| More aquarium fish are killed by disease than any | | | | may quickly become afflicted too. |
| other cause. Unfortunately this affliction could be | | | | Hole In The Head |
| easily avoided as it's usually cause by poor water | | | | This ominous-sounding aquarium disease can |
| quality. Poor water quality can be caused by too | | | | actually create little pits in your fish's head. These |
| many fish in one tank, lack of maintenance of | | | | can look like little dents or dots and is thought to |
| your fish tank aquariums or overfeeding your fish. | | | | be caused by water that is too high in nitrates. If |
| In some instances, you may also introduce | | | | you notice any pitting or tiny dimples in your fish, |
| disease into your aquarium by putting a new fish | | | | then you should immediately test your water |
| to an existing tank that has a pre-existing disease | | | | levels for nitrate levels. If you find the levels are |
| from the store. You should always be sure to | | | | higher than they should be, then you need to |
| inspect all fish in a store aquarium for signs of | | | | change your water. |
| illness before you buy any. Even if the fish you | | | | Fungus |
| want to buy looks healthy, if there is evidence of | | | | Fungal infection is often misdiagnosed in aquarium |
| other disease in the aquarium, avoid buying from | | | | fish as bacterial infection, so be sure you look |
| that tank. | | | | carefully at the symptoms your fish is displaying. |
| Common Aquarium Fish Diseases: | | | | An injured fish is most susceptible to developing |
| Fin Rot | | | | fungal infections. In aquarium fish, a fungus growth |
| Fin rot is caused by bacteria within the tank and | | | | at or around an injury should appear a little like |
| can actually rot your fish's fins away. An injured | | | | fluffy white cotton. If you notice fungus on any |
| fish is most susceptible to fin rot as bacteria then | | | | of your fish, you should change the water at |
| has a chance to infect the wound. Stressed fish | | | | once and monitor that fish closely. |
| are more likely to develop bacterial problems as | | | | While most aquarium fish diseases can be |
| their immune systems are already compromised, | | | | controlled by keeping your water clean and |
| however healthy fish are usually able to fend off | | | | changing it regularly, it's still important to be sure |
| infection by bacteria. | | | | you don't buy fish with pre-existing disease from |
| White Spot | | | | the store. You should also be careful not to put |
| White spot is easily diagnosed by visible little white | | | | too many fish into one tank. Fish live naturally in |
| spots on your fish. White spot, or Ichtyopthirius, is | | | | carefully balanced ecological conditions so you |
| a tiny parasite that clings to your fish's scales and | | | | need to be sure you keep the temperature right |
| feeds off the soft tissue beneath. Once you have | | | | for your fish. Maintain your aquarium regularly and |
| white spot in your aquarium, the rest of your fish | | | | your fish should be able to enjoy long happy lives. |