Learn the Common Telltale Signs of Fish Health Problems

“Cold fish” is a derogatory term used to describe someone devoid of feeling.

No doubt, fish are not exactly the most expressive creatures, but they shouldn’t be so maligned! They do not make audible sounds, cannot be held (at least not for very long) and feel mostly slimy. However, as most fish hobbyist would attest, fish do posses personalities of their own and are capable of responsive behavior.

Sadly, fish die at the hands of hobbyists all the time, due to lack of proper care. Perhaps largely due to the typically “cold relationship” between man and fish, the latter is casually treated like a disposable product to be admired from a distance.

To be a responsible fish hobbyist, consult seasoned hobbyists and aquarium dealers, and read books and magazines to acquire fishkeeping knowledge. Through these methods, the fish hobbyist should be able to learn basic skills like reading common symptoms that fish exhibit when they suffer from stress or fall sick (problems that can usually be attributed to deterioration in water quality and improper filter maintenance).

Common Telltale Signs of Fish Health Problems and their Likely Cause

Fishes’ Physical Appearance

• Fish loses color: Insufficient sunlight.
• Body becomes very slimy: Too much salt or chemical in the water.
• Eyes turn a whitish color: pH level has deviated too far from the acceptable level.
• Fins are clamped or closed: Poor water conditions and inappropriate temperature.
• Tails and fins become jagged: Water is too hard or alkaline, activated carbon (filter media) needs to be replaced.
• Blooded blotches on tails and fins (especially in goldfish): Water is too hard, contains too much salt.
• Floating excretion: Constipation (air’s trapped in the excretion).
• Excretion trailing from the fish: Constipation.

Fishes’ Behavior

• Timid and nervous behavior: Water is too hard or alkaline, contains too much salt; not enough hiding place, bullying by other fish.
• Fish floats at a thirty-degree angle along water surface: Chlorine attack, gills being injured by chemicals or internal parasitic infection.
• Fish suddenly refuses to eat: Sudden drop in pH level or temperature.
• Spots or blotches on the body: Activated carbon (filter media) needs to be replaced, deviation in pH level, too much salt in the water, injuries resulting from attacks by other fish.

Water Condition of the Tank

• Yellow residue at the water surface: Water is too hard; remove crushed corals or shells.
• Water small bad: Activated carbon (filter media) needs to be replaced.

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