Symptoms Of Tropical Fish Fungus Disease

Cotton wool like tuffs appear or a fine layer of cobwebs or dusty fungus. This disease can often be confused with mouth a separate mouth infection that is caused by slime bacterium and may not be cured by all treatments that prioritise on treating the body fungus.

Treatment Of Tropical Fish Fungus Disease

An old dated method to deal with this disease was to place the infected fish in a salt bath. More modern treatments for fungus infections include Liquitox, Furanaceor Phenoxethol . Treatments are usually based on malachite green which can either be added to the water or painted directly onto the infected fish. Antibiotics can be used but these must be obtained from a vet.

Fish use camouflage for hunting and to avoid being hunted. The majority of fish can change their color slightly, the color change can indicate whether its excited, ill, angry or frightened or in the case of male fish its colors are intensified during the mating season.

The color of a fish can often warn predators that it is poisonous. Some marine fish mimic their colors of their pray. Other have colors that give the appearance of a false eye that can deceive a predator about the position of its body and likely route of escape.

Symptoms Of White Spot Ich

As mentioned this disease is easy to spot and there should be little confusion with other fish diseases.

Treatment Of White Spot Ich

The majority of fish can cope with this disease but when the fish is stressed its immune systems is weak and the parasite multiplies. The disease responds well to proprietary remedies available from your local aquarium store. The treatment is for the tank and therefore should be administered in the community tank.

Symptoms Of Velvet And Coral Disease

This disease is quite easy to diagnose as the body of the fish is covered with a fine gold dust giving it a velvety look. The parasite goes through a similar process as the parasite that causes White Spot. The is another disease caused by the O.pillularis where the color is more brown. The gills of fish can be damaged with this disease. Treatment Of Velvet And Coral Disease Velvet disease is normally treated by copper based treatments, but they are toxic
to invertebrates and should not be administered to marine tanks if they contain them. It is advisable to establish long term bath cures like methylene blue, however fish medicine is constantly evolving so also discuss your fish heath problems with your local aquarium store to see if there is any new and better medicine available.
Avoid using methylene blue in tanks with biological filtration.

Some fish require fewer fins and the ones that do have will vary in shape and size between species. Fins control direction, position. The tail or Caudal fin is the engine of a fish; the dorsal and anal fin stabilizes the fish; pelvic fins are used for turning; and the pectoral fins can lift the fish and gesture to rivals. Like the body shape of fish the size and shape of a fish fins is an indication of the environment that they live in. Larger fins and a wide tail are normally found on larger fish as these are needed to maintain a correct position in the water. Fast moving fish have smaller more streamline fins and a large crescent shaped tail to provide plenty of power. Some fish use their fins as the only source of propulsion and make no other body movement.

Other uses for fish fins are defence (white fin lionfish has venomous spins) mating and even used for a type of walking or dragging.

Tropical Fish Buying Guide

To assist with tropical fish disease prevention when choosing a new fish only buy from a reputable shop / dealer. When selecting a new fish reject if any of the conditions are present  :-

1. Cannot Swim effortless or maintain a steady position in the tank ( floats to the surface
   or drops to the bottom of the tank ).
2. A very thin cross section or abnormally thin body compared to other fish of the same
   species.
3. Folded down, split or frayed fins ( Possibly infected with fin tai rot).
4. Spots, fungus, wounds or any body damage.
5. Abnormally small or large to add to your existing
   community as this fish may either
   be eaten or start to eat your existing stock.
6. Excessively expensive. Only buy expensive fish when you are a more experienced fish keeper.

All addition to help tropical fish disease prevention even healthy looking fish should be quarantined in a small quarantined / hospital tank for at least 2 to 3 weeks. This should be enough time for any diseases to manifest. If any disease is noticed the tank can be converted into a hospital tank. A basic quarantined / hospital tank consist of a small tank of known size that has good aeration. The lighting should be dimmer than normal. The tank should provide plenty of hiding places ( use small plastic plant pots ) and contain fake plants made from plastic. The plastic pots and plants can be disinfected between uses. When
moving fish between tanks ensure that the net is cleaned and disinfected. It is usual to have a separate net for each tank including your hospital tank to limit the chance of cross contamination. Adding fish is not the only way to introduce disease into your aquarium, plants should be cleaned before adding to your aquarium. They should be fully rinsed under a running tap and bathed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate to destroy minute aquatic life in their leaves.

By following these simple steps  of tropical fish disease prevention you will hopefully have a disease free aquarium.

Symptoms Of Dropsy

The fishes abdomen is swollen like a balloon, this often makes the fishes scales stick out. This can often lead to further disease. Fish may also appear lifeless and stop moving much and feeding. Gouramies and Cyprinids (barbs, danios, etc) are prone to this disease.

Treatment Of Dropsy

Unfortunately by the time this disease is correctly diagnosed it may well be to late to save the fish. It is a very difficult disease to cure and can also be contagious, so isolate the fish immediately until it either recovers or has to be destroyed. In the past antibiotics prescribed by a vet were the only means of treatment but now there are commercially available treatments. These include Interpet anti internal bacteria Octozin. The addition of salt (1 tsp/gallon) may also be beneficial.