Are Your Fish Sick?

Keeping a fish tank is a wonderful and relaxing hobby, but it can turn stressful if your fish start to die off. The most common cause of fish disease is poor water quality so it is vital that you perform regular maintenance on the tank, making sure you do a partial water change periodically and clean out any waste or uneaten food so it does not decay and poison the water.

Many fish disease can be halted if you provide treatment as soon as you see any signs of your fish being sick. Therefore, it is important that you monitor your fish each day to see if there are any signs of illness.

Some common symptoms of disease are listed below.

White dots ? sometimes fuzzy looking, almost like grains of salt on your fish. This disease is called Ichthyophthirius), or simply Ich. It is a rather common disease and is caused by poor water quality or can effect your fish when it's immune system is not functioning up to par due to stress. It can be treated easily if you catch it in time. There is a special solution you can buy at the pet store to medicate your tank and, hopefully, get rid of this problem.

Gray patches on the skin, looks cottony and can be around the gills. This is a fungus also caused by excess fish waste and food decaying in the bottom of the tank. You can buy treatment for it and it should clear up easily unless you have let it go too far. In the future remember to clean the tank each week so you do not have a reoccurrence.

If your fish seem like they are gasping for air, this could be simply due to lack of oxygen in the water and not necessarily a disease. You could add an airstone to see if that helps the problem. Make sure you do not overcrowd the tank with too many fish.

If you see your fish scraping itself agains the bottom of the tank or the decorations, it's possible that he has a parasite called Flukes. These attack the gills and skin and are rather difficult to get rid of once your tank is infected. Again, poor water quality will make this much worse. They do sell medication for the tank and you may be able to clear it up if you treat the tank at the first sign of trouble.

Rotting fins are sometimes seen if the fish is under stress and also if the water quality is substandard. It is a bacteria that is attacking the fins and you must treat the tank at the first sign of this problem. If possible, isolate the affected fish to another tank to prevent the bacteria from spreading.

To insure that you always have healthy fish, you should keep the tank clean and religiously perform partial water changes. This will not only keep your fish happy but will make for a better looking tank as well!

Lee Dobbins is a pet lover and owner of Fish Tank Guide.com where you can learn to setup your freshwater aquarium. Visit the site and learn more about fish disease.

---

Agility Training For Dogs

Without agility, the most muscular person in the world couldn't... Read More

Flea Control for Pets

Flea control can be a very hard thing to do... Read More

Beds for Smaller Dogs

All puppies are small dogs ? some, however, won't be... Read More

Fat Dogs - How To Get Overweight Dogs to Diet and Slim Down Without Whining

Obesity in dogs is a growing problem, which can cause... Read More

Are Exotic Cats a Threat to Public Safety? Why Exotic Pets Are Not Dangerous

I would like to address some of the statements I... Read More

Dog Health Conditions and Terms You Should Know, Part 3...

Continued from part two.Epilepsy/seizure disorderWhen your Boxer is between 2... Read More

Safety in the Fresh Air and the Outdoors for Your Cat - How To Build a Cattery

Animal welfare organizations and humane societies have been very successful... Read More

Which Parrot is Right For Me?

Which parrot is right for me? This is a question... Read More

What You Need to Know Before Adopting an Older Dog

Newer doesn't always mean better.Adopting an older dog may be... Read More

Clicker Training For Dogs: Positive Reinforcement Training

There is nothing more adorable than a new puppy. Large... Read More

17 Tips Thatll Safeguard You and Your Family From Dog Bites or Attack

Did you know that more than one million north americans... Read More

Natural Dog Shampoos are Good for Your Dogs Skin and Coat

A Healthy Skin and Coat for Your Dog ...Does your... Read More

How to Create Your Own Monster

"You've created your own monster, you know", my mother said... Read More

Safety Tips for Moving With Pets

Which kind is your pet? The pooch who is the... Read More

Whats In Your Dog Food?

According to holistic veternarian Dr. Jane Bicks, the maximum life... Read More

Got Fleas? How to Spot and Care For Fleas on Your Dog

Your poor pooch is scratching himself all over. Plus, you... Read More

A Moving Experience: Making Your Move Easy on Your Parrots

Moving is about as stressful a time as any in... Read More

Practical Advice for Adopting a Dog

If you are thinking of adding a dog to your... Read More

Introducing a New Kitten to Your Older Cat.

So, you read somewhere that introducing a new kitten into... Read More

How Intelligent is Your Dog

It is entirely normal to look for signs of intelligence... Read More

Protecting Your Child from a Dog Bite

Dogs make great loyal pets and are always pleased to... Read More

Are You Really Ready For a Boxer Dog?

The answer is "no" if you are the type who... Read More

Vet Check - Well-Bird Check Up

I know there are differing opinions on the subject of... Read More

How To Stop Your Horse From Rearing And What To Do If He Does It Unexpectedly

There is a dangerous problem that horse owners should be... Read More

Mind-Set: The Second Of 6 Keys To Building A Life Long Partnership With Your Horse

Your mind-set, approach and way of thinking (beliefs) are critical... Read More

Preparing For Your New Dog - What You Need to Know Before He Comes Home

Preparing yourself and your household before, during, and after your... Read More

Worms in Your Dog... Gross!

Of all the parasites a dog can catch, worms take... Read More

Ten Tips for Caring for Your Betta Fish

Betta fish, also called Siamese fighting fish are one of... Read More

Dog Doors: Giving Your Pet Freedom to Come and Go as They Please Helps Solve Behavior Problems

Dog DoorsWhen we think of dog doors, we think of... Read More

Problem Barking-What to Do When Your Dogs Barking is The Neighborhood Nuisance

Puppies and dogs, as mentioned, are social creatures. When they... Read More

Nervous Cats, Wining the Trust of a Timid Cat

Nervous cats hide from people, they do not readily present... Read More

Crate Training for Puppies and Dogs

Wondering how to begin crate training your puppy or dog,... Read More

Toys are GOOD for your dog

Did you know that dog toys are actually good for... Read More