i suggested you print it off because it's relatively long. but it is a totally excellent article.

the nitrifying bacteria in the tank are biofilm because they create a slimey coat on everything in the tank: the glass, the filtration parts, the rocks etc. but there's other biofilm constituents besides these bacteria. that article explains very well how they all co-exist and even assist one another.

the old fish you have in the tank could also be a reservoir for the pathogenic bacteria. they could be typhoid mary types, harbouring the pathogen but not being adversely affected by its presence.

remember the story of Typhoid Mary? she was a cook who worked in New York. she gave Typhoid to many many people. she was drummed out of town only to work someplace else and someplace else, spreading disease everywhere she went because all she knew how to do to earn a living was cook. ... i use this analogy to label fish that carry pathogenic organisms silently as 'Typhoid Mary fish'.

[Jim Powers]

I talked to a biologist with Mardel (makers of Maracyn 1&2) some time ago and he said the same thing about " Typhoid Mary" fish. He also mentioned the snails as possible reservoirs.

Its a good thing I just got a new computer and printer or I would have had to read that article online

[NancyD]

Jim, No advice just sympathy. I've worried about snails as disease carriers too. I don't think I'd risk any really special new fish.

Dr. Momfish, Thanks for the biofilm article link. Very interesting, nice graphics too. I had no idea they were so complex, scary too with the "protector " ability of some.

Nancy