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Library > Diseases and Medications > The Medicine Cabinet > Use of Antibiotics in Ornamental Fish Aquaculture
		Use of Antibiotics in Ornamental Fish Aquaculture
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		Consequences of Improper Dosage and Treatment Time If the dose is too high or treatment times are too long, there is a danger of toxicity to the fish, frequently causing liver, kidney, or other organ damage that may or may not be reversible. On the other hand, if the dose of antibiotic is too low or treatment time is too short, the bacteria will not be killed or weakened enough for the immune system of the fish to remove them, and this greatly increases the risk of the bacteria developing resistance to the antibiotic. When bacteria become resistant to a specific antibiotic, even high concentrations of that drug will not be effective. Antibiotic resistance can also occur when antibiotics are used improperly, such as the 'shot-gunning' method. 'Shot-gunning' involves administering one antibiotic after another to a population of fish, frequently at improper dosages, for shortened treatment times, and without the aid of proper diagnosis (i.e., without culture and sensitivity tests). If shot-gunning is used frequently at a facility, resistance is almost certain to occur. In some cases, the problem may not be due to bacteria, but rather poor water quality or other management issues that have not been properly investigated. While shot-gunning may work occasionally, over time, it introduces too great a risk of producing populations of bacteria that are resistant to multiple antibiotics, which can result in the very real possibility of a 'superinfection,' where the bacteria cannot be controlled with antibiotics. Once a system has a superinfection, it is usually necessary to sacrifice the entire affected population, completely break down and disinfect the affected system, and start over. This is obviously not a desirable outcome. The importance of using antibiotics wisely (running culture and sensitivity tests, using proper dosages and adhering to proper treatment times) cannot be overstressed. Combining Antibiotics Combining different antibiotics is generally not recommended. Antibiotics work at many different sites on and in the targeted bacterial cell. Using more than one antibiotic can result in interference between them and, as a worst case scenario, the antibiotics can essentially 'cancel each other out.' Most bacterial infections can be treated effectively with a single antibiotic. Proper Handling of Antibiotics When preparing or administering any type of medication, it is always a good idea to wear gloves in order to avoid unnecessary exposure to the user. It is important to use antibiotics that are as fresh as possible and that have been stored properly. Antibiotics used after their expiration date, or that have been stored in hot and humid conditions, will have greatly reduced efficacy at best and, at worst, may be toxic. more ...

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