| Fish diseases are some of the least well understood | | | | an environmental factor, other fishes are likely to be |
| illness among pets. Cats and dogs are mammals and | | | | affected as well. |
| therefore there are similarities between human | | | | You need to find out what is the cause of the stress |
| treatment and animal treatment. | | | | and remove it. The fishes can be treated easily using |
| But fishes are a whole different class of animals and | | | | antibiotics available from local fish stores. |
| most pet fishes aren't taken to a vet when they fall ill. | | | | Fish Fungus |
| There is a lack of medical records with regard to fish | | | | Fish Fungus is also known as cotton wool because the |
| diseases. Commercial fishes, because of their | | | | symptoms look cotton wool growths on the body, |
| commercial value, are given medical and preventive | | | | mouth and fins of the fishes. |
| treatment to cure them of their illness. But | | | | It is not actually a fungus, but like Fin Rot, it is a result of |
| unfortunately the medical cases and forms of | | | | invasion by opportunistic bacteria. This is likely due to |
| treatment applicable to commercial fishes are usually | | | | low water quality resulting in stress for the fishes. |
| not well suited for fish tanks and aquariums at home. | | | | Again, remove the source of the stress and treat your |
| One of the biggest fears with fish diseases is the | | | | fishes with antibiotics to cure the bacteria infection. Fish |
| possibility of contagion. You can never be sure if the | | | | Fungus is also contagious, so it's best to isolate the |
| infested fish could quickly spread the disease to the | | | | affect fish in a different tank. |
| rest of the tank and killing off your entire fish | | | | Nitrite/Nitrate Poisoning |
| population. | | | | Nitrate poisoning is not a disease, but a problem with |
| The first thing you would want to know when you | | | | the water quality. But the symptoms of sluggish fish |
| spot a diseased fish is, "what illness is it?" and the next | | | | and gills that appear brown in color lead most people |
| question is "is it contagious and how can I treat it?" | | | | to mistake it for a disease. |
| Here's a list of common diseases seen among | | | | Nitrate poisoning usually follows elevated ammonia |
| freshwater fish tanks and how you can treat it. | | | | levels in the water. The bacteria colonies break down |
| Ammonia Poisoning | | | | the ammonia and convert them to nitrates. While |
| Ammonia poisoning is not a real disease by it is so | | | | nitrates are less toxic than ammonia, they are still |
| common among fish tanks and aquariums that we | | | | poisonous at high levels. Nitrates can also result in |
| have listed it here. The gills of fishes become red and | | | | algae blooms that result in yet more problems for your |
| inflamed, and fishes are seen at gasping for air at the | | | | fish tank. |
| water surface. | | | | You can remove nitrates by adding sodium chloride |
| Treatment is performed simply by reducing ammonia | | | | (common salt) into the water. A low concentrations, |
| content in the water. There are plenty of products in | | | | they are harmless to the salt and can lower nitrate |
| the market that allows you a one-time reduction of | | | | levels. Another way to remove nitrate is by rearing |
| ammonia level. But to solve the problem permanently, | | | | water plants in your tank. Plants take in nitrates as part |
| you need to invest in a better filtration system, | | | | of the nutrients they require for growth. |
| especially a biological one. Proper cycling of your tank | | | | Ichthyophtirius |
| must be done to establish bacteria colonies for | | | | Ichthyophtirius is also known as the White Spot |
| reducing ammonia or you can also solve the problem | | | | Disease. Fish owners will be very familiar with this one. |
| by reducing the number of fishes in your tank. | | | | Fishes affected with the disease appears to have |
| Dropsy | | | | white spots on the skin especially around the fins. |
| Dropsy is caused by an internal bacterial infection. | | | | White spot is caused by poor water quality, but it is |
| Usually the fish's chance of survive is very small by | | | | also common with new fishes that have been |
| the time the disease is spotted. The fish becomes | | | | introduced into the tank. New fishes experience high |
| bloated and its scales are raised off the body. | | | | levels of stress which weakens their immunity. Like all |
| Dropsy is not highly contagious, so you don't have to | | | | the other disease, removing the stress factor and |
| worry about the disease spreading, but still you should | | | | treating with antibiotics will restore your fishes to health. |
| isolate the infected fish as a form of safeguard. There | | | | It is very much more contagious, so you have to react |
| are medications which can cure the fish, but it may not | | | | quickly to isolate the infect fish and to perform the |
| be effective since the fish may already be too weak | | | | treatment. |
| by the time the diagnosis is made. | | | | Most of these common diseases can be treated, but |
| Fin Rot | | | | prevention is always better than cure. You probably |
| As the name suggests, Fin Rot is typified by the rotting | | | | might have noticed that most of these diseases are a |
| of the fish's fins. The fish tends to lie on the bottom of | | | | result of stress and poor water quality. To prevent |
| the tank because it is becoming difficult for the fish to | | | | your fishes from falling sick in the first place, you should |
| swim. | | | | take extra care in these areas. |
| The disease is not caused by specific bacteria, but is | | | | And in the unfortunate case where you fishes do fall |
| caused by stressed. Stressed fish have weakened | | | | sick, this list will hopefully help you take the right steps |
| immune systems and that allows opportunistic bacteria | | | | towards restoring your fish tanks to health. |
| to invade, causing fin rot. Since the stress is likely to be | | | | |