Treating the Four Common Deadly Fish Diseases

In order to have healthy fishes, we have to learn the common fish diseases that affect their health. This is vital for all aquarists as giving the wrong treatment can be very lethal.

Bacterial Disease

As there are many strains of bacteria, bacterial infections are often difficult to diagnose. Orange or red streaks on the body are among the most obvious indications of a bacterial infection.

Fish infected with bacterial diseases will often show ulceration on the body, or haemorrhaging around the eye and /or mouth area. Fluids arising from internal infection often fill their abdomens, giving them a bloated appearance, or cause their eyes to protrude.

There are a number of effective treatments, the most common of which are tetracycline, penicillin and salt baths.

Viral Disease

These share many similar symptoms with bacterial infections. However, medication is non-effective in treating them.

Parasitic Disease

These are caused by minute protozoa that are barely visible to the naked eye. The fish typically flashes about, in an attempt to rub the irritating parasites off its skin. The parasites also attack the gills.

Parasitic infections are perhaps the easiest to diagnose and treat. Treatments include formalin, potassium permanganate and other parasite-specific medication. Moderate use of such medications should not harm the nitrification process.

Fungal Disease

These problems are often secondary infections, and sprout from wounds caused by another type of disease infection. Fungi often appear from injury spots on the fish, or in areas that have been attacked by bacteria or parasites. The fungi appear as white cottony growths on the infected areas.

Infections are also much more likely to occur in poor water conditions as the fishes’ immune system would have become weakened. Fungal spores are always present in an aquarium, and thus dead fish are soon covered with fungi.

Treatment of fungal disease is relatively easy, usually with the use of products like potassium permanganate will solve the problem.

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