How to Check Your Fish for Bacteria & Fungus

Video Transcript

"My name's Chris from Aquatic Central here in San Francisco and on the web at aquatic-central.com, and I'd like to tell you how to check your fish for bacteria or fungus. This can most easily be done by a visual inspection. It will require you to be somewhat familiar with your fish, so do inspect your fish regularly. It will be more easy to notice differences or changes. Signs of fungus are usually in the form of white, cottony growths, rotting or decaying fins, cloudy eyes possibly. Signs of bacteria usually tend to be more of a fading or loss of coloration. Sometimes there will be red streaking or blotching on the fish. Other non visual signs will be behavioral, i.e. in the form of a loss of appetite, swimming or lethargy, heavy breathing, these are all signs of sickness, but more difficult to diagnose. One commonly mistaken bacterial ailment which is thought to be fungal is columnarris. Now this will appear as a white covering of the body. And it is very prevalent with beta fish. There are lots of readily available treatments that can be purchased through your local fish store or on the web. However, some treatments tend to work better with certain fish. So take into consideration the fish you have. Sometimes it will also help you to diagnose what your aliment is. Again, this is how you check your fish for a bacteria or a fungus. My name is Chris from Aquatic Central in San Francisco and on the web on aquatic-central.com."