emperor angelfish resistant to maracyn 2

[phillip chu]

hello,

my adult emperor angelfish has popeye and is resistant to maracyn, and maracyn 2; (I have used these before and she responded very effectively, but not this time.) What can I use in place of mararyn 2 to treat gram-negative and possibly systemic bacterial infections? any information would be greatly appreciated.

[leebca]

In the treatment of marine fishes for bacterial infections, the fish itself isn't resistant to nor suseptible to the antibiotic. It's the bacteria that are or are not suseptible to the antibiotic.

Popeye has a rather long explanation to it, with a variety of causes. See this post:
Popeye -- NOT the Sailor

So if it isn't responsive to antibiotics then there are a few other possibilities. However, Maracyn Two is focused on Gram Negative bacteria which is the usual types of bacteria that infect ornamental marine fishes. Another antibiotic which will attack both Gram Negative and Gram Positive bacteria and which is also systemic in nature is NITROFURAZONE (Aquatronics’ Furacyn).

If this Popeye is caused by injury or damage, the antibiotic will have no effect, however the eye can recover on its own and during an antibiotic treatment the hobbyist would swear that it was the antiibotic that cured the fish.

Try the other antibiotic if you want, but this being the second Popeye experience, you should review the above linked post and try to prevent it from occuring in the future, not just curing it when it comes along. There are some actions you can take to reduce the fish's suseptibility to this condition. Give them a try.

Good luck!