| Sometimes what we think is a disease when the | | | | solutions to the most common aquarium diseases. |
| fish get sick really isn't a disease at all. There are | | | | Fin Rot |
| a number of ailments which are actually caused | | | | Fin Rot is caused by bacteria, making the fin look |
| by poor water management and the fish would | | | | tattered and shorter than normal, occasionally |
| respond to the water condition just like a human | | | | with a white rim around the infection. The |
| responds to an allergy. There are however times | | | | diseased fish needs to be kept away from the |
| when the sickness is caused by an actual parasite. | | | | other fish in a quarantine tanks and treated with |
| What we will focus on in this article are the most | | | | antibiotics which you can buy from a fish shop. |
| common fish diseases and the steps that you can | | | | You will also need to monitor the other fish and if |
| take to heal your fish. | | | | all the other fish are also infected you will have to |
| Generally, the only way for external parasites and | | | | treat the entire tank with antibiotics. |
| bacteria to get into the tank is from new fish | | | | Dropsy |
| that has been introduced into the aquarium. There | | | | Dropsy is also a bacterial infection and it causes |
| is no other way for parasites or bacteria to get | | | | the fish to look bloated until their scales stick out |
| into your fish tank and infect your fish. Therefore, | | | | and sometimes flake. It also makes the fish very |
| before introducing new aquatic life into the tank, | | | | inactive. You will have to treat the infected fish |
| check to ensure that it is healthy by doing the | | | | with internal infection medication. |
| following basic steps: | | | | Hexamita |
| | | | Hexamita is a common parasitic infection for |
| 1. Is the fish active? | | | | Angelfish, Discus and Oscars. The parasite bores a |
| 2. Ensure that it is eating well. | | | | pin sized hole in the head area of the fish. A mild |
| 3. Does it have scars, blemishes or spots? | | | | infection causes the fish to swim in a drunken |
| 4. Ensure that its fins are not clamped. | | | | state and this infection must be treated as soon |
| 5. Are its gills a healthy pink? | | | | as possible as it can be fatal to the fish. |
| These checks should actually be done at the pet | | | | Skin and Gill Flukes |
| store before you even think of purchasing the | | | | Another parasite infection which makes the gills |
| fish. Once you bring the fish home, the best | | | | stick out and causes the fish to swallow violently. |
| practice is not to immediately place in into your | | | | This infection is also deadly and needs to be |
| fish tank. If would be better to isolate it in a | | | | treated with antibiotics as soon as possible. |
| quarantine tank for a couple of days first. | | | | Ich |
| Never re-use the water that the fish came in | | | | This very common parasitic infection causes the |
| from the store. In most stores, the tanks are | | | | scales of the fish to seem as if it has been |
| linked to a central filter and disease can easily | | | | dusted with salt. It is very itchy and causes the |
| spread from one tank to another this way. | | | | fish to scratch itself against tank decorations. It is |
| Always use some of the water from your | | | | easily treated with Malachite Green but use it with |
| existing tank to acclimatize the new fish to your | | | | caution because it is toxic to invertebrates. |
| new tank water. This will ensure that it survives | | | | These are a few of the most common diseases |
| longer in its new environment.Doing all the above | | | | affecting fish tanks. Most fish diseases can easily |
| will guarantee that your existing fish will never be | | | | be healed with treatments purchased from a fish |
| troubled by parasites or bacteria. But in the off | | | | store. That Fish Place is an online store that |
| chance that they do get infected, here are the | | | | carries a good variety of fish medication. |