| After creating and maintaining your beautiful aquarium, | | | | another tank so the other fish will not be infected with |
| all the time and money you spent on it, the last thing | | | | the same virus. The best thing you can do is to |
| you want to deal with is tropical fish diseases. Coming | | | | provide a clean environment and a healthy, nutritious |
| home and finding your fish covered with white spots, | | | | diet. A virus can only be identified by special equipment |
| the eyes swollen or the fins disintegrating is a blow to | | | | and it is often difficult to detect. |
| any aquarist. | | | | Parasitic Diseases |
| Following are the categories and symptoms of the | | | | One symptom most parasitic diseases have in |
| most common diseases in tropical fish. | | | | common is the fish scraping against or rubbing objects. |
| Fungal Diseases | | | | The parasites are eating through the flesh of the fish |
| Fungal diseases will usually occur after the fish has | | | | and if they aren't removed will eat into the organs and |
| already been weakened through stress, parasites or a | | | | kill the fish. Simply pulling the parasites off will often do |
| bacterial disease. In some cases the fish will appear | | | | more damage to the fish. A bath of potassium |
| sluggish and in the latter stages develop cysts. | | | | permanganate or a salt solution is often the best |
| Another type of fungal infection will produce white | | | | method to remove parasites. In some cases you will |
| growths that eventually turn into cotton like tuffs on the | | | | be able to see the parasites on the skin of the fish and |
| skin. | | | | thus confirm the problem is parasites, or you may |
| Bacterial Diseases | | | | notice other signs such as rapid gilling, clamped fins, red |
| Bacterial diseases often need to be treated with | | | | skin and weight loss. |
| antibiotic medications. Fish infected with bacteria often | | | | Protozoan Diseases |
| develop bulging eyes, ulcers and open sores. One | | | | These diseases are caused by the protozoan parasite |
| bacteria causes a disease called mouth fungus that | | | | that infects the intestinal tract. Several diseases will |
| looks like a fungal infection on the mouth. Other signs | | | | cause a yellow to light brown dust on the body. On |
| of a bacterial infection include a lose of appetite, hollow | | | | commonly known protozoan disease is called ich. Ich is |
| belly, erratic swimming, and disintegrating fins. | | | | characterized by small white spots all over the body. |
| Viral Diseases | | | | The fish will breath rapidly and have clamped fins. |
| Viral diseases are fortunately fairly uncommon in fish. | | | | Other types cause excessive slim on the body, frayed |
| On sign of a viral disease is white swellings on the | | | | fins, bloated body and a lack of appetite. |
| body of the fish. Viruses cannot be treated with | | | | The best way to avoid tropical fish diseases is to |
| medication because they use the host's body to | | | | have a clean tank and provide adequate nutrition. New |
| reproduce and live on. If you suspect your fish has a | | | | fish should always be quarantined for two to four |
| viral disease, it should be removed and placed in | | | | weeks. |