| 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. ICH may affect the eyes and | | | | of the fishes, they are most probably bacterial |
| the insides of the mouth and gills of the fish besides | | | | infection. Dropsy is a frequent bacterial infection that |
| the body of the fish. | | | | is often noted. If the fish looks distended or has |
| Should there be strange behaviors and signs such as | | | | scales that bulge out, it is a sign that the infection is |
| a difficulty in breathing and a gasping for oxygen, or | | | | attacking the insides of the fish and it is. The fish |
| even a constant need for the fish to scrape its body | | | | would show signs of tiredness and a lack of interest |
| along other objects, a likely cause would be ICH. A | | | | in food. Medications such as penicillin, naladixic acid and |
| disinterest in food is another sign along with the | | | | tetracycline are most commonly used to cure |
| indicators already mentioned earlier. Fishes have low | | | | bacterial infections. |
| chances of combating ICH on their own. Copper | | | | Prevention is better than cure, and it will save you |
| sulfur medication needs to be administered in order | | | | and your fishes a whole lot of trouble from treating |
| that they can be cured. Antibiotic medication should | | | | them. The best way to provide a healthy |
| be provided after the parasites are gone, in order to | | | | environment for the fishes is to keep the aquarium |
| prevent them from recurring. | | | | clean. Do keep a look out for fishes that threaten or |
| Velvet is a common bacteria with very similar signs | | | | assault other fishes and keep such combative fishes |
| to ICH, however, the spots on the body of the fish | | | | apart. The quality of the water, the size and space |
| is smaller and dustier. Sometimes the spots may be | | | | for the fishes and the species of the fishes should be |
| gray or gold in color. The spots will be tinier and so | | | | monitored regularly. |
| they are more difficult to spot and attention should | | | | Dear in mind that the fishes can still fall prey to |
| be paid to this aspect. Fishes that have contracted | | | | infections and afflictions at some juncture despite |
| Velvet display similar symptoms to ICH, and will | | | | your best efforts. When that happens, it is vital that |
| abrade itself against objects or show difficulty in | | | | you seek or give treatment as soon as possible to |
| breathing by trying to gulp in air near the surface of | | | | avoid the disease getting transmitted to other fishes. |
| the water especially if the gills are infected. As with | | | | |