About Fish Disease

There are hundreds of fish diseases that can affect both saltwater and freshwater fish. Some are more common than others. When diseases in a fish aren't properly treated, they can make life miserable for your underwater friend--and possibly lead to his untimely death.

Types

A common type of fish disease is cotton mouth. Cotton mouth is characterized by white spots on the mouth, fins and scales. Fin rot is another disease, and it is characterized by ragged or frayed fins. Ich, another ailment, is characterized by tiny sand-like spots on the fish's skin. Lymphocystis is characterized by white cauliflower-like lumps on the skin.

Warning

Observing your fish daily is a key element in noticing pattern and behavior changes that might signal a disease. Some of these signs can include fish not eating, lethargy, jumping, rubbing against objects, lumpy skin, difficulty swimming, flashing, isolating themselves, gasping at the surface of the water, and bloating.

Misconceptions

If one fish is ill, you don't need to treat the entire aquarium population as the added chemicals in the water can cause unnecessary stress on the other fish. The diseased fish should be promptly removed from the general population and housed in a hospital tank so it can be treated.

To reduce the amount of stress to an already ailing fish, the conditions of the hospital tank should mimic the environment of the original tank. Carbon filtration will absorb any medications that are added to the tank. It should be removed and replaced with an alternate form of filtration before administering treatment.

Prevention/Solution

The majority of fish diseases can be prevented if you are meticulous about maintaining the water quality and reducing unnecessary stress on the fish. Fish tanks should be tested for pH, ammonia, nitrates, and water hardness on a regular basis.

Don't over feed your fish as too much leftover food floating in the aquarium can rot and produce harmful toxins. Also, keeping the aquarium filters clean; vacuuming waste off the gravel; doing regularly scheduled water changes; and keeping the temperature in the aquarium appropriate can help prevent diseases in fish.

Considerations

To avoid introducing fish diseases into a healthy aquarium population, new fish should be quarantined and observed for at least three weeks before putting them in with other fish. Your hospital tank can double as a quarantine tank as long as it's properly disinfected after each use.