How To Recognize And Counteract Ailments And Disease In Your Aquarium – A to F
Most diseases in the aquarium are due to poor environmental conditions and can be successfully treated. Here we identify some major ailments and proposed treatments for anchor worm, constipation, fin rot and dropsy.
Anchor Worm
Symptoms: As the name suggests you will see worm like entities attached to the fish. The fish may be seen rubbing itself against the substrate, rocks or wood in the tank and swimming abnormally. The skin may be inflamed with greeny white threads hanging from it.
Reason: Caused by a parasite, Lernaea, which fixes its head (shaped like an anchor) in the body of the fish.
Treatment: Take the fish out of the tank and pull out the worms being careful not to break off the heads. Use tweezers (It seems that if you dip the tips of the tweezers in Potassium Permanganate first the worms head will release its grip once touched by the tweezers.). The wound can be treated with suitable antiseptic. It may be worthwhile using an an anaesthetic to calm the fish first.
For really bad cases you may need to treat the aquarium with Anchors Away, Dimilin, Proform La or Potassium Permanganate. But beware, permanganate is very strong and can kill your fish if not used appropriately. I have noted the use of Metriponate in Europe.
Constipation
Not really a disease but included here to help those aquarists whose fish suffer from it.
Symptoms: A swollen stomach is the obvious visible sign and if this condition continues the fish will become weak.
Also watch out for the fish not eating and laying on the bottom of the aquarium. Note that a swollen stomach is also a symptom of Dropsy so it could be confusing.
Reason: Can be caused by giving the fish the wrong food or in some cases the fish eats to much.
Treatment: Use Magnesium Sulphate with a dose of about half a teaspoon to a gallon of water. Magnesium Sulphate is also called Epsom Salts. You also need to review your feeding strategy to see if that is causing the condition.
Dropsy or Malawi Bloat
Symptoms: All dropsy cases have swollen stomachs and for cichlids its called Malawi Bloat. The condition can develop over a period of time or very suddenly. Could be mistaken for constipation but with dropsy the scales may stick out away from the body.
Reason: Could be due to the internal organs of the fish failing. Also poor aquarium conditions such as high nitrate levels, high sodium chloride (salt) levels could be the main factor. Bacteria and poor diet are also other reasons for this ailment.
Treatment: No medical treatment is prescribed. Check your tank conditions by measuring all water quality parameters.
Fin Rot
Symptoms: The fins of the fish are affected. You’ll notice some inflammation of the fins (red color), and possible disintegration of the fin. And in the case of catfish the barbells (whiskers) will suffer. Fish with longer fins than others are most at risk.
Reason: Like a lot of diseases, poor water quality can lead to bacteria causing the damage. Other reasons are other fish nipping the fins or poor food diet, lacking essential nutrients.
Treatment: Make sure your water conditions are as they should be. The area of infection can be treated with a suitable bactericide such as the Maracyn products. My research also suggests that the antifungal product Gentian Violet can be applied to the damaged area once the fish has been removed from the tank and has proved successful. (In Europe I note Myxazin is specified as a bactericide).
Look out for more articles in this series on disease in your aquarium outlining the symptoms, causes and treatments available. (Dropsy photo:Taipan198 )
