"Gill Passman" wrote in message
...
Koi-Lo wrote:
I called WM and they agreed to take back the lionheads with
contagious-ulcer disease. I know I'm bringing them to their death but
nothing is helping. I was through this once before when my koi came down
with this about 5 years ago. All died and the store replaced every one.
Melafix did nothing.......

This is such a virulent strain that even Koi-Zyme, then Furanace made no
difference. Bacterial diseases are becoming immune to everything.

I am so, so sorry that it has ended this way :-( ...I remember your post
when you found the fish and how excited you were to find them...sadly this
is a regular occurance...me and my Neons...I know they are common fish but
I bought them with hope and a desire to do the best by them...the same
with Mr Gardener and his Angels (I still think there was something wrong
in the first place) and multiple other posters....

Ultimately I don't think it is the retail outlets that have the issue...if
they weren't supplied with sick fish in the first place....there wouldn't
be an issue. A lot of disease takes far longer than is commercially viable
to QT against....my LFS had the Neons for at least 1-2 weeks in QT before
selling them to me...I had them a further 4 weeks....

The issue is really the indiscriminate use of anti-biotics...it is
documented (but I would need to check sources) that it is common practice
for fish farms to routinely dose with anti-biotics but these are not
applied specifically to a certain bacteria....no wonder the bacteria
infecting the fish becomes resistant...then we have the whole issue of
hobbyists being able to self-diagnose and administer anti-biotics in
certain parts of the world (not possible in the UK)...maybe a large
percentage are responsible in applying medication but I would hazard a
guess that the majority cease treating once the intial symptoms
disappear....

It is not only about bacterial infections and fish becoming resistant...it
crosses over to people as well (not necessarily the bacteria but the
concept). Anti-biotics will only remain effective if the bacteria is
killed by them...once they develop a resistance we are stuck...certainly
different types of anti-biotics treat different bacteria and where one is
not effective another maybe...but the ad-hoc application of these drugs
(by fish farms, wholesalers, retailers and eventually the hobbyiest) will
make this worse....responsible fish owners such as ourselves will become
more and more frustrated...IMO the only time antibiotics should be used is
after cultures are taken and on the say so of a vet/doctor...this would
ensure that the correct bacteria are targetted rather than someone trying
to second guess...sadly you have seen the implications of this...

The whole misuse of antibiotics and the effect of bacteria building up
resistance is a subject close to my heart....I nearly lost my daughter at
10 months, because although I was assured that the anti-biotics were
treating her infection and then just as it hit crisis we found out that
she had one that was resistant to the treatment - probably through misuse
of these by others building bacteria that are resistant to certain
anti-biotics...I/she was lucky - we found another anti-biotic that treated
her successfully...but all the time we misuse these medicines we run the
risk not only to our fish but to ourselves of creating resistant
strains....

Gill getting off the soap box....

I'm truly sorry for what has happened and I'm not aiming this lecture at
you or anyone in particular. In fact I think I am expanding on your
statement "Bacterial diseases are becoming immune to everything." and
trying to explain why...

Gill


Gill, not to go off subject but responding to the antibiotic situation w/
your child, unfortunaly it is so common, probably all over the world, its a
blanket drug for doctors sometimes when they are not sure what is wrong, and
most people treat going to the doctors office like visiting the store they
go and say "I have... so I need" and most doctors will just write for it. I
dealt with a similar situation w/ my son Luke when he was a few months, and
we went though many antibiotics to get him better he ended up being in the
hospital for a month and half w/ long term damage from it. I worked at
children's hospital for several years and it was apparent why when every
parent called to ask if the doc could just call them in an antibiotic for
their kid with out being seen, because they knew what was wrong....and the
bad part was on occasion he did it.
nik