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How Fish Will Help us Survive the Apocalypse

By on December 2, 2015

Aquatic Medicines (Fish Antibiotics) are used in fish farms, tanks, ponds, or any household aquariums to treat diseases caused by bacteria. Sometimes the antibiotics are used to treat diseases, but more commonly antibiotics are used to PREVENT diseases by treating the water or fish BEFORE disease occurs. This prophylactic method of preventing disease is a money-saver because it prevents loss and allows fish to grow more quickly.

There can be a few downsides when using antibiotics that everyone should be aware of, though. Just like our human bodies tend to fend off immune deficiencies naturally, fish can do this to a minimal extent. Taking antibiotics before those deficiencies are present may cause the body to not heal naturally. When a body becomes dependent on the antibiotics to heal the issue, it can be counter-productive as human bodies will actually become immune to the antibody itself. Fish antibiotics do not CURE the problem – they merely keep them stable until the immune system can kick its bacterial butt. With fish, the assistance of aquatic medicines is necessary to not only save that particular fish, but the entire “colony” of fish in their surrounding environment.

With aquatic medicines, there are a plethora of different antibiotics to use for different fish bacterium and infections: Below is a list of the most common:

Gram-positive Bacteria versus Gram-negative Bacteria

Most bacteria that infect fish fall into one of two groups – gram-positive or gram-negative. These groups are named based on their response to a protocol called gram staining. Gram-positive bacteria stain blue, and gram-negative bacteria stain pink. They stain differently because each group has a different type of outer structure known as the cell wall. This difference is important for the producer and aquaculturist because some antibiotics work better against gram-positive bacteria and others work better against gram-negative bacteria. Most bacteria that infect fish are gram-negative. The major group of gram-positive bacteria that cause disease in fish are Streptococcus.

So which antibiotics should I buy:

Erythromycin is most effective against gram-positive bacteria, such as Streptococcus species. The vast majority of bacteria that cause disease in fish are gram-negative, so erythromycin should only be used after culture and sensitivity test results confirm it will be effective. Erythromycin is best for eye infections, cloudy eyes, and Neon Tetra Disease.

THE PENICILLIN FAMILY, including Penicillin, amoxicillin, and ampicillin, are most effective against gram-positive bacteria such as Streptococcus species; therefore, despite common misconceptions, for the same reasons as those given above, these antibiotics are not a good first choice for most bacterial infections in fish. They are MOST common because people know the chance of allergies to these are very slim due to its content control.

Tetracycline and related antibiotics are considered broad-spectrum antibiotics (effective against a wide variety of bacteria), and they work well when mixed with food. Although a bit more expensive than the other antibiotics, they work well with a wide array of pathogens. Tetracyclines are light sensitive, and they turn brown when decomposing. This contributes to poor water quality and may be harmful to the fish. Water should be changed immediately after the bath treatment period is concluded.

Terramycin is a brand of oxytetracycline manufactured by Pfizer that is FDA approved for use in the production of salmonids, channel catfish and lobsters

The sulfa/tri combination medicines are also considered to be broad-spectrum antibiotics. There are many different types of sulfa drugs. The more common sulfas are still very effective.

Because fish reproduce at a dramatic rate, they are filled with healthy antioxidants, DHA, fish oils, are low in fat and contain lean proteins. Keep a healthy pond or fish farm around and if hell decides to break loose, you will have a plethora of healthy meat to last you a lifetime.

“Catch a fish for a man and he has a meal for a day. Teach a man how to care for his fish farm and he’ll never have to worry about eating again.”

www.AquaticMedicines.com

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