| Fishes, contrary to popular belief, have a longer life | | | | ICH, vets would generally advocate the use of |
| span than most people would believe. It is the | | | | copper medication as a form of treatment for |
| oversight of owners that cause a high percentage of | | | | Velvet. |
| fish loss. Conducive habitats are important to fishes | | | | A fungal infection may also develop quite commonly |
| well-being and stability in numbers. Maintaining a low | | | | in fishes which appear in gray or white color over the |
| incidence of common fish diseases would increase | | | | body of the fish. This will be sighted in the fins or the |
| their rates of survival. | | | | mouths of the fish. An injury to the fish induced by |
| One common fish disease is ICH. This is a type of | | | | another fish may also be the cause of this disease. |
| fish disease whereby the affected fish has white | | | | Open wounds are highly prone to fungal infections. |
| colored spots all over the body. When a fish is sick it | | | | Suitable cures for fungal diseases are readily available |
| is important to check for those white spots of the | | | | from your local pet shop and can also be procured |
| size and shape of the grains of salt over its skin. | | | | from pet suppliers registered online with ease. |
| Such a affliction is caused by Ichthyophthirius in tanks | | | | Bacterial infection is a common occurrence among |
| containing freshwater and Cryptocaryon antigens in | | | | fishes. If you notice orange or red spot on the scales |
| the saltwater tanks. Sometimes in addition to the | | | | of the fishes, they are most probably bacterial |
| body of the fish, the ICH may attack even the eyes | | | | infection. Dropsy is a frequent bacterial infection that |
| and interiors of the mouth and even gills. | | | | is often noted. If the fish looks distended or has |
| If the fish exhibit behaviors and symptoms such as | | | | scales that bulge out, it is a sign that the infection is |
| gasping for air near the surface of the aquarium or | | | | attacking the insides of the fish and it is. The fish |
| rubbing against objects, it may be due to ICH. Loss | | | | would show signs of tiredness and a lack of interest |
| of appetite is another symptom associated with the | | | | in food. Medications such as penicillin, naladixic acid and |
| above mentioned ones. Fishes have low chances of | | | | tetracycline are most commonly used to cure |
| combating ICH on their own. Copper sulfur medication | | | | bacterial infections. |
| needs to be administered in order that they can be | | | | Prevention is better than cure, and it will save you |
| cured. Antibiotic medication should be provided after | | | | and your fishes a whole lot of trouble from treating |
| the parasites are gone, in order to prevent them | | | | them. The best way to provide a healthy |
| from recurring. | | | | environment for the fishes is to keep the aquarium |
| Velvet is a common bacteria with very similar signs | | | | clean. Do keep a look out for fishes that threaten or |
| to ICH, however, the spots on the body of the fish | | | | assault other fishes and keep such combative fishes |
| is smaller and dustier. Sometimes the spots may be | | | | apart. The quality of the water, the size and space |
| gray or gold in color. The spots will be tinier and so | | | | for the fishes and the species of the fishes should be |
| they are more difficult to spot and attention should | | | | monitored regularly. |
| be paid to this aspect. Fishes that have contracted | | | | Dear in mind that the fishes can still fall prey to |
| Velvet display similar symptoms to ICH, and will | | | | infections and afflictions at some juncture despite |
| abrade itself against objects or show difficulty in | | | | your best efforts. It is important to try to cure the |
| breathing by trying to gulp in air near the surface of | | | | disease as soon as possible to reduce the chances of |
| the water especially if the gills are infected. As with | | | | it spreading and contaminating other fishes. |