Magnifica Anemone Bacterial Infection treatment with Azithromycin

[Gelinas101]

Hi everyone, I wanted to post my experience on treating a Magnifica Anemone I recently bought that developed a bacterial infection during transport.

Since I’m in Canada, it is quite hard to get antibiotics, and after speaking with vets and other professionals, I couldn’t get Cipro or similar antibiotics that @OrionN has mentionned in a similar thread.

Luckily, I had some Azithromycin left over in a cabinet, and after talking with @OrionN I decided to pull the trigger and try to save my beautiful Anemone.

To do so, I bought a 10 gallons tank, I put a powerhead, a heated, an egg crate and did 5 gallons water in the tank for 125mg of Azithromycin.

Before starting the treatment, the anemone was deflated 6-8 hours a day, mouth opened, and showing his guts. The anemone was bleached from shipping.

After day one, there was no real progress, still deflating a few times a day, but she did drop a big ball of mucus in the tank (probably dead bacteria)

After day two, she was staying inflated all day and all night, only deflating during the water change) but still a puffy mouth and a bit opened.

After day three, no deflating, Little puff on the mouth but closed up nice. A bit more color on the foot and tips

After day four (Today), mouth is no longer puffy, mouth tight and starting to color back up a bit. (Foot is now a deep purple and tips are bright yellow)

Before treatment :

After day 1 :

After day 2 :

After day 3 :

And today (day 4) :

I’ll keep treating with antibiotics till day 6 and see how it goes. I’ll post updates on this thread.

 

[OrionN]

Great. I am glad this anemone turn around for you. I have no doubt that without treatment, it will not live. Best of luck.

 

[adamg77]

Dang! It worked! I hope it pulls through. At what point is food considered in the treatment? Our diet is so crucial to our health I’d imagine theirs is as well.

 

[Gelinas101]

Dang! It worked! I hope it pulls through. At what point is food considered in the treatment? Our diet is so crucial to our health I’d imagine theirs is as well.

The thing is that when it’s a bacterial infection, they are desperately trying to spit out the bacteria so they won’t accept food. And force feeding it will just cause more problem. In my case, she was just not reacting to food, infact she was and she is still not sticky (not an indicator of health but mainly an indicator of if she will accept food). I had another one for 2 1/2 years and was in perfect health, she was accepting for once or twice a week, sadly she visited a powerhead while I was away… now it has a guard. But yeah food will help keep it healthy and fat, but antibiotics are needed in those situations, to nurses them back up and then they can live happy for a very long time!

 

[Gelinas101]

Dang! It worked! I hope it pulls through. At what point is food considered in the treatment? Our diet is so crucial to our health I’d imagine theirs is as well.

And in the treatment, the light is important so it can photosynthesis during the day to gatter it’s energy, 12 hours on, 12 hours off

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Dang! It worked! I hope it pulls through. At what point is food considered in the treatment? Our diet is so crucial to our health I’d imagine theirs is as well.

Diet has become very important in our society because of all the junk food. Dieting in anemones, though, is no where near as important. I mean last time I checked they don't sit on a couch and eat a whole thing of oreos, right? Maybe things have changed. All jokes aside, it's wether they eat enough. Anemones don't have a "junkfood" because they eat things that have high nutritional value. They could care less about taste. And don't forget they are also photosynthetic, so the amount of food they have to predate significantly goes down.

 

[Gelinas101]

Diet has become very important in our society because of all the junk food. Dieting in anemones, though, is no where near as important. I mean last time I checked they don't sit on a couch and eat a whole thing of oreos, right? Maybe things have changed. All jokes aside, it's wether they eat enough. Anemones don't have a "junkfood" because they eat things that have high nutritional value. They could care less about taste.

Ah dang! That’s why it wasn’t accepting the oreos I was offering her!?!? I thought it would’ve cheered her up, it does work for me tho

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I'm glad to see the anemone is doing great for you. This is good information for those who might be having similar issues!

 

[D-Nak]

Another antibiotic success story. Thanks for posting and providing us with nice photos showing the anemone's progress. Once it colors up it should be a stunner.

 

[Gelinas101]

Another antibiotic success story. Thanks for posting and providing us with nice photos showing the anemone's progress. Once it colors up it should be a stunner.

I sure hope so! I mean if the story can help someone else! It’s worth showing the experiment.

 

[Gelinas101]

Here’s day 5, still going strong getting more and more fluffy for the impatients clownfishs in the display

 

[adamg77]

Diet has become very important in our society because of all the junk food. Dieting in anemones, though, is no where near as important. I mean last time I checked they don't sit on a couch and eat a whole thing of oreos, right? Maybe things have changed. All jokes aside, it's wether they eat enough. Anemones don't have a "junkfood" because they eat things that have high nutritional value. They could care less about taste. And don't forget they are also photosynthetic, so the amount of food they have to predate significantly goes down.

I didn’t mean diet as reducing food input as is generally the case in humans although my “diet” has me increasing caloric intake in an effort to maintain and gain muscle - I meant it as I wonder how much caloric intake they require via feeding.

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

I didn’t mean diet as reducing food input as is generally the case in humans although my “diet” has me increasing caloric intake in an effort to maintain and gain muscle - I meant it as I wonder how much caloric intake they require via feeding.

Yes that's what I thought you meant; but they don't require much caloric intake as alot of it comes from the zooxanthellae. And like OP stated, now is not the time to be feeding the nem.

 

[Gelinas101]

I didn’t mean diet as reducing food input as is generally the case in humans although my “diet” has me increasing caloric intake in an effort to maintain and gain muscle - I meant it as I wonder how much caloric intake they require via feeding.

With all anemone, feeding is always a plus, as it helps them get bigger and all, but in term of caloric intake, I would say that in a universe where you have perfect water conditions and perfect lighting, they would never need feeding and would live for decades ( in my opinion). Direct feeding is recommended but usually when you feed the tank it will catch some leftover in the water. Water quality is more important than food in this case. I like to feed every anemone I have (Bta’s, Hadon’s, Magnifica’s) once a week, just so they have some nutrients, but it’s mainly because I love big anemones haha

 

[The new fish on the block]

Beautiful nem! Looks like it is responding pretty well to the treatment, I hope it makes a full recovery for you. I have always wanted to try a mag, may have to give one a go in the near future.

 

[Gelinas101]

Beautiful nem! Looks like it is responding pretty well to the treatment, I hope it makes a full recovery for you. I have always wanted to try a mag, may have to give one a go in the near future.

You should! They are my favourite! In the US, it’s easier for you guys to get meds which is amazing! Sadly here in Canada we regulate everything so had to scratch my head a lot to find a solution! Haha but after reading a lot and keeping them, I would say try it but be ready to treat if necessary. AND read on the requirements and sign of distress before pulling the trigger and get one!

 

[The new fish on the block]

You should! They are my favourite! In the US, it’s easier for you guys to get meds which is amazing! Sadly here in Canada we regulate everything so had to scratch my head a lot to find a solution! Haha but after reading a lot and keeping them, I would say try it but be ready to treat if necessary. AND read on the requirements and sign of distress before pulling the trigger and get one!

yeah, its kinda getting hard to find Cipro OTC, most places require a prescription, luckily I was able to find some, so I have the meds necessary to treat, just need to decide if I am okay with dedicating my current tank (modified BioCube 32) to a nem and a pair of clowns haha.

 

[Gelinas101]

Day 6 :

 

[Gelinas101]

And here we are! After day 7, it is back in the display and the clowns are happy! They did not forget about her !

A big thanks to @OrionN for all the advice and for taking the time to take a better look on the treatment progress!

And thanks to all of you for the support!

If anyone as question over the method with Azithromycin let me know, it will be my pleasure!

**sorry for the blue pics, it’s almost night time in the tank**