What to do with fish and tank after possible case of TB?

TB is quite rare in a fish tank (almost non existent) and usually affects the goldfish/koi families. Bent spines can simply be a lack of vitamin C or a birth defect in the fish itself.

TB Mycobacterium marinum is actually not TB Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The main forms or signs of TB is usually wasting away accompanied by lesions on the body. Sometimes skeletal deformities may develope like curved spines but rare, loss of scales and coloration. (That isn't to say loss of scales and color is fish TB. Fish TB takes around 3 - 4 weeks to actually form to become noticeable after initial contact so it isn't a quick disease. Some strains can spread to humans so gloves need to be used to clean and no starting your siphone by mouth.

Kanamycin is usually used to cure the fish. (Salt and temperatures won't cure tb and will actually make it worse.)

You can either treat the tank, or break down the tank, bleach the entire tank, dispose of your fish (not in the toilet) and bleach everything that has comein contact with the water from the tank, including the walls and the stand. Although cases in humans from fish are rare, it does occasionally happen so if you really believe this is fish tb take care care.

Honestly I don't think this is tb, sounds more like a vitamin problem.

Whatever you do - DO NOT add any more fish to that tank until you know it's safe and TB-free. That won't be for many months yet. If it is TB, the tank is a hospice tank, where NO new fish is ever added, and only the dead come out.

If this is TB, and you are unfortunate enough to experience a full tank wipe-out, drain the tank, bleach (yes - bleach) the heck out of it, rinse it VERY thoroughly (making sure there's absolutely NO trace of bleach at all in the tank), leave it to dry for 2 days, then refill it. Everything from that tank is binned or bleached! Plants, decor - even the filter media - all are dumped and replaced. The filter casing and heater are steeped in a bleach solution, as are nets and water containers.

EDIT//

If we assume worst case scenario for a moment, and assume it is TB, bare in mind that it is a sleeper illness, meaning the fish can go along as normal as you like, for months or even years without showing a single symptom, so just because you added a gourami a few weeks ago, it doesn't necessarily mean it was that fish that brought it into the tank.

Having said that, TB has a LOT of different symptoms, making it difficult to accurately diagnose in the home, so it's by no means definitive that it is TB that the fish had.

Interesting that you have diagnosed possible TB, have you recently added fish to your tank?

TB is transmittable to humans and if that is the cause of the problem treatment of the fish is cost prohibitive and unlikely to work.

It would be a rare case if it was TB, but that doesn't mean it isn't possible, though it could be a swim bladder infection just as easily.

I found this article that might be of help http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/management/Kee...

I would wait a bit before taking any radical action and see how things develop, but rubber gloves seems a prudent idea while you are worried.

Leave the remaining fish in the tank for now as a quarantine. Don't move them, because then you'll just be spreading the possible infection. Clean the tank thoroughly, replacing as much water as possible.

For one thing what kind of fish are you talking about? another is fresh water/salt water. did any of your fish have white spots all over the fish , like on their fins if so then your fish has eick this means your fish are stressed out go to your fish store buy some stuff too fix them.Now if you clean your fish tank completely you will have too waite for 3 months before you can put any fish in the tank. see you have two kinds of algea you have brown, you have green in fresh water tanks.salt water tanks you have red algea.keep in touch with answers on yahoo and have a good day.