| Being a Tropical Fish Enthusiast, it gets to me | | | | euthanasia. |
| when I see other peoples fish in bad shape, either | | | | Fin rot |
| through poor water quality or because of some | | | | Fin rot disease is a bacterial infection usually |
| fish they've introduced to their tank. | | | | occurring in poorly maintained aquariums. Fin rot is |
| Whatever the reason for the fish's demise, I | | | | caused by many bacteria that live in the aquarium |
| thought it might be helpful to point out the most | | | | if regular cleaning is not undertaken or the fish is |
| common fish diseases in order to help fish owners | | | | living in poor water fin rot can occur. Symptoms |
| to prevent any future problems with your fish. | | | | include blood streaked and ragged fins, eventually |
| Hope it helps. | | | | the disease will eat away the whole fin. |
| White spot | | | | Treatment is readily available from most fish shop |
| White spot is a disease that most tropical fish | | | | stores. |
| keepers will encounter at some stage. White spot | | | | Velvet |
| is a protozoan parasite which is extremely | | | | Velvet is similar in appearance to white spot |
| contagious and if left untreated deadly. Typical | | | | however its appearance is more like a sprinkling |
| symptoms are sugar grain like spots on the fishes | | | | of white/greyish flour as opposed to white spot's |
| body and/or fins also the fish may be 'flashing' on | | | | sugar like grains. Velvet is usually caused be poor |
| the bottom in an attempt to scrape off the | | | | Tropical Aquarium water quality (Ammonia, Nitrite |
| parasite. Treatment is readily available and the | | | | or excessive Nitrate). Treatment is readily |
| whole tank must be treated even if only one fish | | | | available and should be administered immediately. |
| is showing signs of the disease. | | | | Hole in the Head Diseases |
| Dropsy | | | | Hole in the head disease is commonly seen on |
| Dropsy is more of a symptom as opposed to a | | | | large cichlids such as Oscars but can affect all |
| disease itself and can have many causes, many | | | | species, symptoms include pits or holes on and |
| of which are untreatable. Symptoms include | | | | around the fishes head. Hole in the head disease is |
| bloated body and protruding scales often referred | | | | caused by the protozoan parasite Hexamita.The |
| to as looking like a pine cone. Some causes may | | | | presence of this parasite on the fish is not usually |
| be an internal tumour, bacterial infection of the | | | | enough to cause a out-break of disease in the |
| scale pockets or internal bacterial infection. | | | | fish, poor diet and/or poor water quality are |
| Although there many treatments on the market | | | | contributing factors. Treatment is available for this |
| that claim to treat the disease successful | | | | disease but often a change of diet and immediate |
| treatment is rare, if the fish is showing signs of | | | | improvement of water quality is enough to help. |
| discomfort and pain you should consider | | | | |