[ Red Fins] [Spitting] [Swimming With Mouth Open] [Laying Over] [Sitting on the Bottom] [Jumping] [Milky Skin] [Split Fin] [Flashing-Scratching] [Worms Under Scales] [Fish Wasting Away] [Bulging Eyes] [White Eye] [Color Changes] [Septicemia] [Velvet Disease] [Inflammation] [Columnaris-Cotton Wool Disease] [Copepods] [Tumours] [Fish Pox] [Salts] [Salt dosage chart] [Humane Disposal of ill fish] [General Faqs/Problems] [Fish supplies]
Septicemia- A condition where bacteria gains entry into the fish's body through wounds or the stomach. The bacteria can cause failure of the internal organs, damage to body tissue, blood vessels, and result in recognizable symptoms. This often results in internal bleeding, due to the fluids filling the fish's abdomen. Dropsy may occur as a result. The problem with this type of situation is that the bacteria is present inside the fish and safe from the antibiotics you would place in the water. It could be the result of another infection or caused from dirty water. Symptoms: Clamped fins, bulging eyes, red bellies, eroding, reddened fins, lack of appetite, and fish showing signs of being sluggish or exhibiting sluggish behavior. Treatment: It is best to feed the fish antibiotics rather than using the kinds you place directly into the water. Placing the ill fish in a hospital tank is advised while administering treatment. Check your local petstore for some good medicated food or check for antibiotics if necessary. Septicemia is fatal if not treated immediately! top
Velvet Disease- Velvet will
affect fry that are only a few days old. These parasites mainly attack
the skin but may also cause severe damage to the gills.
Symptoms: Fish rub themselves against solid objects
and may have difficulty breathing. As the infection increases, a yellowish
brown to grayish haze may be appearing in dots. The skin may become
inflamed. The fish will become emaciated. You can see the individual
parasites with a magnifying glass. Treatment: There are several
medications available that are worth trying. Older remedies were to
use copper sulphate. (with extreme caution) Usually young fish show
the signs and symptoms first and happen to be the most difficult to treat.
The reason for this is the fact that they are sensitive to the chemicals
available for use in the aquarium.
top Tumours- Any fish can become affected. Tumours can be benign or cancerous. Tumours are usually incurable. Abnormal growth of the thyroid gland, which sometimes occurs, is occasionally curable. Symptoms- Internal tumours can be seen when they distend the body, otherwise they can not be detected. External tumours show as projecting lumps on affected fish! Treatment- Well unfortunately without expert advice thyroid tumours cannot be identified. Usually it is advisable to dispose of the fish humanely! top
Color Changes- If the goldfish was once black and has turned orange or was once orange and is turning white it could be that the fish has been kept indoors and without full sunlight. (which would be the case if you had a tank in the house). The fish is suffering from pigment loss in the skin. Red Capped Orandas are famous for losing the red cap. Orange comets are famous for turning white. The key is as follows:
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Inflammation- All fish
are open to this. When a fish is subjected to waste product buildup in the
tank in which they reside they may show signs of inflammation.
Symptoms- Reddening on or under the fish's skin over part or
the entire body. Fishes behave normal at first then quickly show signs of
a problem and die. Treatment- Purchase an antibiotic such as
nifurpirinol, etc. Follow directions as stated on the package. Advanced cases
will clear up in a short time!
top Bulging Eyes- This is usually related to dropsy. This is a fluid accumulation in the body. Salting the water may help. Bulging eyes with dropsy is terminal. Trauma to the eye can cause bulging. This is when swelling occurs in the blood vessels of the eyes and the bulging or swelling will go down in about a week or so. top Red Fins- Fins that are very red with dilated vessels or a reddish tinge to them can be the signs of several things:
First thing, check the water quality, and if it checks out okay do a partial water change and salt the tank. Salt dosage chart here Laying Over- Layover or Sleeping Sickness is usually a bacterial infection caused by parasites chewing on the gills or skin. In other instances, it is only a result of severe stress, such as a bitter cold or exposure to chlorine. The most common found parasites are Costia, Trichodina, and Chilodinella. You will have to evaluate for all sources of stress and get them corrected. It is recommended by http://www.koivet.com to salt at 0.3% and then in at all possible, inject the fish to offset any infection that may be in the fish's system. Several medications are available. top
Sitting on the Bottom- Fish that sit on the tank bottom are divided into two categories. Class A - Sinkers who have to struggle to swim to the midwater or the tank surface. These fish have a swimbladder problem, sometimes due to a bacterial infection, sometimes due to defects in air bladder filling and some are autopsied to find water in the airsac instead of air. Electrocution can cause this system as well. Class B - Sinkers which swim fine when disturbed. These fish usually feature a massive fluke burden and are being weakened by the flukes. They rest on the bottom, which further assists the flukes in becoming numerous on the skin and gills. The fish will eventually die. A dose of Healthguard or Fluke Tabs is usually rapidly effective to these fish. You can also perk them up with salt. The above information was found at http://www.koivet.com Milky Skin- Milky skin is excess mucus production. If no new fish have been added more than likely the reason is from pH plunges. Symptoms: Fish hanging at the surface, their skin will appear milky, and their eyes may turn whitish. Treatment: If the pH is stable, but you have added new fish, you can consider ammonia burn, or perhaps parasites. In either event, using salt is highly recommended. In some rare cases, a salt resistant Trichodina, Costia, or Fluke infestation may be the culprit. Use of a microscope will be needed to diagnose this. Then you would treat for the parasite you discovered accordingly. Split Fin- This can indicate skin flukes are present. When tails are notched and the pectorals are split, it is a good idea to take the fish to someone who can view with a microscope. The area is then sutured. This procedure is not recommended by someone who is not specialized to perform it. Contact http://www.koivet.com for more information. Fish Wasting Away- Many times in which fish appear to be wasting away they are being taken over with flukes. If there is no other explanation such as bad water, the flukes can become troublesome and overtake the fish. The body is slowly dying as the fish bleeds to death through its gills. This is more common in younger fish (1 yr). Larger or older fish can have it, but sometimes the wasting away is caused by some other internal problem such as tuberculosis of the liver, bad corn diet, or etc. A better diet is advised! top Fish Pox- The disease mainly is seen in Carp. It has been found among some various aquarium fish. It is thought that fish pox is mainly caused by a species specific virus. Symptoms- The disease begins as small, opalescent white spots with a greasy appearance and possibly with streaks of black pigment. These spots stand above the skin about 1-2 mm and gradually increase in size. The spots merge so that large areas of skin are affected. The growths are quite firm to the touch and may take on a reddish grey appearance with time. Treatment- There is no known treatment for this. If the affected fish are kept in clean, healthy surroundings the signs should disappear after 8-12 weeks. They may appear again but this is unlikely with healthy fish. top Worms Under the Scales- If you see worms under the scales you are seeing anchor worms. They are best treated with Dimilin. Dimilin clears the worms in only a few days. Once administered it remains in the water for months. Dimilin is available at http://www.koivet.com top
Open Mouth (cannot close mouth)- This is usually when fish have a rock or something foreign stuck in their mouths. If you are very gentle you can push it forward and out of their mouth through an accessway under the gill cover. The fish of course would do better if under some anesthesia. Oil of cloves can be recommended too. The other reasons for open mouth could be a sore or ulcer located on the roof of the mouth. This is usually treated by swabbing the area with hydrogen peroxide (be careful not to get any in the gills) and an injection of Baytril. More information on injections available at http://www.koivet.com. top
Spitting- This is almost always from an advanced infestation of flukes. But you should do the following 2 things: (1) Capture the fish, and do an oral exam looking for an ulcer, check the gills for swelling, paleness, white streaks around the edges of the gill or through the gill tissue, or any kind of foreign body (rock, pebble, etc.). (2) Scrape the gill and examine under a microscope for flukes. ( best done by someone who knows what they are looking for) More information is available on flukes at http://www.koivet.com
(Columnaris)Cotton Wool Disease- This is highly contagious caused by a bacterium. It spreads through the water and can be transferred by nets and other aquarium equipment. The bacteria enters the fish's body, especially via wounds and small abrasions. They then multiply quickly to produce the characteristic symptoms. This is very widespread in freshwater fish, especially livebearers. Symptoms- A grayish white film develops over the fish's skin, particularly on the head region, but also on fins, gills and body. The fish could have sore(s) that are red on the outside and white on the inside. As the disease progresses, the body may become ulcerated, fins frayed, and the lips and front of the head can be eaten away. Treatment- This disease is very virulent and must be treated immediately. Fish that are affected around the mouth may die within 24 hours. Antibacterial compounds are effective. The best way to avoid the disease is to keep your fish in clean, healthy conditions and add a small quantity of salt to the water. top
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