Cichlid Discoloration

Columnaris disease is a bacterial disease of freshwater fish, which causes localized discoloration of the fish's skin. This disease condition is associated with gram negative rod bacteria. Columnaris typically occurs after cichlids are exposed to environmental stress such as poor water quality. The clinical or visible signs of this disease include yellow to brown and white lesions on the skin. These bacteria affect the gills, which become discolored and are eventually destroyed by the disease.

  1. Action of the Bacteria

    • These gram negative bacteria attach to the body and gills of fish and release enzymes, which destroy both cartilage and proteins in the body of the cichlid. Columnaris that infect the gill chamber destroy the gill filaments and cause the death of the fish. These bacteria attach to the gill filaments first, to weaken the fish before attaching to its body.

    Early Diagnosis

    • Columnaris appears initially as an area of skin which is simply less shiny than the surrounding scales. At this early stage, the disease may go unnoticed by an aquarist, particularly if the affected fish are relatively small or spend time hiding among the aquarium décor. In select individuals, the bacteria are localized and the discoloration they cause appears as a band that encircles the fish. It is this distinctive shape that led to the common name, "saddleback disease" for Columnaris infections.

    Advanced Stages

    • Cichlids die from Columnaris disease anywhere from eight hours to six days after becoming infected. Columnaris can invade the cichlid's blood stream, where it causes septicaemia, or an internal infection, of the fish's entire system. A generalized swelling occurs initially at the sites where Columnaris attaches to the fish's body. A discoloration over the affected area follows this inflammation condition. Infected fish begin to swim progressively closer to the water surface. Just prior to death, however, they loose the ability to swim and sink to the aquarium floor where they typically remain on their side until they die.

    Preventions And Cures

    • When the immune systems of cichlids, stressed through unacceptable environmental conditions become impaired, Columnaris often gain a foothold on the cichlid. Over-crowding, incorrect temperatures, dirty filters, insufficient water movement, excessive handling and incorrect water chemistry all stress cichlid fish and predispose them to an outbreak of this bacteria infection. You can prevent Columnaris by managing the aquarium correctly and giving your cichlids a high-quality commercial diet. Place infected fish in a hospital tank with salt, as Columnaris can not survive in water with a salt content. Add salt at a rate of 4 tbsp. per gallon of tank water. You can also use Sulfa drugs, as per veterinary instructions.