Flukes

DISEASE FLUKES

Highly contagious external parasites belonging to the classes 

Trematoda and Cestoda species in the family Dactylogyridae parasitise 

the gills and digestive tract.

SYMPTOMS

Fishes show signs of extreme skin/gill irritability, continually scratching and scraping on rocks etc., and "flicking" the pelvic and dorsal fins against the side of the body. Gill plates are clamped or close tight or not functioning when breathing. 

TREATMENT

Do 75% water change and treat the tank with formalin (Quick Cure, Formalite III and Livebearer) Feed sparingly and wash all filtrations. These diseases are extremely contagious.

PREVENTION

Maintain a much higher standard of aquasystem hygiene. Water change, water change and more water change. Always quarantine doubtful looking fish. Avoid cross-tank contamination. Washing hand with anti-bacterial soap before or after touching sick or dead fish. Bleach all tanks/accessories after fish died or healed.

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Velvet Disease

VELVET DISEASE

CAUSES & SYMPTOMS

• This condition is caused by a fungus living in your tank.
• Poor water quality causes this fungus to thrive in your tank.
• If your fish is affected, he may stop swimming, and he may begin to look ill.

TREATMENT

Add Copper Sulfate (Blue Crystal) to your tank. Be sure to use the ratio of 1 g Copper Sulfate and 0.25g Citric Acid to 1 litre of distilled water. Dosage instructions: 12.5 ml to 10 litres of aquarium water for 10 days. Administer half of this on days three, five and seven.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES:

• Change your water regularly.
• Quarantine new fish for three to four weeks.
• Avoid cross-tank contamination.

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Air Bladder Disease

AIR BLADDER DISEASE

CAUSES & SYMPTOMS

• This condition is caused by a number of things, but the most likely problems are a virus or a bacterial infection.
• If your fish has this condition, you may notice they have trouble swimming correctly, or they tend to swim upside down.

TREATMENT

• Because it can be hard to determine the cause of this problem, it can also be difficult to treat it, but in general, an antibiotic agent should take care of the problem.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES:

• Change your water regularly.
• Quarantine new fish for three to four weeks.
• Avoid cross-tank contamination.

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Dropsy

DROPSY

CAUSES & SYMTOMS

• This condition is caused by a bacterial infection.
• Poor water quality, overcrowding, and stress can make your fish more susceptible to this condition.
• If your fish is affected, he may appear bloated and stop eating

TREATMENT

· Do not add aquarium salt to your tank.

· Use a commercially prepared treatment available at your local pet shop.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES:

• Change your water regularly.
• Quarantine new fish for three to four weeks to avoid the introduction of new, dangerous bacteria.
• Avoid cross-tank contamination.

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Mouth, body and tail fungus

MOUTH-BODY AND TAIL FUNGUS

CAUSES & SYMPTOMS

• This condition is caused by Saproglenia and other related bacteria.
• Bad water quality only causes these kinds of bacteria to thrive.
• Sudden changes in the water condition can also cause this condition in your fish.
• If your fish has this condition, you will notice cotton like tufts at the mouth, body, fin and tail.
• You may also notice your fish losing weight.

TREATMENT

• Add Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Aquarium Salt to your tank.
• Adding Jungle Labs Fungus Eliminator will also help.
• Be sure to treat the whole tank, but quarantine the most seriously ill fish.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES:

• Change your water regularly.
• Quarantine new fish for three to four weeks.
• Avoid cross-tank contamination.

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