Fish diseases: treatment and prevention. Diseases of aquarium fish

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Fish diseases can be caused by a variety of factors, including: improper housing conditions (in the case of aquarium fish), infections transmitted from other fish, and also caused by single- or multi-celled parasites. Prevention of diseases in aquarium inhabitants is quite simple. However, it should be given due attention. For example, different types of fish need different water temperatures in the aquarium or different lighting needs. Let's look at the conditions for keeping aquarium fish in more detail.

Incorrect content

Among the common causes of fish deaths are:

1. Chlorine poisoning.
2. Lack of oxygen.
3. Wrong temperature regime.

Next, we will talk about each issue in detail.

About poisoning

In an aquarium, fish disease can be easily noticed, especially if it has changed color and has difficulty breathing. As a rule, with chlorine poisoning, the gills of fish are covered with mucus, and they themselves try to jump out of the aquarium. Later they become lethargic and die quickly enough. This happens within three to four days, no more.

In that casethe treatment for fish disease can be to move them to another aquarium, with already clean water. The level of chlorine in it must be checked.

Lack of oxygen

In order to ensure a sufficient level of oxygen in the aquarium, aeration equipment is installed. Its serviceability must be checked at least once a month.

The symptom of this disease is that the fish rise to the surface and try to capture some of the air. Snails do the same as they climb up the sides of the aquarium.

With a lack of oxygen, fish lose their appetite. Their immunity drops, infertility develops, and they eventually die from suffocation.

Wrong temperature conditions

Sharp changes in temperature regimes can only be tolerated by species such as neon, guppies, goldfish and the like. For other species, it is necessary to strictly observe the temperature regime and regularly check the temperature on the thermometer in the aquarium and the serviceability of the temperature controller.

Too cold water can lead to diseases such as colds and further death. This can be determined by the fact that the fish try to stay at the bottom of the aquarium and become inactive.

Excessively high temperature, on the contrary, can be determined by too much activity of the fish. Just as with a lack of oxygen, it will tend to be on the surface. This leads to oxygen starvation and depletion of the fish.

Obesity

We must not forget that fish need a balanceda diet that would contain a sufficient amount of protein, and their diet should be varied and include the maximum amount of vitamins.

Obesity can be caused by overfeeding, too high fat content (from three to five percent depending on herbivory or carnivory). The fish rounds its sides, develops infertility, and later it becomes lethargic and dies.

As a treatment, it is recommended not to feed the sick individual at all for several days, and then to give food with a high protein content.

Alkalosis or acidosis: treatment

Symptoms of aquarium fish disease are in many ways similar to each other. For example, with alkalosis, individuals become as active as at high temperatures. However, they also change color, develop mucus on their gills, and spread their fins.

When fish become inactive, their activity decreases. They become too skittish. Basically, due to a sharp change in the level of alkali in the water, fish of the neon and guppies species suffer. In this case, they begin to swim belly up or completely sideways.

With this disease, the fish need to be moved to an aquarium with clean water and gradually balance the level of alkali in the water. It can also be done without relocation. However, you need to lower or increase the alkali level slowly enough so that they do not die due to a sharp change in alkali content.

Gas embolism

A large number of plants in the aquarium is, of course, good. However, theirquantity must be controlled. If the concentration of plants is exceeded, too much oxygen will be released, which will affect the fish in a negative way. It is also necessary to check the regulation of oxygen in the aquarium to prevent gas embolism.

An increased amount of oxygen can be determined by the appearance of bubbles on the walls of the aquarium, on the plants themselves and even on the fish themselves. The last case is the most dangerous.

The fish become restless and swim on their side. If too many air bubbles accumulate in their vessels, it will lead to instant death due to a gas embolism.

Whites

Contagious diseases are also included in a separate category, among which it is worth noting the whites. As you might guess from the name, a symptom of this disease of aquarium fish is a change in color to a lighter or completely white one. Individuals suffering from this disease also rise to the surface and spend most of their time there.

The causative agent of this disease is the bacterium Pseudomonas dermoalba. It can get into the aquarium both with plants and transmitted from other fish.

If this disease was detected in one fish or several, it is recommended to move it to a separate aquarium, and disinfect the entire container. Infected fish should be placed in a solution with "Levomycetin".

Mycobacteriosis

This disease mainly affects swordtails, labyrinths and gourami. Unfortunately, this disease is treatable only in the early stages. Later the process becomesirreversible. With this disease, the smell of fish becomes unpleasant. This is the most characteristic feature.

Symptoms of the disease in aquarium fish manifest themselves in different ways. Some lose their orientation in space and simply become inactive, others go blind. Some species are covered with spots, while others have ulcers and abscesses on the body. Some fish are even beginning to show bones.

If the disease was detected in the early stages, then copper sulfate or monocycline should be used.

Fin rot

Among the diseases of aquarium fish, this is considered the most common, in particular, it is classified as a disease of betta fish. This ailment can occur due to the fact that in one aquarium there are individuals that are not compatible in behavior. This leads to the fact that the fish bite each other, as a result of which this disease develops. Sometimes the cause of fin rot can also be poor quality water or plants in the aquarium.

If this disease is detected, it is recommended to move the infected fish to another aquarium. You should also thoroughly disinfect the aquarium and be sure to change the water. As in the case of white-skinned, infected fish must be placed in a solution of chloramphenicol.

The causative agent of this disease is the bacterium Pseudomonas. The fins of a fish during illness change color to a lighter one, decrease in size and become deformed.

Hole disease, or hexamitosis

What is this? Hexamitosis affects the gallbladder and intestinal system of fish andonly treatable in the early stages.

The cause of infection may be poor-quality water or other fish that is a carrier of infection. At the same time, the infected fish begins to lose its appetite, and also tries to stay away from everyone. Color changes and mucus may also occur.

In order to heal the fish, it is enough to raise the temperature of the aquarium by a few degrees, but not higher than 35 degrees Celsius. If this is not enough, it is necessary to dilute metronidazole in a container with a ratio of 25:10.

Neon disease

Plystiphorosis (or neon disease) is practically untreatable. It is believed that it is better to destroy all infected individuals, disinfect the aquarium and clean it thoroughly.

There is also pseudoplestiphorosis, which is treated with Bactopura solution (one tablet per 50 liters of water is enough).

What are the symptoms and treatment of this aquarium fish disease? In mild stages, there is still a chance of cure. Symptoms may include: loss of space, swimming upside down, loss of appetite, color change. The fish tries to stay on its own and avoids being in flocks. This also includes her desire to be on the surface and jerky movements.

Peptic ulcer

For any fish disease, treatment must begin immediately. Otherwise, you may not have time to save the inhabitant of the aquarium. These diseases include peptic ulcer disease. What is the causative agent? This disease can be caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens, which can betransmitted both from other fish and through food (most likely of poor quality).

In the initial stages, spots appear on the skin of the fish, which eventually begin to turn into ulcers. Also, when an infection enters the body, bulging eyes, decreased appetite, bloating are observed, and scales suffer to a large extent - its surface is most affected.

Treatment is done with streptocide diluted in water or potassium permanganate.

Velvet disease, or oodinosis

This ailment is not very common, and therefore not all aquarists know the name of the fish disease, when nodules of various colors form on the edges of the fins. Carp species are predominantly affected.

The causes of this disease can be quite a lot. This is poor cleaning of the aquarium, untreated fish before settling in the aquarium, or, most often, low water temperature.

Velvet disease has several stages. First, nodules of gray or golden color are formed on the edges of the fins. Then the scales begin to peel off, followed by the fins sticking together. The fish loses its appetite, it has breathing problems. She is almost all the time at the very bottom of the aquarium, starts to move in jerks.

Treatment can take place only with medications, and also only on the recommendation of a doctor. Infected fish, as always, must be moved to another aquarium. The water temperature in this aquarium should be elevated, and in the original aquariumit should be replaced, all plants and decorations should be treated to prevent the spread of infection.

Dermatomycosis

The causative agent of this disease are fungi. They are branched threads. This fungus penetrates into the outer integument of the fish and affects the gills, rarely penetrates deeper, affects the internal tissues (muscles) and internal organs.

The cause of this disease is usually improper content in the aquarium. Mushrooms settle on weakened fish, sometimes on those that have already been affected by another disease. In this case, you must first treat a different infection, and then get rid of the parasite.

A striking symptom of the appearance of this disease is the appearance of thin white threads throughout the body, which are intertwined and form a light yellow coating. The disease needs immediate treatment. Otherwise, the internal organs will be affected, and the fish will soon die.

As a treatment, various medicinal solutions are used, the most popular of which are copper sulfate, potassium permanganate, table s alt, hydrochloride or formalin. The fish must be placed in this solution in a separate vessel and transferred back to the aquarium only after complete recovery.

The following diseases are classified as invasive fish diseases:

1. Ichthyophthiriosis, or semolina.
2. Trichodinosis.
3. Glugeosis.
4. Ichthyobodosis.
5. Argules.

Let's consider each type in more detail.

Manka

Disease of semolina fish is caused by the attack of ciliates. Treatment is effective only in the early stages. After all, every day the fish will be covered with more and more tubercles. It is from the appearance of these tubercles that the name of the disease came. The disease of aquarium fish semolina is easily recognized. It seems that the specimen is sprinkled with semolina.

In aquariums, such a disease (see photo of fish with semolina above) needs immediate treatment. After all, the longer the infusoria is in the body of the fish, the more it depletes it. Long-term presence of ciliates leads to the death of the latter.

Treatment will not require much effort. How to do it? It is necessary to increase the temperature in the aquarium by two to three degrees, as well as increase the intensity of water aeration. Thus, the life of the ciliate becomes unbearable, and it soon dies.

Trichodinosis

Trichodinosis can be transmitted in various ways: enter the aquarium through poor-quality food or through untreated soil.

In case of infection, the fish is at the bottom most of the time, rubbing its belly against stones and soil, and loses its appetite. The scales are covered with a light coating, and breathing quickens. The gills also lose color and become covered with mucus.

In order to cure a fish, it is enough to transplant it into an aquarium with a high water temperature (up to 31 degrees). Then you should add table s alt to the water.

Glugeosis

Glugeosis is considered the most dangerous and serious disease for aquarium fish. This disease is not treatable even in the early stages, as it affects the entirethe body of the fish and thus does not give it the opportunity to recover.

Most often, fish from the carp family succumb to the disease. The disease is accompanied by the appearance of white or bloody bumps on the body, and the fish begin to swim on their side. Glucose quickly spreads throughout the body of the fish, there are more and more cones, and the fish quickly die.

Ichthyobodosis

The causative agent of this disease also enters the aquarium along with soil, food or plants.

The skin of infected fish is first covered with mucus, later the diseased parts begin to rot, the gills change color, and the fins begin to stick together. The fish lacks oxygen and often rises to the surface to take in more air.

Infected fish are transferred to an aquarium where the water temperature reaches 34 degrees, and a solution of methylene s alt is added there.

Argules

This disease is caused by a parasite called karpoed (aka fish louse). It sticks to the fish, thereby causing wound infection and inflammation. The wound later becomes reddened, covered with mucus, and this causes swelling. The fish will start rubbing against rocks or other objects in the aquarium, as well as swaying.

The attached parasite is visible to the naked eye, and therefore it is necessary to carefully catch the fish, place it in a wet swab, and then carefully separate the parasite from the body of the fish with tweezers. Later, it is recommended to make lotions with potassium permanganate on the affected area to speed up the healing process.

Disease prevention

Diseases of fish and their treatment may differ from each other, but the fate of the inhabitants of the aquarium is always in the hands of the owner. They require just as much care as any other pet, and don't forget that.

Aquarium, like any accessories for it, must be of high quality and have a guarantee. The performance of each device must be checked regularly to prevent the fish from getting sick due to their own negligence.

You can’t save on fish food either - it must be fresh (otherwise it becomes a carrier of infections) and varied so that the food contains many vitamins and proteins, including. Do not forget that the inhabitants of the aquarium need to be fed only according to a certain regimen, otherwise overeating is inevitable.

The choice of the fish itself also cannot be treated negligently. You need to carefully inspect it before buying and, of course, buy only in trusted places. Keep in mind that infected fish can also infect other aquarium inhabitants.

Snails are also not always useful for the aquarium and can be carriers of infections. Before placing them in an aquarium, it is recommended that they be quarantined and processed first.

It is recommended to quarantine any new fish to prevent the spread of a possible infection (even if you have been assured that the fish is absolutely he althy). This will not harm them, and you will be sure that the other inhabitants of the aquarium will be safe.

New plantsmust be treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and only then placed in an aquarium. As for any decorations, it is recommended to disinfect them several times after purchase.

A clean aquarium is essential to the he alth of your fish. Do not forget to clean the tank regularly, change the water and soil in it.

The water temperature and its alkaline balance should always be at a stable level. With a sharp jump in any of these indicators, the fish run the risk of getting sick, and it will be quite difficult to cure them. To do this, there are special devices (such as a thermometer inside the aquarium itself), the performance of which must be carefully monitored.

Regularly you need to check the aeration of the aquarium. This can be traced even in the fish themselves. After all, they will all tend to the surface or, conversely, settle at the bottom. In this case, the equipment will need to be replaced as soon as possible (or have it checked).

If, unfortunately, the fish got an infectious disease, it is treated only with medication. It is best to consult with a specialist in order to prevent the deterioration of the condition of the fish or even a few individuals.

Conclusion

So, we looked at fish diseases and their treatment. Most of them can be avoided with proper care of the inhabitants of the aquarium, as well as paying attention to suspicious behavior or changes in the appearance of your pets. You should also choose and buy food correctly. Remember that cheap foods can be problematic and will become sources of fish disease. Not worth savingon feed. Especially when it comes to the life and he alth of aquarium fish.