Ampicillin for Goldfish

Fish · Carassius auratus · typical adult weight 0.01–3.00 kg

Contraindicated in Rabbit, Guinea Pig, Chinchilla, Hamster, Degu

Rabbit: Oral beta-lactams cause fatal dysbiosis in rabbitsOral amoxicillin (and other oral beta-lactams) selectively destroy gram-positive hindgut flora in rabbits, allowing Clostridium spiroforme overgrowth and fatal enterotoxemia. Never administer oral beta-lactams to rabbits. Parenteral administration carries a lower risk than the oral route, but is not established as safe in rabbits.
Guinea Pig: Oral beta-lactams cause fatal dysbiosis in guinea pigsOral amoxicillin reliably causes Clostridium difficile-mediated fatal enterotoxemia in guinea pigs. Same mechanism as in rabbits. Parenteral administration carries a lower risk than the oral route; parenteral ceftiofur specifically has been given to guinea pigs and chinchillas without adverse effect.
Chinchilla: Oral beta-lactams cause fatal dysbiosis in chinchillasChinchillas are hindgut fermenters with the same flora dependence as rabbits and guinea pigs. Oral penicillins and oral cephalosporins trigger Clostridium overgrowth and fatal enterotoxemia. Never give oral beta-lactams; parenteral routes and trimethoprim-sulfa, fluoroquinolones, or chloramphenicol are the safer choices.
Hamster: Oral beta-lactams cause fatal enterocolitis in hamstersHamsters are exquisitely susceptible to antibiotic-associated Clostridium difficile enterocolitis — the hamster is the classic laboratory model for it. Oral penicillins and cephalosporins are reliably fatal. Never administer oral beta-lactams.

Degu: Oral beta-lactams risk fatal dysbiosis in degusDegus are caviomorph hindgut fermenters closely related to chinchillas and guinea pigs. Degu-specific data is limited, so this warning is extrapolated from those related hystricomorphs — but the shared physiology makes oral beta-lactam enterotoxemia the expected outcome. Treat as contraindicated; use the safer alternatives.

Ampicillin is dosed at 50–80 mg/kg oral (in feed) q24h in goldfish, per Ramsey I, ed. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed. Part B: Exotic Pets. Gloucester: British Small Animal Veterinary Association; 2023. p.37. — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.37' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.23; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.23. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712. Ampicillin (Antibiotic) has cited veterinary dosing for goldfish. Routes documented in goldfish: oral (in feed). A typical adult goldfish weighs 0.01–3.00 kg. ExoticRx lists 1 cited dose rule for Ampicillin in goldfish, drawn from published veterinary references. Verify against current literature before clinical use.

Dose ranges

Route	Dose	Frequency	Indication	Evidence	Source
oral (in feed)	50–80 mg/kg	q24h	—	Moderate	Ramsey I, ed. BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed. Part B: Exotic Pets. Gloucester: British Small Animal Veterinary Association; 2023. p.37. — LOCATOR CONVENTION 2026-08-07: the bare 'p.37' in this citation is the PDF index of the held scan, not the printed page. The PRINTED page is p.23; verified by finding the drug named there. If you are holding the book, turn to p.23. — SOURCE EDITION: BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, Part B — Exotic Pets — ISBN 9781910443712, https://openlibrary.org/isbn/9781910443712Compilation only — we have not located an independent source that prints this figure.

What each reference text prints

Every held source for this drug and species, as printed. Where they differ, both are shown — the choice is yours, not ours.

Printed doses in mg/kg for this drug and species, by source
Dose (mg/kg)	Route	Source	As printed
10	IV	Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 2.1	10 mg/kg q24h IV 50-80 mg/kg/day via feed × 10 days
50–80	IV	Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th edTable 2.1	10 mg/kg q24h IV 50-80 mg/kg/day via feed × 10 days

Printed doses in mg/kg feed for this drug and species, by source
Dose (mg/kg feed)	Route	Source	As printed
50–80	IN	BSAVA Small Animal Formulary, 10th ed — Part B (Exotic Pets)p.37	50-80 mg/kg in feed q24h for 10 days

Figures are transcribed from the cited page or table of each held edition and are shown for reference only. They are not dose recommendations, they do not feed the calculator, and none has been reviewed by a veterinarian.

Side effects & warnings

CONTRAINDICATED in rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters (fatal dysbiosis). May cause GI upset. Cross-reactivity with other beta-lactams. IM injection may be painful.

Species-specific contraindications and adverse-reaction reports for goldfish may differ from canine / feline reference data — consult the primary citations listed with each rule.

Frequently asked questions

What is the dose of Ampicillin for Goldfish?

Ampicillin dose range in goldfish, with cited source references: oral (in feed) 50–80 mg/kg q24h. Reference ranges from cited sources — verify against current literature before clinical use.

How is Ampicillin administered in Goldfish?

Documented routes for Ampicillin in goldfish: oral (in feed).

What are the side effects of Ampicillin in Goldfish?

These are general warnings for Ampicillin across species; consult the goldfish dosing table above for species-specific guidance. CONTRAINDICATED in rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters (fatal dysbiosis). May cause GI upset. Cross-reactivity with other beta-lactams. IM injection may be painful.

Why a species-specific page? Ampicillin pharmacokinetics differ across species: dose ranges, intervals, and route preferences are not interchangeable. Cross-extrapolation from canine doses is unsafe in goldfish — the rules above are the citations specific to this species, not generic recommendations.