Will E.M. Erythromycin kill my white snail and my four plants?

Question

One of my zebra danios developed open red sores and died in the tank. After I removed the dead fish, I went to PetSmart and they told me to use Aquarium Pharmaceuticals E.M. Erythromycin packets over a four day period to kill the bacteria. I am worried b/c three days before I purchased 4 grass plants and one snail. I only have two packets left then the treatment is complete. But I'm a nervous wreck b/c the tank is in it's 4th week of cycling. The two Mickeys and six zebra danios have been together for three weeks now. Should I finish the treatment and see if it kills the snail? Or should I remove the snail and plants into a bucket of freshwater until the treatment is finished and I do a 100% water change - the instructions recommended a final 25% water change only.

New fish owner, confused!

I just want to add that both my orange Mickeys like to hang out near the water surface - I assume b/c the water quality is poor due to lack of filter, all the medicine in the water?

Also, the tap water in my area is so hard that I use bottled drinking water from the grocery store for water changes. I just changed 25% of the water last night when I added the 3rd dose of medicine. Although the instructions say to add a 4th dose tonight, should I do a 25% water change before I add the 4th dose anyway? API does not offer very clear instructions on their Pro Series (10 powder packets) of Erythromycin. Or I'm a total neurotic and should stick with being a plant owner and give up on fish, since all you have to do is remember to water plants every 3 days. Gah!

Answer 1

The Erythromycin shouldn't harm your snail or your plants at all. Of course, as I'm sure you know it has practically wiped out your cycle at this point, but that really couldn't be helped. 4 days is rarely enough to insure you have killed all of the disease causing bacteria in a case of bacterial disease in a tank. Usually a course of 7-10 days is recommended. Erythromycin is sensitive to light and will be broken down in your tank would be the reason for the daily dosing and the small final water change.

I would recommend continuing the treatment in your tank for at least 7 days (total) and watching the ammonia levels very closely as your cycle will start all over again. Small water changes to control the ammonia should be done right before adding the daily dose of EM.

Hope that helps and if I can help further, please don't hesitate to email me.

ADDITION: I would suspect the reason your Platys are hanging on the surface is due to a rise in the ammonia levels in the tank. THe EM has killed not only the bad bacteria, but also the good. Given that I would suggest a 50% water change before the next dose and a 25% before each additional dose until the 7 day treatment is up. From then on, change water as needed to keep the ammonia in check until the cycle restarts in a week or two.

MM

Answer 2

Some medications will directly affect your snail and plants, but erythromycin shouldn't be one of them. It will, however kill the bacteria you've built up in trying to cycle your tank, so it will be necessary to begin cycling over again once the treatment is done if you've medicated the tank. The lack of bacteria to process the ammonia and nitrite may affect your snail by allowing ammonia and nitrite to build up in your tank. Ammonia and nitrite poisoning both have symptoms similar to lack of oxygen because they bind to oxygen receptor sites in the blood, so your fish is really getting less oxygen.

I don't what type of "grass" you have in your tank, but if it's one called mondo grass, it won't do well in your tank, but not because of the antibiotic - because it's not really an aquatic plant: http://www.plantgeek.net/plantguide_viewer.php?id=220

ADDITION: Not neurotic, a concerned fish owner. You've figured out why the fish are hanging out at the top pretty well - actually a combination of the items you mention.

Is there no areation in the tank at all? A filter can still be used, it just needs to have the carbon revoved because it pulls the medication out of the water. A filter or airstone would help not only your fish, but your bacteria for cycling as well - the bacteria are aerobic (meaning they require oxygen) and the best way to get it to the bottom of the tank is by water movement caused by a filter or airstone.

Ammonia and nitrite poisoning have the same symptoms as low oxygen, because it technically is - these compounds bind to oxygen receptor sites in the bloodstream, so there is less oxygen getting to your fish. And by using the EM erythromycin, you've destroyed any bacteria that had built up, so there's more ammonia present in the tank now than before.

I'd recommend a partial (25%) water change before adding the next dose of antibiotic. You may want to bookmark this website - it gives more specific instructions for medication fish than you'll find on many product labels: http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Medication.html Erythromycin is not quite halfway down the page.

Answer 3

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RE:
Will E.M. Erythromycin kill my white snail and my four plants?
One of my zebra danios developed open red sores and died in the tank. After I removed the dead fish, I went to PetSmart and they told me to use Aquarium Pharmaceuticals E.M. Erythromycin packets over a four day period to kill the bacteria. I am worried b/c three days before I purchased 4 grass...

Answer 4

That is why it is always a good idea to have a quarantine tank. Do yourself a favor, go and get a cheap filter and a small rubbermaid(or similar) containter, total price will be about $20. Keep the filter running on your main tank until you need to QT a fish, then you don't have to worry about damaging your current tank.

And never ever change 100% of the water. Do several smaller water changes over a period of a few days to remove the medicine.

Answer 5

Em Erythromycin