Having a sick fish is not fun, especially because there are many different sicknesses and diseases that the fish could be suffering from. And the worst part is that some of them can be tricky! One of those tricky diseases is Chondrococcus columnaris, also known as cotton mouth. When you first look at fish who are suffering from this disease, you may think they are suffering from a fungal infection. However, that is not the case. This disease is a bacterial infection that can be extremely dangerous or even deadly to fish. If you think that your fish might be suffering from this disease, don’t waste any time at all. Below are instructions on how to treat cotton mouth in fish that can get your fish feeling better!

Identification of Disease

There are multiple different identification factors that you can observe to conclude that your fish is indeed suffering from cotton mouth, the first one being white lines around their mouth. If you notice that the color of your fish’s lips has changed, or there are white hair-like sprouts emerging from the lips, this is a tell-tale sign. Catching it at this point is good because it is still early.

If your fish is clamping its fins and tail, this is a sign that they’re stressed, weak, and have lower immunity. Lethargy is also a sign of this disease. If you notice your fish is refusing to swim or move around, or just doesn’t look well at all, take a closer look to see if they are suffering from cotton mouth.

A thickened slime coat that appears way thicker than normal is a tell-tale sign that this disease is present. If you notice that your fish’s overall color has faded and the scales look dull when looking at the coat of slime, treatment is needed.

Treatment Options

If you don’t notice the items above in a timely manner, it could be too late for your fish. The treatment options you have are listed below, however, it is important to remember that if you don’t do this quickly, or at all, this disease will allow for the bacteria to eat away at the fish’s lips, face, head, and overall body. Don’t let that be the case! Instead, try the listed options below.

The first step should always be to quarantine your fish. This disease is indeed contagious, and you want to get your fish out of the tank where it can infect other fish. Once that is done, it is recommended that you rub salt on the fish’s mouth using a damp cloth. It is said that if caught soon enough, this could heal the condition. For further treatment for cotton mouth in fish, adding salt water to the tank and a small about of methylene blue in the water will help treat the infected tank. And if neither of these options work, look for fish antibiotics that are designed to fight this bacterial infection.

Identifying and understanding how to treat cotton mouth disease in fish is crucial in protecting and healing your finned friend. Not catching it soon enough or letting it go untreated would only cause more harm. If you have exhausted all of your options and are looking for antibiotics to heal your fish, visit our website to find an abundance of options including everything from fish sulfa to any fish amoxicillin antibiotics. Get researching and purchase today to heal your pet!