Finrot and Tailrot

This infection has never been pinned down to a specific organism and the terms "finrot" and "tailrot" have been applied to any degeneration of the fins of the fish. There are usually some bacterial invaders which add to the complications of the disease, but again, no specific bacterium has been awarded the dubious honor of causing the infection.

A generalized scheme for treatment has been worked out: one aspect handles the bacterial infection, the other the fungus attack. Use 100 mg. of Terramycin or Tetracyn per gallon of water every day for 5 days and at the same time add 2 drops of 5% aqueous solution of methylene blue per gallon. This should control the disease.

If possible, and the disease has not progressed too far, cut off the infected part of the fin, a little past the line of demarkaton of the rot (take off some of the uninfected fin), but be sure that it is only the fin you are cutting and not the body of the fish. Once the diseased portion of the fin has been cut away if is a simple matter to treat the fish with antibiotic and the methylene blue and to bring it back to health. The fins which are cut away will regenerate themselves and the fish will be normal once again.