Symptoms of Ill Health in Fish

Symptoms of Ill Health in Fish

Nothing is as pleasing for an aquarist as a healthy, vibrant, and colorful aquarium. Lot of efforts are however required to keep a fish healthy.

Causes of Ill Health in Fish. The fishes kept in captivity are quite vulnerable to many diseases rooted to various causes. Some of the key ones being:

Poor Water Quality. These include low nutrition, increased toxins, and misbalanced pH, temperature, & KH levels to name some.

Stress.

Low Resistance. This one is related to Stress. Stress weakens Immune System, which leads to the increased susceptibility of fish to diseases.

There are certain signs the fishes exhibit when they are not well. The ensuing discussion looks at some of the key symptoms of ill health in fish.

Symptoms of Ill Health.

In Fish.

Changed Behavior. The primary sign of a diseased fish in an aquarium is reflected through its abnormal behavior. This behavior may include, but is not limited to restlessness, lack of appetite, gasping, coughing, erratic swimming, and lethargy to mention some.

Morphological Changes.

Head & Eye Abrasions. At times, you may witness small, Gray, pinhole abrasions around the Eyes and the Head of your fish, especially the marine ones. This condition is usually a result of Hole in the Head Disease in your fish.

White Spots. A very common symptom of an ailing fish, White Spots, mostly prop due to a Parasitic Protozoan, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. The fish can be seen scratching their body against rocks and walls of aquarium to alleviate itching.

Rough Skin. Often a result of the disease, Marine Velvet, the fishes at times develop rough Skin with small Golden or Brown colored spots on it.

Color change. This may involve a change of color or a straight discoloration of Skin.

Fin changes. Especially induced by Bacterial Fin Rot, the Fins of affected fishes may close, fray, are clumped, or decay.

Lateral Line Damage. Holes in the Head and a dorsal erosion of Lateral Line along the body length of Fish claim for Head and Lateral Line Disease.

Cloudy Eyes. These are alarming and are often a result of Poisoning.

Internal Hemorrhage. This symptom is internal in nature and usually involves a hemorrhage in skin and muscle. The sign is mostly the result of a contagious and deadly viral disease, Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia. To prevent this disease, add 1 part of Chlorine Bleach to 10 parts of Water.

In Tank.

Protein Foam. If your aquatic pets are suffering from some ailment then you will witness increased quantity of Protein Foam on the tank�s water surface.

Dying Fish. Another cause as well as the symptom of ill health in your fishes is their death and decay in the fish tank.

Crustacean Molting. If your Crustacean pets are shedding their shells or coverings, then it indicates a diseased tank.

Tips for healthy fish.

Perfect Water Quality. Regularly check the water quality of your aquarium and make sure that it remains at the desired level. Punctual water changes are also necessary.

Filtration. All your tank�s three water filters, Mechanical, Chemical, and Biological, must function properly at all times. Get their regular maintenance check done.

Nutrition. Stay vigilant in providing proper nutrition to your fish. Apart from regular meals, rich in Greens, health supplements and Trace Elements should also be furnished.

Quarantine. Both, breeding new variety of fishes and treating a diseased fish, require a separate Quarantine Tank to avert any disease spread.

Reputed Seller. Always buy from reputed dealers.

Acclimatization. Acclimatize your fishes properly prior to introducing them into your aquarium, as they are sensitive to environmental fluctuations and may get stressed up.

No Overstocking. Do not overstock your aquarium. Overstocking is a big key to a diseased aquarium.