# Fish antibiotics

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-antibiotics/481218>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 14, 2009, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-antibiotics/481218 "2009-01-14T05:20:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2009, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fish-antibiotics/481218/1 "2009-01-14T05:20:01Z")

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I was given tetracycline when I had pneumonia as a kid. My fish got tetracycline when they got ‘ich’. (In looking it up, tetracycline does not appear to be a treatment nowadays, and ‘ich’ does not appear to be something one would fight with an antibiotic.)

Question: What is the difference between prescription tetracycline for humans and tetracycline intended for fish and other animals?

(Warnings about self-medicating, side effects, etc. go without saying.)