Difference between revisions of "Tell if Your Fish Is Sick"

#*Saltwater fish need more maintenance and are not as hardy as most freshwater fish. Their water composition must be checked regularly. You will need special equipment, such as a hydrometer to regularly measure the specific gravity of the water as well as quality salt mixes. <ref name="rf1">http://www.aboutfishonline.com/articles/waterparam.html</ref>

#Maintain water temperature. Your tank’s temperature needs to match the needs of your fish. Keeping the tank too cold or warm will stress your fish. For example, goldfish prefer temps under 70°F, while most tropical fish need the water to be around 73-79 °F. <ref name="rf2"> http://www.aboutfishonline.com/articles/waterparam.html</ref>

<ref name="rf3">http://www.aboutfishonline.com/articles/sick-betta-fish.html</ref>

#Treat all illnesses as soon as possible. A fish specialist or veterinarian can help you decide on proper treatment for your fish and provide prescription medications. Though fish medications for most fish illnesses may be available at pet stores, many have not been evaluated or approved by CVM. For this reason, you may not be sure whether they contain the correct amount of drug or are safe and effective.  <ref name="rf4">http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AnimalVeterinary/ResourcesforYou/AnimalHealthLiteracy/UCM214189.pdf</ref>

#*Fin-rot needs to be cured quickly because it can spread to the body. Treat with warm, clean water, a few drops of garlic juice, and a product that replaces the slime coat, such as Stress Coat by API. You may need Maracyn or an antibiotic like tetracycline.<ref name="rf5">http://www.aboutfishonline.com/articles/finrot.html</ref>

#*Popeye can be treated similarly to other bacterial infections with Maracyn or tetracycline and antibiotic fish food. <ref name="rf6">http://www.aboutfishonline.com/articles/popeye.html</ref>

#* Septicemia- A combination of Maracyn, other antibiotics like Kanamycin Sulfate and antibiotic fish food is the best way to treat this.<ref name="rf7">http://nippyfish.net/sick-betta/septicemia-infection/</ref>

#Treat fungal infections. Treatment for fungal infections, such as cotton wool disease, includes salt baths using freshwater aquarium salt, an antifungal agent like phenoxyethanol or Rid Fungus. You can also try applying the anti-fungal and anti-bacterial agent, Gentian Violet. <ref name="rf8"> http://www.liveaquaria.com/PIC/article.cfm?aid=80</ref>

#*Ich can be treated with medication that is formalin based, contains malachite green, methylene blue or copper sulfate. <ref name="rf9">http://www.aboutfishonline.com/articles/ich.html</ref>

#*Body slime infection can be treated with formalin-based medication, copper sulfate or potassium permanganate. These parasites are also sensitive to salt and temperature. Raising water temperatures to 86 °F and adding salt at a dose of 0.4 to 0.7 ounce per gallon for 7-14 days can cure slime disease. <ref name="rf10">http://www.fishchannel.com/fish-health/freshwater-conditions/slime-disease.aspx</ref>

#*Velvet disease can be treated by dimming the lights of the aquarium. Since velvet is caused by a protozoan that needs chlorophyll for nutrients, a lack of light starves the organism of food.<ref name="rf11">http://www.aboutfishonline.com/articles/marinevelvet.html</ref>

#Add plants. Aquatic plants can help your aquarium establish its own natural eco-system, protect from early fish loss, release oxygen, keep algae at bay and purify your water. Plants can also make your tank look really cool! <ref name="rf12">http://www.aboutfishonline.com/articles/aquarium-plants-benefits.html</ref>

#*An aeration unit may not be required if you have healthy, aquatic plants in your tank. <ref name="rf12" />

#*Aquatic plants will use up toxic ammonia and nitrites in your tank to grow. Faster growing plants like Cabomba, Ludwigia or Egeria Densa or other stem species can remove a lot of ammonia quickly.<ref name="rf12" />

#Add algae eaters. Your fish will benefit from having algae eaters control potentially harmful algae in the tank. These include shrimps, snails, and algae-eating fish.<ref name="rf13"> http://www.aboutfishonline.com/articles/algae-eaters.html</ref>

*You can add about 1 TBS of freshwater aquarium salt (not iodized salt!) for every {{convert|5|USgal|L|sigfig=3}} of water to a freshwater tank to inhibit bacteria and fungus growth. <ref name="rf5" />