Cotton Wool Disease: What You Need To Know To Keep Your Fish Healthy And Safe From The Bacteria That Causes It

Cotton wool disease is caused by the bacterium Flavobacterium columnare. Despite its mushroom-like appearance, it is not a fungus. It can infect the skin and gills. It is of great importance to the commercial aquaculture market. It's rarer in the pet fish community. The most common clinical sign of cotton wool disease occurs on the body, including the face, mouth, and fins. These lesions typically have a fluffy appearance similar to a fungal growth. In some cases, these skin patches can spread to the gills and gill tissue may then appear necrotic. Brusque columnaris bacteria are commensal bacteria and occur naturally in healthy fish. The bacteria commonly enters the fish's system when infected fish are added to the tank without proper quarantine. It should be important to keep a close eye on your tank's temperature. This is because columnaris can love warmer water. Never "guess" with antibiotic treatment. You may end up throwing out your biologic filtration and using the wrong product or dose, breeding more resistant strains in your system. Fish showing symptoms should be put in a hospital tank. Your veterinary doctor will prescribe an antibiotic to be added to your water or provide an injectable treatment. Never try to inject your fish yourself. Your fish may require different antibiotics if no sample is sent for culture and sensitivity testing. Quarantine: Set up a completely separate system with separate filtrating and other equipment for four to six weeks. Watch your fish closely during this time. You will notice changes in their appearance and behavior. Maintaining the correct temperature in a tank is very important. . . .