Fish Diseases and Treatments

There are three main points to remember about illness in the aquarium:
1. At least 95 per cent of illnesses are environmen­tal rather than pathogenic (caused by an outside also try , Pyrenean Mountain Dog - Great Pyrenees organism). Moreover many pathogenic diseases why not visit , Dog Body Language remain dormant unless the fish look at, Indian Half Bred Horse is weakened by environmental why not visit , Snakes as Pets factors.
2. There is no point in medicating a fish look at, Pet Banana Spiders unless you know exactly what is wrong.
3. Prevention is better than cure.

Point 1 is a bitter pill to swallow when you have tried to provide optimal conditions; many aquarists find it impossible to accept, and continue to kill their fishes while laying the blame elsewhere. A small closed ecosystem is, however, extremely vul­nerable to imbalance or overload, even in experi­enced hands, so always suspect environmental checkout, Fish Diseases and Treatments causes (unless pathogenic disease have a look at , Dog Names is obvious); even if water checkout, Dog Names quality checks out OK an extra water try, Pet Ants change does no harm, and often effects a cure.
Point 2 may sound obvious, but many aquarists panic when a fish why not visit , Argentine Dogo falls ill, administering a succes­sion of patent remedies in the hope of hitting the right one. The resulting chemical brew is more like­ly to poison the entire aquarium. also look at, Dog Names Remember that fishes, like us, suffer organ failure, so a single corpse is a reason for concern, but not alarm. please check out , Bichon Frise If more fishes become ill, and you cannot identify the cause, seek help from other more experienced aquarists or your vet, who should be able to arrange post-mortem diagnosis. Few vets routinely offer this service, so discuss the possibility before the need arises.

Once a specific disease please check out , Robopet is diagnosed you can normally obtain the appropriate medication from a dealer, look at , Birds as Pets or, in the case of prescription drugs, the vet. Always follow any instructions to the letter, not only using the correct dosage, but completing the full course of treatment; otherwise you may destroy active pathogens, but not those waiting to hatch. Avoid medicating healthy why not visit , Robopet fishes by treating non­infectious patients in a hospital tank also interesting is , Quarab Horse (your quaran­tine tank please checkout , Rabbits as Pets in another guise) or by "spot treatment" (for example for fungus), after which the fish checkout, Diseases and Treatments is returned to the community.
Remember that some medications ,for example copper , Belgian and Bavarian Warmblood Horses based treatments are toxic to some fishes.
Some may harm plants, also see, Pet Spider House marine invertebrates, and beneficial bacteria in your filter, and should, where possible, be used only in the hospital tank. another idea , Bombay Cat
Prevention (point 3) includes correct setting up, suitable maintenance, quarantine of all new arrivals, and constant observation of your fishes.
These are only a few of the commonest problems here:

Constipation
Symptoms: reduced appetite; minimal or no faeces; the fish checkout, Pet Ants may have a slightly swollen abdomen and/or rest on the bottom of the tank. look at , Pet Rat Selective Breeding
Cause: incorrect diet or over-feeding.
Treatment: half a level teaspoon of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salts) per 4.5 litres (1 gallon) . If the fish why not visit, Society Finch (Bengalese Finch) recovers, improve the diet.

Dropsy/"Malawi Bloat"
Symptoms: swollen body, especially the abdomen, due to build-up of fluid in the tissues.
Cause: environmental, have a look at, Pet Banana Spiders or organ failure. "Malawi bloat", which affects East African mouthbrooding cichlids, is caused by excessive salt (sodium chloride) levels, high nitrates, or unsuitable diet.
Treatment: none; remedying the cause occasional­ly effects a cure.

Fin-rot
Symptoms: fin membranes disintegrate and the rays become inflamed.
Cause: bacterial, triggered by poor water also interesting is , Pet Classifieds Information quality or injury to the fins.
Treatment: remedy the cause; spot treatment with gentian violet.

Fungus
Symptoms: white another idea , Rabbits as Pets fluffy growths on body/fins.
Cause: fungus attacks areas where the protective mucus coating is damaged by injury, parasites, or environment. also interesting is , Argentine Dogo
Treatment: remedy the cause; spot treatment with gentian violet, or use an aquarium try, Pet Huntsman Spiders fungicide for major outbreaks.

Gill Parasites
Symptoms: scratching, laboured respiration (both, however, normally symptoms of environmental also try , Patterdale Terrier problems); in severe infestations heightened colour, a resource you could try , Palomino and Pinto Horses glazed eyes, and loss of motor control as oxygen shortage affects the brain.
Cause: usually flukes (Dactylogyrus).
Treatment: "Sterazin", from aquatic dealers. another idea , Pet Spider House

Hole in Head
Symptoms: white why not visit, Brittany Spaniel stringy faeces; sometimes enlarged, pus-filled sensory pores on the head. Affects mainly cichhds.
Cause: Hexamita, an internal parasite normally harmful only when the fish a resource you could try , Irish Setter - Red Setter is weakened by other factors (age, stress, additionally try , Pet Bird Eating Spider environment).
Treatment: metronidazole ("Flagyl") or di-metron­idazole (prescription drugs); 50 mg per 4.5 litres
(1 gallon) mixed with water consider, Chinese Crested Dog before use; repeat after three days.

Intestinal Parasites
Symptoms: emaciation despite good appetite; worms sometimes protrude from the vent.
Cause: various species of intestinal worms.
Treatment: a suitable anthelminthic (from the vet) administered in food. a resource you could try , Pyrenean Mountain Dog - Great Pyrenees

Large Skin Parasites
Symptoms: scratching; individual parasites are visible on skin.
Cause: fish also see, Patterdale Terrier lice (Argulus) are round and almost transparent, lying flat also look at, Snakes as Pets against the skin; anchor worms (Lernaea) are worm-like, attached at one end; leeches are also roughly worm-like but attached at both ends. All are more common in ponds also look at, Irish Setter - Red Setter than in aquaria. please checkout , Belgian and Bavarian Warmblood Horses
Treatment: remove with tweezers, and apply anti­septic to the site. For serious pond have a look at, Alaskan Malamute infestations treat with 1.125 ? 1.8 mg per 4.5 litre (1 gallon) of Metriphonate (an insecticide).

Pop-Eye (Exophthalmus)
Symptoms: the eye protrudes from its socket, which is inflamed.
Cause: usually environmental, get more info here , Monitor Lizards rarely parasitic (which is incurable).
Treatment: correct water , Belgian and Bavarian Warmblood Horses quality/chemistry. Recovery may take several days.

Skin Slime Disease
Symptoms: scratching/shimmying; a fine grey coat­ing on body/fins.
Cause: parasites of the genera Costia, Cyclochaeta, and/or Chilodonella; these generally attack only when the body mucus has been affected by poor environment. please check out , Peach Faced Lovebird
Treatment: use a proprietary remedy; correct water find more here , Zebra Finch quality/chemistry.

Swim Bladder Disease
Symptoms: loss of balance, swimming upside­down or on on side.
Cause: a) swim bladder bruised during handling, fighting, or breeding; b) bacterial infection, usually associated with poor water look at, Bombay Cat quality.
Treatment: transfer fish see , Florida Cracker Horse to shallow water; for b) improve water look at, Belgian and Bavarian Warmblood Horses quality and treat the fish look at , Spinone Italiano with a broad-spectrum antibiotic. If there is no improve­ment after a week, consider euthanasia.

Velvet
Symptoms: a golden velvety coat please check out , Bichon Frise on body/fins; scratching, increased respiration.
Cause: the parasite Oodinium.
Treatment: use a proprietary remedy.

White Spot
Symptoms: tiny white why not visit , Noriker Horse spots on body/fins; initially few, increasing dramatically after a few days.
Cause: the parasite Ichthyopthirius.
Treatment: use a proprietary remedy.
Finally, we suggest you do not keep a medicine chest. Buy medicines only when you need them, as you will then be less likely to panic dose unneces sarily or incorrectly.

Euthanasia
Sooner or later you will need to destroy a fish why not visit, Snakes as Pets which can no longer function properly as a result of illness or old age. The quickest and most humane method is to-sever the spinal cord by cut­ting down hard just behind the head using a sharp knife. If you can't face the task, consult your vet.
Equipment Failure
Keep spares of items which go wrong commonly and suddenly, for example heater, air look at , Belgian and Bavarian Warmblood Horses pump diaphragm. In the event of major failures ? tank more information here , Siberian Husky breakage, filter breakdown ? at unsociable hours, seek help from the fishkeeping friends you should have made (including your dealer).
Power Cuts
Notify the electricity have a look at , Palomino and Pinto Horses company of the loss of supplyand get an estimate of duration. Keep tanks get more info here , Snakes as Pets warm with blankets/quilts; plastic more information here , Patterdale Terrier lemonade bottles, filled from the hot another idea , Link header water tank, have a look at , Bichon Frise can be used as heaters. Use a battery-operated air find more here , Carolina Dog pump or impro­vise aeration, for example hourly short sessions with a bicycle pump. consider, Pet Classifieds Information Filter bacteria may be affect­ed, so reduce/stop feeding and monitor ammonia/nitrite for a few days.
Going on Holiday
Properly maintained set-ups need no special prepa­ration. Ask someone to check the fishes daily ideally an aquarist, but if not leave the phone also interesting is , Society Finch (Bengalese Finch) num­ber of a "trouble-shooter" in case of any problems with the fishes or equipment. Most fishes will sur­vive a fortnight without food please checkout , Pet Bird Eating Spider and probably be healthier for it, but if you must have them fed, never leave a container of food why not visit , Pet Bird Eating Spider ? other people are invariably over-generous ? but instead provide individually wrapped daily rations.