Freshwater Fish Disease - Signs, Causes, And Cures

It's a lazy day and you just kick in and enjoy the aquarium that you have worked so hard to set up. But wait, something's up. One of your fish looks like he's rolling in the sand. And the rest seems less fluffy than you think. And the other swollen she looked as if she was about to burst. All in all, it looks like your fish is sick! Yup, keep the fish for a long time and that's something you'll come to terms with, and it's usually a pity. You see, illness is often prevented, but we usually only learn how to do it after making the first mistake. But don't be afraid! Many diseases can be reversed if seen early and treated properly.

Spotting Illness

So how can you tell that fish is sick in the first place? It's not like they'll knock you on the shoulder and tell you. For the most part the only way you know something is wrong is through careful observation of their appearance and behavior. Hopefully you already know enough about what might be considered normal for your fish and be aware of something off. Here are some important things to keep in mind:

- Exposure / color change

- deflected fins (fins held near body)

- Attack or rub against objects in the tank

-difficulty breathing

- lost appetite

- Losing balance

-ing / isolation

- reduce activity

... and of course more obvious signs like visible wounds, swelling, and so on.

Maintaining a vigilant eye because of the signs of illness is an important part of caring for fish. Take a few minutes every day to check for any signs that something is wrong. Mealtime provides an ideal opportunity to do this as most fish are most active when eating. An earlier disease is easier to treat and the chances of surviving the fish are greater. For many fish diseases you may be facing by then it is clearly too late.

Quarantine Tanks

Of course, one better way to treat your fish when they become ill is to prevent it from happening in the first place. The best way to prevent disease from reaching your tank is to use a quarantine tank. The quarantine tank is basically just a small open aquarium setup where all new arrivals can spend a week or two before entering your main supply. This gives you enough time to keep your new fish in good condition before they have the chance to spread any disease to your other fish. It also gives new arrivals the opportunity to recover from the stress of moving in a calm and peaceful environment. And if problems arise when specimens are isolated they make treatment easier as well. Finally, in case of problems with fish in the main aquarium, quarantine tanks can act as a hospital tank, prevent further spread of disease and provide a safer and more controlled environment for the use of any treatment.

Water quality

In addition to quarantine tanks, keeping your fish in good health goes a long way toward preventing any disease from taking. The most common diseases often arise in fish only when their health is compromised. What causes their health to be affected? Most of the time the culprit is poor water quality. Fish that try to live in filthy water like you try to live in a house full of smoke - it's unlikely you'll be the best in health. Maintaining proper aquarium maintenance is essential to keeping your fish healthy and disease-free. Therefore, if your fish is sick, your first step is to make sure the water is in good condition. All critical parameters, such as ammonia, nitrate, pH, and temperature, should be checked. It is always suspicious of any equipment or decoration that has recently been added to the tank which can supply something toxic to the water. And, while poor water quality is not the cause of illness, water change is not a bad idea When it comes to restoring a better water purifier.

About Medicines

Often people continue to use drugs at the first sign of illness in their fish, often without realizing what is really wrong. This is a bad move. Positive identification of the disease is very important before starting any drug. Many medicines may not always be easy on your fish either using one can reinforce your fish without curing the disease, possibly leading to death. However, if you have a disease where the drug used can be a real life saver. Just make sure you remove any carbon from the filter before starting treatment as it will absorb the drug before it has a chance to act. And, it should go without saying that the instructions should be followed by T. Note that special attention to any drug-related warnings should not be used. Some, for example, will kill snails and plants if they are in the tank.

General Illness

There are tons and tons of illnesses your fish may encounter — more than what is listed here. However, most of them are rare, affecting only certain species or arising only under certain conditions. Instead, this list tries to cover only the most common that most aquarists tend to get into.

Ammonia Poisoning / New Tank Syndrome

sign- endangered red gills, fish exploding on the surface, most commonly in new tanks

As the usual name of 'new tank syndrome' suggests, this is usually the only problem in the new supply aquarium, although it could happen is an older system if the filtration system is bad. Basically, not all bacteria will come out to make your fish dish. Some are actually helpful, and necessary, for your aquarium. Their job is to process fish residues from highly toxic substances, ammonia, into more readily available compounds. The process of establishing these bacteria in a new system is called cycling. Unfortunately, this step is often skipped to build ammonia that briefly leads to dead fish.

treatment: water changes

To solve this problem, you just need to keep your water clean through frequent water changes until the bacteria has proven itself and can take over. The test kit for ammonia is very helpful here as you would ideally want to keep the ammonia level below 1ppm. Usually you will need to make a few daily water changes for a few weeks to allow the cycle to complete while maintaining a manageable tank for your fish. Maintaining a healing light at this time can also help keep the waste load low and ensure water purification.

Fish Fungus

sign- The fish has foggy globs or patches attached to the fins and / or body

As with many diseases you may encounter, fish fungus usually appears in fishes whose health has been compromised. The fungus that causes it is quite common and is pretty much guaranteed in the tank all the time. This won't usually be a problem, but when the fish is in bad shape, fungus can be very easy. It often starts at the site of injury, which can be anything from a small piece to a large wound, and spreads quickly from there.

treatment: remedy for fungal infections

The best way to treat fungal infections is with medicines designed for them. Of course keeping the tank in good shape is key and the fish may be in bad shape and need all the help he can get. As a side note, many remedies for fungal infections also work against bacterial infections that can be of additional benefit if poor oral health is carried by one.

Ick / Ich and Velvet

sign- The fish is covered in light colored feathers or has a dusty appearance

Ick

Ask people to name the common fish disease and ick you might have. It seems that almost everyone who once raised a fish had to deal with it at one point or another. In addition, it is quite noticeable compared to other diseases and seems to hold on to others. If you haven't seen it before, ick is a parasite that flows into the fish's skin causing small white spots that make it look like your fish has been salted. Outbreaks often occur after the addition of new fish, which carry ick along with them, although they can also drown in the tank for a long time until conditions are favorable for explosion. Like most diseases, favorable conditions mean that fish are in poor health with the most common cause being poor water quality.

Velvet

Velvet is unusual but still worth mentioning. These other parasites that act like ick, appear as spots on the skin. The difference is that the spots are smaller and may have a yellowish-gray appearance. Suffice it to say that they can form a joint together to give the fish a velvety appearance, hence the name.

treatment: medicine for parasites

The treatment for both lice and velvet is similar. They are both parasites with a life cycle that is partly spent on fish and partly spent free swimming. Killing them is almost impossible as they are safely unloaded under fish skin. It is only when they enter the open water to find a new host that they are exposed. This means that treatment can take some time. Medications should be used for a long period of time to wait for the natural cycle of the parasite, which can take up to a month. Increasing the temperature of the aquarium by a few degrees can help speed things up. Also another note of these parasites is that they need a fisherman to complete their life cycle. Therefore, if you move all your fish to quarantine for treatment, any parasites remaining in the main tank will die after about a month.

Dropsy

sign- Inflatable fish, probably on a prominent scale give the appearance of a pine cone

Dropsy is not the disease itself but the physical result of some other illnesses, usually bacterial infections although it can be caused by a number of other things. This swelling is caused by the formation of fluid in the body cavity of the fish.

treatment: medicine for bacterial infections, aquarium salt

Unfortunately when these symptoms are obvious, it is often too late to save the fish. However, the best course of action is to transfer fish to quarantine and start administering antibiotics, preferably in the form of medicated foods. Adding a little salt to the aquarium can also help the fish get rid of some excess fluid thus reducing swelling. Use about one tablespoon every five gallons.

Swim Where to pee

sign- The fish is having difficulty maintaining balance and may have trouble controlling the depth

Where the urine swims like a ballast tank in a submarine, only with air instead of water. They use it to keep themselves upright and in the right depths. When they become damaged or otherwise endangered, the fish can no longer control this air and usually sink to the bottom or float upwards, often in off-kilter orientation.

treatment: fast / cooked beans, medicine for bacterial infections

Unfortunately there is not much agreement on the true cause (and there are actually at least a few possible causes) or how to treat it. Keeping the tank's chemistry in good shape should be your first step, as it should be with any problem. One common cause is obstruction in the digestive system of fish. A common solution to this is cooked cooked beans (they eat side dishes). Relying on breastfeeding for a few days can also help. Try this and see if the problem disappears. If not, it may be a symptom of a larger infection where the drug can be tried. Unfortunately, it can also sometimes result from the trauma sustained during transportation where there is not much to do. In this case all you can do is give the fish a place to recover and hope for the best.

Pop's eyes

sign- The fish has prominent eyes

The name of the beautiful self-description, the eye or the fish's eye out of the fish's head as if they were on the verge of falling completely. It is basically an inflammation of the eyes that causes it to swell and protrude. Again this is not very much associated with any particular cause but may come from several possible sources, such as injury or infection.

treatment: improve conditions, remedy for bacterial infections, aquarium salts

A bruising injury or possibly from an accident may be the most common. Think of it like a fish tail with black eyes. A good indication that this is the cause if only one eye is affected. In this case, the best thing you can do is stop the fighting and provide your fish with a peaceful home to recover.

Another possibility is bacterial infection. If both eyes appear, then this is more likely, though the fish should be checked for signs of injury or combat. Good medicine is the best course of action here.

Finally, another thing you can try is the salt aquarium. Increased salinity will help to attract excess fluid, relieving swelling. Add one tablespoon every five gallons and watch to see if it has any effect. Remember this can help relieve swelling but won't fix the underlying problems and often the first step is to make sure the water is in good condition.

Cloudy eyes

sign- The fish has cloudy eyes

The creatures of this world have many interesting eyes with all kinds of colors and shapes and whatever. One thing they all have in common, though, is that the center is nice and clear. If you keep your eyes or eyes on milk, then something is not right.

treatment: improve the condition, cure for bacterial infections

There are certain reasons fish eyes may become cloudy. Parasites or bacteria are a possible cause, especially if the eye is injured. Insufficient nutrition or cataracts caused by old age are possible causes. However, the most likely ones are in line with many other water-quality problems. Getting a tank is a good form should be your first concern if your fish develops overcast eyes. Note that pH as a particularly low pH is thought to contribute to this problem. Check that you are eating your fish as well as a proper diet. With better water quality and proper nutrition the problem should be clear in a few weeks. However, if the problem is not clear after a few weeks with better antibiotic conditions can be tried.

Holes in Head / Lateral Lung Disease

sign- the fish had a hole in his head

The name is quite clear, and the symptoms are easy to see, so all the leaves are the cause. Why is there an unwanted hole in your fish's head? Unfortunately there is no consensus on the exact cause. It may be due to some specific pathogens, but none have been identified positively. Some think that consuming too much active carbon or a lack of nutrition may have something to do with it.

treatment: improve conditions, change diet

Finally, your best bet is to improve as much as you can for your fish. Run a water change and try to remove any activated carbon from your filter. Try to add variety to your diet. Frozen foods as well as vitamin-fortified vitamins are important sources of nutrients that may cause your fish to be depleted.

Fin Rot

sign- fish fins are deteriorating

Fungal disc disease is another disease that is not so much related to specific transmission and is not a result of the overall health of the fish. Discoloration usually affects only stressed or weakened fish due to something else such as poor water quality, malnutrition, bullying, or possibly some other disease, in which bacteria move and start eating poor fish fins.

treatment: improve the condition, cure for bacterial infections

Your first step is to determine why the health of the fish has slipped in the first place and to correct it. Check out the water quality and switch to high quality vitamin-fortified foods if you haven't already. Antibiotics may be necessary if severe damage (more than a small fungus).

Again, the majority of health problems come with water quality issues. Keeping more of an aquarium maintenance schedule is a great way to avoid problems in the first place. Likewise, if the disease should strike check the water parameters should be your first step. Many problems will be clear on their own with better conditions. And if medication becomes necessary, be sure to follow the instructions very closely. Taking too much medicine can be as bad if not worse than the disease itself.

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