Six media commonly used for cultivation of Flexibacter columnaris were divided into two categories based on the presence or absence of certain salts. Growth was limited in Cytophaga, tryptone yeast extract or tryptone yeast infusion medium, none of which contain salts. Growth responses in Chase, Shieh and Liewes media containing salts provided improved cell yields and the Shieh and Liewes preparations were best. Comparisons of generation time were made between cells grown in Shieh and Liewes media. The generation time of F. columnaris, strain 238 grown in the Shieh broth was 147 min compared to 206 min in the Liewes broth. Glucose, pyruvate and citrate were not required for the cultivation of F. columnaris.