Common Diseases and Illnesses Affecting Aquarium Fishes

This article reveals that most fishes can live long andare tougher to be recognized and should be observed
healthy lives as long as suitable living conditions arequite carefully. As with ICH, the fishes infested with
provided. In fact, one of the highest chances for fishVelvet also rubs against objects and gasps for air
owners to experience fish loss is mainly due to thenear the surface of the tank and shows difficulty in
occurrence of common fish diseases. Explain thebreathing if the gills are affected. As with ICH, vets
common fish diseases, symptoms and how to seekwould generally advocate the use of copper
treatment.medication as a form of treatment for Velvet.
One cannot underestimate the importance of theA fungal infection may also develop quite commonly in
habitats one provides within the confines of the fishfishes which appear in gray or white color over the
tank. It is a fundamental aspect that contributes to thebody of the fish. They usually appear in the fins or the
success of the fishes you keep. Maintaining acceptablemouth of the fish as well. An injury to the fish induced
living conditions helps to ascertain that common fishby another fish may also be the cause of this disease.
diseases are kept at a low rate, with greater chancesOpen wounds are highly prone to fungal infections. An
of survival rates for the fishes.appropriate medication for fungal diseases can be
One common fish disease is ICH. It is a fish diseaseavailed from a nearby pet shop or from an online pet
where the infected fish gets white spots all over itssupplier.
body. When a fish is sick it is important to check forBacterial infection is a common occurrence among
those white spots of the size and shape of the grainsfishes. If you notice orange or red spot on the scales
of salt over its skin. This disease is caused byof the fishes, they are most probably bacterial
Ichthyophthirius in freshwater tanks and in saltwaterinfection. Dropsy is a frequent bacterial infection that is
tanks it is caused by Cryptocaryon irritants.often noted. When the infected fish usually sticks out
Sometimes in addition to the body of the fish, the ICHits scales and appear bloated it is an indication that the
may attack even the eyes and interiors of the mouthinfection had moved interior and is fatal. The fish
and even gills.exhibits loss of appetite and is lethargic. Medications
Should there be strange behaviors and signs such assuch as penicillin, naladixic acid and tetracycline are
a difficulty in breathing and a gasping for oxygen, ormost commonly used to cure bacterial infections.
even a constant need for the fish to scrape its bodyProper prevention measures can save your fishes
along other objects, a likely cause would be ICH. Lossfrom getting prone to diseases and the hassles in
of appetite is another symptom associated with thetreating them. The best way to provide a healthy
above mentioned ones. The fishes seldom can fightenvironment for the fishes is to keep the aquarium
ICH by themselves. Copper sulfur medication needs toclean. You should check for aggressive fishes that
be administered in order that they can be cured.attack weak fishes and try to keep them separate.
Antibiotic medication should be provided after theThe size of the fish tank, fish types and quality of the
parasites are gone, in order to prevent them fromwater should be checked constantly too.
recurring.Despite all your preventive efforts, your fish might still
Another common parasite is Velvet which showsbe infected with diseases at some point of time. When
symptoms similar to ICH but with tinier and dusty spotsthat happens, it is vital that you seek or give treatment
on the fish's body. Sometimes the spots may be grayas soon as possible to avoid the disease getting
or gold in color. And since the spots are smaller theytransmitted to other fishes.