| You have to first determine the problem before | | | | growth on the skin. When left untreated, the fish |
| you apply any medication to your fish. While some | | | | will die. |
| diseases have symptoms that look similar, they | | | | Remedy: Change your water every other day. If |
| need different treatments obviously. A good | | | | the situation does not improve, it is best to |
| practise would be to keep a small quarantine tank | | | | quarantine the sick fish and treat it individually. |
| on standby, in case you need it to treat your sick | | | | There are many ready-made fungus treatments |
| fish. Not all fishes are affected at the same time, | | | | in the market. Just shop around and ask for the |
| so you need to separate the sick one from the | | | | right one. |
| rest as quickly as possible. Another good practise | | | | 4. Tail and/or fin rot. Obvious signs are rotting fins |
| is to keep common medications handy, so that | | | | and blood on the edges of fins. This is usually |
| you can apply them as and when you need to. | | | | caused by bullying fishes and/or poor water |
| Take care not to overstock and do check their | | | | conditions. Tuberculosis can also lead to tail and fin |
| expiry dates from time to time. | | | | rot. |
| Here are some common fish diseases/problems. | | | | Remedy: If it is caused by a bullying fish, separate |
| Learn to recognise these symptoms. | | | | them and treat it with antibiotics (chloromycetin). |
| 1. Ammonia poisoning. Fish are seen gasping for air | | | | If it is caused by poor water conditions, change |
| at the surface of the water. This usually happens | | | | the aquarium water frequently. |
| for a new tank setup. It's part of the nitrogen | | | | 5. Velvet. They appear as yellow or brown dusty |
| cycle during which ammonia is converted into | | | | spots on the fish. The fish may show signs of |
| nitrates. Most fishes do not survive during the | | | | irritation and may be rubbing on surfaces in the |
| initial stage. | | | | tank. |
| Remedy: When you are first setting up your | | | | Remedy: Quarantine the fish because Velvet is |
| aquarium, run the pump and put in cheaper fishes | | | | highly infectious. Treat it with copper at 0.2 mg |
| to start the cycle. Another alternative is to put in | | | | per litre. Repeat once every few days if needed. |
| fish food and allow it to decompose to produce | | | | Do not prolong the treatment as copper can |
| ammonia gas. The whole procedure should take | | | | cause fish poisoning. |
| at least 2 weeks. Once the nitrate level in the | | | | 6. Ich or White Spot (Ichthyophtirius multifiliis). It |
| water is safe, you can then put in your fish. | | | | appear as white spots on the body. It is usually |
| 2. Lack of oxygen. Fish are seen gasping for air at | | | | caused by poor water quality. |
| the surface. | | | | Remedy: You can head down to the pet shop and |
| Remedy: This can be easily rectified by adding an | | | | get a remedy for it. To help in the treatment, |
| air pump to the tank. | | | | raise the temperature of water to 27ºC (80º |
| For more information on setting up a new tank, | | | | F) to speed up the cycle time of this protozoa |
| go here. | | | | (Ichthyophtirius multifiliis). |
| 3. Fish fungus. White or dirty white cotton-like | | | | |