Common Aquarium Fish Illness and Their Treatment

I think that least desirable situation for your aquarium that your fish could get sick and die because of diseases.

Today I will inform you about common aquarium fish diseases which are secret hazard for your aquarium.

If you realize that symptom of diseases you have a chance to cure your fish. But you must be always careful when you check your fish.

Let's start.

Freshwater Ich (White Spot) (Ichthyophthirius Multifiliis)

It is too common disease and lots of aquarium owner probably face with it. Main reason for it parasites and if you do not take action, it can be mortal for your fish. If you do not control this disease it may pass over one fish to whole aquarium because it is fast spanning over parasite. Confusions on the body, fin and gill, may also effect movement and vantilation of your fish.

Signs: White spots on the body of fish, fin and gill. And each white spot includes parasite.

Factor: Cause of this disease is unicellular which named Ichthyophthirius.

Treatment: If you are in doubt about one of your fish get Ich, you must directly isolate it from the main tank. Main treatment method is daily application of Ich Medicine and daily water change in your quarantine tank. It is also recommended that application of medicine to main tank for both to clear your mind and decrease the chance infection to other fishes in your tank. And clear all aquarium decoration, filtration and an other equipments.

Protection: Select confidential petshops and purchase healty fish. Quarantine new fishes before transfer them to main tank. Always observe aquarium parameters to prevent parasite colonization.

Fin Rot

Fin rot is an other common fish disease. Its start at the edge of the fin and if not treated when fin ends it pass through the body of fish. Fin rot is common for large fin fish like bettas.

Signs: Edges of the fin become darker and fins fray. Base of fin seems gleety. White spot on fin like Ich.

Factor: Fin rot can be because of bacterial infection which named pseudomonas fluorescens or fungal infection. With out infection, you can also face with fin rot. Poor diet, injury, stress in aquarium and aquarium parameters may stimulate fin rot.

Treatment: Take out the fish and place it to qyarantine tank. Start to use phenoxyethanol, malachite green or methylene blue. Measure water parameters and correct them by using proper agent. Arrange water temperature. If the reason of fin rot is bacterical or fungal, in high temperatures they reproduce much more faster. Arrange number of fish according to your tank size.

Protection: Always check water condition and do regular water change. Do not give overdose food. Keep constant the water temperature. Quarantine new fishes before transfer them to main tank.

Dropsy

Dropsy is like edema. Your fish starts to seem like puffy.

Signs: It differ fish to fish but in general fish seems like bigger and puffy. Their eyes bulge and gills become pale.

Factor: Poor water quality, sudden change in temperature, stress and quality of food. And also bacterical and fungal diseases may be the reason of it.

Treatment: Again same take fishes to quarantine tank. Check the main aquarium general condition and parameters. Apply needed changes in aquarium. Use good quality foods. If it is needed give some antibiotics.
Protection: Do not overfeed your fishes. Use different type of food to support their digestion system. Take care of your fish compatibility and number in aquarium. Clean regularly both aquarium and filtration system. And also do not forget regular change of aquarium water.

Swim Bladder Disorder (Flipover)

Swim bladder is an organ which gives an ability to fish control their swim level without spent an energy. 

Signs: They can not swim regular. Generally they float upside down. If there is high water flow because of filtration motor, they sway from side to side.

Factor: Birth defect, compression of other enlarged organs. Too much food and air could be reason of it. And also constipation and intestinal parasites.

Treatment: Do not give food for 2-3 days by observing their condition. Increase water temperature to help their digestion. If starve is not work, you may use antibiotics.

Protection: To avoid swim bladder disorder you must feed your fish planned. Use quality food and take care of aquarium cleaning.

Gill/Skin Flukes

Your fish skin seem like flaking because of parasite.

Signs: Lost of color, red skin, rapid vantilation, blood spots.

Factor: Cause of this illness is parasite that named dactylogyrus.

Treatment: Keep effected fish in quarantine tank and start antibiotics. It is also recommended that increasing salinity rate of water.

Protection: Place new fishes quarantine tank before transfer them to main tank. Live foods may includes parasite so that take life food from trusted petshops.

To Sum Up

If you want to keep your aquarium healty and protected from the illnesses;

- Choose quality feed

- Choose trustful petshop

- Keep clean your aquarium

- Keep new fishes in quarantine before placing to main tank

- Always control water parameters.

TYPES OF AQUARIUM FILTER / Basic to Complex

There are many types of aquarium filter with different function.

We can seperate aquarium filter in to 3 according to their function.

• Mechanic Filtration: desingned to catch particles in the aquarium water.
• Chemical Filtration: filter chemical impurities which like caused by food adulteration.
• Biological Filtration: helps to nitogen cycle and provides enough space for the grow of beneficial bacterias.

Basic to Complex Aquarium Filters

Up to now we learned function of aquarium filters. Now let’s look at types of aquarium filter from basic to complex.

Sponge/Air Driven Filter

Sponge/Air Driven Filter

The most basic aquarium filter. We can not classify this as a mechanic, chemical and biological because they do not do much this functions. You can use this filter for breeding, fry, nursery, hospital, small fish and invertebrates tanks.

Sponge filters’ working princable is to basic. It is powered with air pump and air starts to flow through tube in the center of filter. This flow force the water pull through sponge and filtration done this way.

Price Range: $1.00 - $25.00

Hang on Back (HOB) Filter

HOB Filter

This type of filter used commonly because it can provide mechanical, biological and chemical filtration at the same time.

You can hang over it to the back or the sides of aquarium. They suck water in the aquarium through their siphone and give back the water to aquarium over their waterfall.

Suck water pass through filter material and according to filter materials, they can provide different type of filtration.

Price Range: $10.00 - $180.00

Internal Filter

Internal Filter

Internal filters have dense structure. Because of that it is good to use them in small sized and nano aquariums. You can easily stick to the sides of aquarium.

They provide good mechanical, chemical and biological filtration for small sized aquariums. If you place an airline it can give air which produced movement of water to aquarium.

Price Range: $10.00 - $110.00

Undergravel Filter

Undergravel Filter

As you can understand from the name of filter, it is placed under the gravel of aquarium. It pulls water through the gravel.

Water pass through gravel and by this way mechanical filtration happen. We can not talk chemical and biological filtration very definitely.

Note: You must mix up the gravel over on the filter. If not, particules may collect over your gravel.

Price Range: $8.00 - $60.00

Canister Filter

Canister Filter

Canister filters are common for big size aquarium. They provide good chemical, mechanical and biological filtration. Because they have bigger size comparing with internal and HOB filters.

According to material inside of canister filter easily at same time as chemically, mechanically and biologically. By the help of siphon it draw water inside and water pass through the different filter materials and turn back to aquarium.

You can use this type of filter for every type of aquarium (salt, fresh and planted) with inner peace.

Price Range: $30.00 - $500.00

Wet/Dry Filter

Wet/Dry Filter

Wet/dry filters also called trickle filter. 

Setup of this type of aquarium is onerous but especially for salt aquarium it provides excellent biological filtration. Because it provides large area for beneficial bacteria grow.

It also do good chemical filtration with the material in the medium. But its mechanical filtration is limitted.

Price Range: $50.00 - $500.00

Fluidized Bed Filter

Fluidized Bed Filter

By the help of water pump water pumped into filter tube. Filter tube includes granules like sand, plastic or silica.

They provides good biological filtration, moderate mechanical filtration and not good chemical filtration.

Prize Range: $50.00 - $150.00

To Sum Up

According to your needs you can select one of these filters. Do not forget each aquarium needs a filter. Filtration is vital for aquarium fishes.

BLACK TETRA [GYMNOCORYMBUS TERNETZI] [CHARACIDAE]

After a short break I will continue to inform you about aquarium fishes starting with Black Tetra.

General Specifications

Latin Name: Gymnocorymbus ternetzi.

Geographic Origin: South America, Amazon River, Negro river, Argentine river.

Living Area: Small, slow-flowing rivers, particularly dangling tree branches and shrubs.

Nutrition Format: They show more interest in plant foods than other tetra species. For this reason, vegetable feeding should not be neglected as much as it feeds on animal foods.

Behavior: Peaceful

Behavior to Their Type: Peaceful

Swimming Level: Medium-Surface

Gender Discrimination: Sex discrimination is not easy. If reproduction is considered, it should be taken in groups. Females are bigger, have longer fins. Men's colors are darker.

Reproduction 

Spreading eggs. It's easy. The temperature is 28-30 ° C. Eggs can be prevented from ejaculating by stretching the bottom web. After breeding, the adult fish should definitely take another aquarium. The offspring come out from the egg 18-36 hours. After a few days they start swimming freely. For the first few days, the offspring must feed on infuseria. Then you can use microworm and artemia. Aquariums should be as dark as possible because they are sensitive to light and eggs.

Living Medium

Temperature: 23 - 28 ° C

Maximum Sizes: 6 cm.

Water Hardness: 2 - 20 ° d

pH: 5.5 - 7.0

General Comments: 

It should be viewed in at least six groups as it is in all tetra groups. When they feed in the form of herds, the fish are the ones that can get very comfortable. They are durable fish when appropriate water conditions are met. They can be seen in bituminous aquariums. Next to the plants, mangrove roots and hiding places should be formed. The level of the plants should be up to the level of love that this swim is swimming in. In the habitat, it is made to look at an aquarium where the plants are floating in the light current and the light is formed by the shadows.

GIANT HATCHETFISH [GASTEROPELECIDAE] [THORACOCHARAX SECURIS]

General Specifications

Latin Name: Thoracocharax Securis.

Geographic Origin: Central Amazon Region
Living Area: Fast flowing planted waters.

Nutrition Format: Carnivorous. Small live feeds and dry feed which plenty of protein should be given.

Behavior: Peaceful

Behavior to Their Type: Peaceful

Swimming Level: Surface

Gender Discrimination: Men's are bigger.

Reproduction

No specific information

Living Medium

Temperature: 23 ° C to 30 ° C

Maximum Sizes: 9 cm.

Water Hardness: Soft - Medium

pH: 6.0 - 7.5

General Comments: They should be fed with at least 6 doses. They are splashed very well, so that the aquarium should be covered well. Their life span is 5 years.

Stress in aquarium.

What is Stress?

Most fish are animals that can adapt to most of conditions, but this does not mean that they can live as healthy as their habitats in any environment. If you feed it on inappropriate conditions, but the body functions of the fish slow down or speed up to ensure that this life is sustainable. This function change is called stress. Stress reduces the resistance of the fish to diseases and prevents the fish from treating itself in situations such as injuries. On top of all this, stress can lead to respiratory problems in fish. Stress at a given level may be treatable and not fatal, but stress in high parameters can be absolutely fatal.

What are the causes of stress?

1. It is a source of stress that the value per liter of water per fish in the tank is less than the fish needs.
2. The water pH and kH state is not a type of stress source.
3. Some species live in salt water in small quantities, while others can not. The mistake in salt balance is a source of stress.
4. Feeding peaceful and aggressive species together is a source of stress.
5. Untreated water use is a source of stress.
6. Sudden changes in water conditions are a source of stress.
7. The species that show herd life are stress sources only.
8. The amount of oxygen dissolved in water is a source of stress.
9. It is a source of stress that the content of feed and nutrients used is not suitable.
10. High drug use is a source of stress.
11. The increase in ammonia, nitrite and nitrate in the water is a source of stress.
12. It is a source of stress that the gore is high to low on the type you are fed by your water temperature.

What are the stress statements?

Briefly, we can say fish behavior disorders. I felt the need to expand this brief summary so that I could make a diagnosis in individuals who did not know the normal behavior of the fish.

1. If the fish is standing on the surface of the water trying to breathe
2. If fish are constantly hiding
3. If open wounds are not healing, if fins are melting
4. If there is external parasitic disease in the fish, it is highly probable that your fish has stress.

How is stress relieved?

It is more difficult to relief stress than obstruction. In short, it is necessary to prevent the stress conditions that I gave above 12 items. After the strase is inserted, it is again determined which of the above 12 items is the stress source and then it is treated by eliminating this source.

Angelfish [Pterophyllum Scalare]

General Specifications

Latin Name: Pterophyllum scalare.

Geographic Origin: Colombia, Suriname, French Guyana, Peru and Brazil. Rio Oyapock, Rio Essequibo, Rio Ucayali, Rio SolimÃμes and the main Amazon basin. It is also found in various rivers in the Amapá region of Brazil.
Living Area: Swamps or submerged areas live in clean or clayey waters where the aquatic or riverside vegetation cover is intense. The colors become darker in clean waters.

Nutrition Format: Both carnivorous and herbivorous. They are predominantly fed with small crustaceans such as Zoobentosa and other aquatic invertebrates. Unlike their ancestors, angels raised in an aquarium environment accept scales and granules. They also like live and frozen food.

Behavior: Moderate aggressive.

Behavior to Their Type: Moderate aggressive.

Swimming Level: Medium - Surface

Gender Discrimination: Men's heads are more humbling. A definite distinction can be made at the time of tube removal. The tube of the men is thinner and pointed; The womens are thicker and rounded.

Reproduction

Flat eggs on a vertical surface, a large plant leaf, mother and father protect the eggs together. Putting 10-15 fish together for breeding and choosing a partner from them will increase the likelihood of success.

Living Medium

Temperature: 24 ° C to 30 ° C

Maximum Sizes: 10 cm.

Minimum Aquarium Capacity: 1150 liters, the height of the aquarium should be at least 40 cm.

Water Hardness: 0 - 15 ° dH (Very Soft - Hard)

pH: 6.0 - 7.4

General Comments: They are flashy fish. Most hobbyists feed in the aquarium. They are not dangerous for the fish of the length that you can not hunt. Great Angels swallow small fish like Neon. There are angels in many different colors and body forms. It is not appropriate to look with species such as guppy, Japanese fish. In good condition they grow rapidly. It is not recommended to feed with discus. Aquariums can be planted with plants such as Echinodorus. They enjoy the low-calm waters. In addition to the standard silver variety, there are a number of varieties such as black, gold and koi.

Yucatan Molly [Poecilia Velifera] [Poeciliidae]

General Specifications

Latin Name: Poecilia velifera.

Geographic Origin: Central America, Mexico, Yukatan.

Nutrition Format: Both carnivorous and herbivorous. Small creatures and algae on the water.

Behavior: Moderate aggressive.

Behavior to Their Type: Only 1 male is recommended in the aquarium.

Swimming Level: Medium - Surface

Gender Discrimination: Men are more colorful and upper fins are more advanced. Men have gonopods.

Reproduction

Live birth (with the tearing of the egg immediately after it has left the belly of the fish).

Living Medium

Temperature: 25 ° C to 28 ° C

Maximum Sizes: 15 cm.

Minimum Aquarium Capacity: 100 liters. Tanks of at least 300 liters are required to reach large dimensions.

Water Hardness: 13 - 19 ° dH

pH: 7.5 - 8.0

General Comments: The water of the aquariums should be bitter because they live close to the parts where the river flows into the sea. Throwing a tea spoon salt into 50 liters will provide both bitter water conditions and will also make the fish resistant to the mantle and white bean. In the aquarium, 3 female and 1 male are recommended. When more than 2 males are placed, the dominant male can crush other velifera. Their reproduction is a little tougher than the other live births, the offspring can be fed with artemia and powdered feed. The male's back fins are very important for fish during the reproduction period, and in small volume aquariums, the fish do not develop this fin.