| Symptom |
Potential Causes |
Treatments |
| New fish are sluggish, won't eat, hide,
& are generally distressed. |
1) Acclimation Shock - differences in
water chemistry, temperature, and shipping shock.
|
1) Check
water conditions and very slowly add about 1/4 tsp. of aquarium salt/gal, or
"StressCoat"
per instructions. |
2) Environmental Change Shock
|
2) Just let nature
take its course and have plenty of plants for hiding. Fish will eat when they're
hungry & when you're not watching. |
3.) General Behavior of Species of Fish
|
3) Check with aquarium
books & references to learn more
about this species. |
| 4) Introduced new fish to tank with predators. |
4) Isolate new fish and check for compatibilities. |
| Sudden loss of many fish over a short period
of time, with few preceding symptoms. Other fish stay near the top/ bottom and may lose
balance. They are dull in color & activity and don't eat. Catfish dies. |
1) Toxic Shock., usually from ammonia,
nitrates, nitrites, pH, or other poisonous chemicals.
|
1) Water
should be tested for ammonia and related, changed slowly (1-2 hrs.) if necessary. Check
fish for other symptoms. |
2) Low Dissolved Oxygen Levels.
|
2) Make sure
filter is working and add an airstone to add more diffused oxygen. |
| 3) Virus or Bacterial Disease Infections. |
3) Check fish for possible other symptoms. |
Fish rub against glass or
plants quickly and "flash" when they turn to rub their sides exposing their
bellies. Attempt the "Dramatic Darwin Leap". |
1) Chemical irritation of the skin or gills,
caused by raised levels of ammonia, nitrite or very high/low pH.
|
1) Water
should be tested for ammonia and related, changed slowly if necessary. Check
fish for other symptoms. A little "StressCoat"
may help. |
2) Irritation caused by external parasites such as flukes, fungus,
Trichodina, white-spot etc on the skin or gills.
|
2) Scraping the skin or
gills gently to remove parasites, add 1/4 tsp. aquarium salt/gal. or
treat with commercial products from your local fish shop. |
Fish swim normally but appear to be
breathing heavily.
Fish appear to be gasping, they may
crowd water inlets |
1) Hypoxia. Dissolved oxygen levels may be
low.
|
1) Test
water and check filter to make sure it isn't clogged. Add an airstone. |
| 2) Poor water quality causing gill
hyperplasia, excess mucus production or nitrite toxicity. |
2) Check filter to make sure it isn't clogged. Test for ammonia,
nitrite levels and pH. |
3) It could indicate the early stages of gill disease.
|
3) Treat with 1/2
tsp. seasalt/gal or 1/2 dosage of commercial products from your local fish shop |
4) Gill parasites.
|
4) Scrape gills gently to remove parasites, add 1/2
tsp. seasalt/gal,
or treat with commercial products from your local fish shop |
| Individual fish stays apart from others.
Breathing is normal. They may refuse food. They may have "cloudy" or grey
areas on the skin |
1) Common symptoms of many diseases, so
further investigation is essential
|
1) Observe closely &
test water.
|
2) Fish may be suffering from a parasite
problem.
|
2) Take a skin and gill scrape. Examine the gills. add 1/2 tsp.
seasalt/gal, or treat
with Novalek Aquarium Formalin-3 Treatment
and Dip or other commercial products from your local fish shop. |
3) There could be internal disease problems
|
3) Add 1/2 tsp. seasalt/gal, or treat
with Maracyn 2 or other commercial products from your local fish shop. |
| 4) Early stage of systemic bacterial infection. |
4) Isolate and observe
|
| Several fish are sluggish. Fish won't eat or
eating very little. Fish are skittish and shy. Some fish may have split or ragged fins |
1) Common symptoms of many diseases. |
1) Test
water for ammonia, nitrite, pH. |
| 2) High levels of organic pollution. |
2)
Check & Change filter.
|
3) External parasite infestation.
|
3) Take a skin and gill scrape. Examine the gills.
Add 1/2 tsp. seasalt/gal,
or treat with Novalek Aquarium Formalin-3 Treatment
and Dip or other commercial products from your local fish shop. |
| 4) Early stage of bacterial disease. |
4) Check fish for lesions, inflammation and ulcers |
| Excess of gill and/or skin mucus. Grey
slime/ trailing mucus. May be accompanied by rubbing/flashing, heavy 'breathing'
and/or sluggishness. |
1) Water chemistry problems. |
1) Test
water for ammonia, nitrite, pH. |
2) External parasites.
|
2)
Take a skin and gill scrape. Examine the gills. Add 1/4 tsp. seasalt/gal, or treat
with Novalek Aquarium Formalin-3 Treatment
and Dip or other commercial products from your local fish shop. |
| Skin lesions or ulcers. Reddening or
inflammation on the body or fins. Raised scales. Area swelling. Open wounds or lesions
that do not heal within a day or two. |
1) Physical injury. This will normally
present as a 'clean' wound with little swelling or filmy growths.
|
1) Watch for infection.
Add 1/4 tsp. seasalt
per gal. for infection prevention, or treat with MelaFix™, Aquarium Pharmaceuticals
E.M. Tablets, or similar from your local fish shop. |
| 2) Local tissue irritation caused by external parasite
infection.
|
2) Take a skin and gill scrape. Examine the
gills. Add 1/2 tsp. seasalt/gal, or treat
with Novalek Aquarium Formalin-3 Treatment
and Dip or other commercial products from your local fish shop. |
3) Bacterial disease
|
3) Check fish for possible other
symptoms. Add 1/2 tsp. seasalt/gal, or treat
with Maracyn or other commercial products (antibiotics & sulfa drugs) from your local fish shop. |
4) Water quality problem.
|
4) Test
water conditions and very slowly add about 1/4 tsp. of seasalt/gal, or
"StressCoat"
per instructions |
| 5) High levels of organic pollution. |
5) Check & Change filter.
Change at least 20% water
|
| Localize red or white lesions on the body |
Larger external parasites such as lice,
leeches or anchor worms
.
|
Treat
with Novalek Aquarium Formalin-3 Treatment
and Dip or other commercial products such as ParaGuard by Seachem
$4.99 at PETsMART effective and inexspensive treatment
for ectoparasites and external fungal, bacterial, & viral infections |
| Fin rot, frayed, split or ragged fins.
Possibly with white fuzzy edge and some reddening of the fins |
1) Bacterial infection
|
1) Check fish for possible other
symptoms. Add 1/2 tsp. seasalt/gal, or treat
with commercial products (MelaFix™, antibiotics & sulfa compounds) from your local
fish shop. |
| 2) Ectoparasite infection.
|
2) Treat with commercial products (antibiotics & sulfa
compounds) from your local fish shop. |
| 3) Poor environmental conditions. |
3) Check
water and filter. |
| 4) Physical damage
|
4) Add 1/2 tsp. seasalt/gal and a
little "StressCoat"
or similar found at your local fish shop. |
| 5) Over crowding
|
5) Keep the 1" of fish/gal. of water rule of
thumb. |
| 6) Saprolegnia (fungus) infection
|
6) Fungus Cure Capsules from Aquarium
Pharmaceuticals and similar from others found at your local fish
shop |
| 7) Columnaris infection (mouth fungus/cotton wool disease)
|
7) Triple Sulfa™ Capsules or
MelaFix™ from
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals and similar from others are readily available at your local fish shop. |
| Fish has swollen abdomen (dropsy).
Possibly raised scales and some reddening on the body or fins. Possibly pop-eye
(exophthalmos) |
1) Viral infection.
|
1) Just like the common cold, often not
much to do but reduce stress. |
| 2) Systemic bacterial infection. leading to
'dropsy' (build up of fluid in the abdomen. Can be differentiated from tumor
by shape,
symmetry and feel (feels soft and fluidy) |
2)
Tetracycline from Mardel Labs $5.79/24 capsules at PETsMART
|
3) Neoplasm (tumor). Can usually be determined by size,
shape
(usually asymmetric) and palpation (feeling - usually hard) |
3) Plan to replace fish.
|
| 4) Heart or kidney disease. Can only be diagnosed by post
mortem
|
4) Plan to replace fish.
|
5) Internal parasites
(endoparasites)
|
5) Maracyn-Two from Mardel Labs capsules at PETsMART |
6) Genetic disorder
|
6) Plan to replace fish with one from different stock to
strengthen gene pool. |
| 7) Intestinal
blockage
|
7) Plan to replace fish, but if caught early enough,
feeding brine shrimp may help. |
| Respiratory problems. Gill examination shows
areas of necrosis (dead tissue), mottled appearance, heavy mucus |
1) Bacterial gill disease
|
1) Check fish for possible other
symptoms. Add 1/2 tsp. seasalt/gal, or treat
with commercial products (antibiotics & sulfa
drugs) from your local fish shop. |
2) Viral infection
|
2)
Just like the common cold, often not much to do but reduce stress. |
| 3) Branchiomyces (gill rot)
|
3) Furan-2™ Capsules or
other commercial products (antibiotics & sulfa
drugs) from your local fish shop. |
| 4) Gill parasites.
|
4) General Cure™ Capsules from Aquarium Pharmaceuticals and similar from others are readily
available at your local fish shop. |
| Tiny white spots, as though fish has been
sprinkled with salt. Usually with thickened mucus |
1) Ichthyophthirius - "Ich"
|
1) Darken the tank. Ich needs
light. Various effective products are available for "Ich" at your local fish shop or on-line at PETsMART |
| White or or grayish 'cotton-wool' patches on
the skin or fins. Often accompanied by inflammation and skin erosion |
1) Saprolegnia (fungus) infection |
1)
Fungus Cure Capsules from Aquarium Pharmaceuticals and similar from others
found at your local fish shop |
| 2) Columnaris infection (mouth fungus/cotton wool disease).
|
2) Triple Sulfa™ Capsules or
MelaFix™ from Aquarium
Pharmaceuticals and similar from others are readily available at your local fish shop. |
| Swellings on the skin |
1) Parasitic cysts. |
1) Take 'deep' skin scrape |
| 2) Physical injury or battle wound.. |
2) Examine fish and observe. |
| 3) Bacterial infection. Usually accompanied by
inflammation and raised scales.
|
3) Examine fish for inflammation and/ or raised
scales. Add 1/2 tsp. seasalt/gal, or treat
with commercial products (MelaFix™, antibiotics & sulfa compounds) from your local
fish shop. |
4) Internal tumors
|
4) May be harmless, but plan to replace fish. |
| Growths on skin/fins |
Tumors or viral infections such as; 1) 'carp pox', which resembles melted wax poured over the fins or
skin
2) papillomas, 'warty' types of growths, can be quite
large, smooth or cauliflower-shaped, white, red or pink
3) lymphocystis, various sized, white to pink masses on
the skin and/or gills. |
There are no certain and specific treatments
for these growths. They are usually benign and often self-resolving. Check fish for
possible other symptoms. Add 1/2 tsp. seasalt/gal, or treat
with commercial products (antibiotics & sulfa
drugs) from your local fish shop. There
is always the risk of secondary bacterial infection. Although raising salinity may
help, a wide range medication, such as Maracyn-Two from Mardel Labs capsules at PETsMART may prove helpful. |
| Corneal Opacity (cloudy eye) |
1) Physical injury |
1) Add 1/2 tsp. of seasalt/gal, or treat
with commercial products (antibiotics & sulfa
drugs) from your local fish shop. |
2) Nutritional deficiencies
|
2)
Vary diet, with emphasis to feeding brine shrimp and/or live foods. |
| 3) Poor water quality
|
3) Check
water conditions and very slowly add about 1/4 tsp. of aquarium salt/gal, or
"StressCoat"
per instructions. |
4) Bacterial infection
|
4) Check fish for possible other symptoms. Add 1/2
tsp. seasalt/gal,
or treat with commercial products (MelaFix™, antibiotics & sulfa
compounds) from
your local fish shop. |
| Loss of balance with fish unable to stay
upright. Fish may be able to maintain position when swimming, but turn over when they stop
swimming. |
1) Swim-bladder disorder / disease caused by
viral or bacterial infection, constipation (mainly fancy goldfish) or other organ disease. |
1) Add 1/2 tsp. seasalt/gal, or treat
with commercial products (MelaFix™, antibiotics & sulfa compounds) from your local
fish shop. |
| 2) Internal organ disease, i.e. kidney / intestinal disease or
blockage. |
2)
Plan to replace fish
|
| Sluggishness, weight loss, and fish loss.
Worms protruding from anus |
1) Internal parasites
(endoparasites).
|
Treat with commercial products (antibiotics
& sulfa compounds) from your local fish shop.
|
