Keeping a fish tank is a wonderful and relaxing hobby, but it can turn stressful if your fish start to die off. The most common cause of fish disease is poor water quality so it is vital that you perform regular maintenance on the tank, making sure you do a partial water change periodically and clean out any waste or uneaten food so it does not decay and poison the water.
Many fish disease can be halted if you provide treatment as soon as you see any signs of your fish being sick. Therefore, it is important that you monitor your fish each day to see if there are any signs of illness.
Some common symptoms of disease are listed below.
White dots ? sometimes fuzzy looking, almost like grains of salt on your fish. This disease is called Ichthyophthirius), or simply Ich. It is a rather common disease and is caused by poor water quality or can effect your fish when it's immune system is not functioning up to par due to stress. It can be treated easily if you catch it in time. There is a special solution you can buy at the pet store to medicate your tank and, hopefully, get rid of this problem.
Gray patches on the skin, looks cottony and can be around the gills. This is a fungus also caused by excess fish waste and food decaying in the bottom of the tank. You can buy treatment for it and it should clear up easily unless you have let it go too far. In the future remember to clean the tank each week so you do not have a reoccurrence.
If your fish seem like they are gasping for air, this could be simply due to lack of oxygen in the water and not necessarily a disease. You could add an airstone to see if that helps the problem. Make sure you do not overcrowd the tank with too many fish.
If you see your fish scraping itself agains the bottom of the tank or the decorations, it's possible that he has a parasite called Flukes. These attack the gills and skin and are rather difficult to get rid of once your tank is infected. Again, poor water quality will make this much worse. They do sell medication for the tank and you may be able to clear it up if you treat the tank at the first sign of trouble.
Rotting fins are sometimes seen if the fish is under stress and also if the water quality is substandard. It is a bacteria that is attacking the fins and you must treat the tank at the first sign of this problem. If possible, isolate the affected fish to another tank to prevent the bacteria from spreading.
To insure that you always have healthy fish, you should keep the tank clean and religiously perform partial water changes. This will not only keep your fish happy but will make for a better looking tank as well!
Lee Dobbins is a pet lover and owner of fish tank guide.com where you can learn to setup your freshwater aquarium. Visit the site and learn more about fish tank guide.com.
limousine Ackley .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HarePet friendly vacations and travel planning make sense -- after... Read More
Buying a new dog is more than simply finding the... Read More
As much as you love the sound of your new... Read More
West Highland White Terriers began their history as the undesirable... Read More
The American Humane Society estimated that last year alone; fifteen... Read More
Dogs and children are a perfect fit. They are what... Read More
Part1: There is Actually a "Wrong" Way to Crate TrainCrate... Read More
Your dog seems to be driving you up the wall... Read More
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are not cheap. On average you... Read More
Bringing a new puppy or dog home is a huge... Read More
This article discusses two foods in paticual. For the puppy... Read More
If you have a passion to learn all you can... Read More
Just like when you bring home a new baby, you... Read More
Cockatiels are one of the most lovable pets in the... Read More
To vaccinate or not to vaccinate? That's become the burning... Read More
What you feed your dog is really SO important for... Read More
While excitement and anticipation will be at the top of... Read More
In the purebred West Highland Terrier puppy market, there are... Read More
The Discus fish has its habitat in the South American... Read More
Mum, dad, can we get a puppy? Its a plea... Read More
If the "tweet, tweet" of little beaks is in your... Read More
The first thing to realize when you are training a... Read More
There are headstrong dogs that know too well that a... Read More
Breed specific legislation otherwise known as "BSL" has started to... Read More
Before we talk about using the essential oils, we first... Read More
shuttle from O'Hare Alexander ..Just like when you bring home a new baby, you... Read More
A new puppy is a joyous addition to any home.... Read More
"You've created your own monster, you know", my mother said... Read More
Imagine that you are scolding your cat for scratching at... Read More
Are cats and children a good mix?So, you had a... Read More
When goldfish swim up to the glass of the tank,... Read More
Yesterday we talked a little about the 6 Keys for... Read More
Are there so many great dog breeds out there that... Read More
According to the American Humane Society, just 15% of dogs... Read More
Adding a new member to your feline family is usually... Read More
Cats have a reputation for being finicky eaters, but that... Read More
The performing of dog tricks, while not a necessary part... Read More
For those pet owners who do not know what a... Read More
So, you've got yourself a pregnant cat.Was it a stray... Read More
Training your dog to "sit" is probably the first thing... Read More
You can't imagine the kind of varieties of Goldfish there... Read More
Hamster breeding can sometimes be confusing for a hamster owner.... Read More
Before you decide to give your dog canine arthritis medicine... Read More
The West Highland White Terrier or Westie, has it's origin,... Read More
You love your dog. You would do anything for your... Read More
He will be there by your side, as your loving... Read More
One of the benefits of registering your pet with a... Read More
Ringworm is an annoying, highly contagious fungal disorder that is... Read More
If your life is so busy you literally only have... Read More
Do you really get the fullest amount of enjoyment out... Read More
Pet |