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*COMMON FRESHWATER DISEASES*
ANCHOR WORMS	SYMPTOMS: Threadlike worms hanging from the fish, the base of the worm may be red. TREATMENT: This is caused by a parasitic crustacean. It can be treated with Parasite Guard or Coppersafe. Heavy aeration is needed because dead parasites can cause the water to become cloudy.
ARGULUS	SYMPTOMS: Quarter inch bubble like lumps slowly moving on the skin and fins. TREATMENT: This is caused by a parasitic crustacean. It can be treated with Parasite Guard or Coppersafe.
BLACK SPOT	SYMPTOMS: Small black specks on skin. TREATMENT: This is a parasitic disease caused by Diplostomulum (small fish worms). It can be treated with Parasite Guard or Coppersafe. Heavy aeration is needed because dead parasites can cause the water to become cloudy.
CLOUDY EYE	SYMPTOMS: The eye developes a cloudy, white film over it. TREATMENT: It may be a bacterial problem or caused by poor water quality. If it is bacterial an Antibiotic such as Tetracycline or TriSulfa may help. Other medications that may be used are Maracyn-Two and Fungus Eliminator. Regular water changes may help reduce the problem as well.
COLUMNARIS	SYMPTOMS: White cotton sprouting from fins or body.. TREATMENT: This is a bacterial disease. It can be treated with Fungus Guard or Fungus Eliminator or with MarOxy. It can be spread to other fish and other aquariums by using the same net.
DROPSY	SYMPTOMS: The body will have general swelling and the scales often protrude, resembling a pinecone. The eyes may also bulge. Dropsy is a bacterial disease that attacks almost all the internal organs of the fish, causing fluids to concentrate in body tissue or cavities. Tuberculosis causes similar symptoms as Dropsy. TREATMENT: From what I have read, Dropsy is not very contagious, although I have never been able to cure it. The best treatment for this is gram negative Antibiotics such Furan or Kanamycin Sulfate. I have also read that Maracyn-Two may be used. Treatment in a hospital tank is recommended.
FIN AND TAIL ROT	SYMPTOMS: The tail and/or fins are frayed or ragged. It usually attacks weak or slightly damaged fin edges and eventually works its way toward the body. TREATMENT: This is caused by fungus or a bacteria. Treatment should be done in a hospital tank with an Antibiotic that is made to treat this disease. It can be treated with Maracyn, Binox and Fungus Eliminator. I have had success treating this with Fungus Eliminator.
FUNGUS (GREY)	SYMPTOMS: A light grey cottony patch on any part of the fish. TREATMENT: This is a parasitic fungus. It can be treated with Fungus Guard or Ick Guard. It can be spread to other fish and other aquariums by using the same net.
FUNGUS (WHITE)	SYMPTOMS: A white cottony growth or patch on any part of the fish.. TREATMENT: This is caused by a bacteria. I have found fungus is easily treated when caught in time. I have had success using Fungus Eliminator, MarOxy and Fungus Guard can also be used. It can be spread to other fish and other aquariums by using the same net.
GILL FLUKES	SYMPTOMS: The fish scrapes itself against objects, gills pump fast and may appear red, the gills or fins may be eaten away, mucous covers the gills or body. TREATMENT: It is caused by small gill parasites. It can be treated with Coppersafe and Parasite Guard. Heavy aeration is needed because dead parasites can cause the water to become cloudy.
HEMORRHAGIC SEPTICEMIA	SYMPTOMS: Red streaks on fins usually near the body with no signs of skin damage. TREATMENT: It is caused by a bacteria. It can be treated with Fungus Eliminator and Maracyn-Two.
HOLE-IN-THE-HEAD	SYMPTOMS: This is a parasitic disease which affects the head and/or lateral line. The fish has tiny round holes in the head area, usually with stringy-looking white worms inside the holes. Discus and other large cichlids, especially Oscars, are especially prone to HITH. It is said that this is caused by feeding feeder fish in the diet, but poor water quality and poor diet can contribute to the spread of this disease. Often the fish will stop eating. TREATMENT: I have never had to treat HITH but an effective treatment is the drug Metronidazol. I have also read that Hole-In-The-Head Guard works well. If the fish is eating combining a medicated food which contains Metronidazol will also help. It is recommended to treat in a hospital tank. Even though I have never treated HITH, I did have a very similar, horrible disease afflict one of my Discus and I used Parasite Clear tablets to cure him.
ICK	SYMPTOMS: Little white dots resembling salt or sugar granules. This is probably the most common parasitic disease among tropical fish. It is almost always present in aquariums and can become visible if the fish's resistance is weakened from poor water conditions, overcrowding, stress or an improper diet. A new fish that has recently been added to the tank can also be a carrier of ick. The best prevention is to maintain optimum water quality and quarantine any new fish before adding them to your tank, this will enable you to observe the new arrival and monitor them for an diseases. TREATMENT: Treating ick can be done in a hospital tank, although I prefer to treat the entire tank to prevent any tankmates from becoming infected. There are many ICK medications such as Clout, Malachite Green, Ick Guard and Coppersafe. Personally I have had the best success with Coppersafe.
INTERNAL PARASITES	SYMPTOMS: Fish may act listless, turn darker in color, have a loss of appetite, lose weight and have long, white, stringy feces. TREATMENT: In my opinion internal parasites are difficult to cure, although not impossible. Metronidizol is the most common medication used to treat this disease. I have had success using Parasite Clear tablets in combination with medicated flake food that contains Metronidizol, if the fish will eat.
ITCHING A.K.A. FLASHING	SYMPTOMS: The fish will scratch on objects in the tank. TREATMENT: This is a skin irritation caused by tiny skin parasites. It can be treated with Coppersafe, Parasite Guard or Ick Guard. It can be spread to other fish and other aquariums by using the same net.
MOUTH ROT	SYMPTOMS: The flesh is eaten away around the mouth. TREATMENT: This is caused by a fungus or bacteria. It can be treated with Fungus Eliminator, Maracyn, MarOxy or Binox. It can be spread to other fish and other aquariums by using the same net.
POPEYE	SYMPTOMS: One or both eyes protrude from the socket. This may be caused from, fighting, bacteria, tumor or over-aerated water. If left untreated, the eye may bulge out so far that the eye can pop out of the socket, resulting in the loss of an eye. TREATMENT: If it was caused by over-aeration, turn the power head water stream adjustment to its lowest setting. Temporarily shut off the air to the power heads, and allow the air pump to be the only source of air. Observe the Popeye for a few days, if this was the problem, the eye should begin to recede. If no improvement is noticed, it may be because the problem is bacterial. Medications that may help are Furan, Kanamycin Sulfate, Tetracycline and Maracyn-Two. Treatment in a hospital tank is reccommended.
SWIM BLADDER DISEASE	SYMPTOMS: The fish has a buoyancy problem and may float to the surface, sink to the bottom, swim with it's head down, do somersaults through the water or do headstands in the gravel. In the later stages of the disease, the fish may lose its balance or swim upside down. The key to swim bladder diagnosis is that no other signs of disease are present and the water conditions are ideal. Since enviromental conditions can affect the equilibrium of the fish, pay special attention to the density and temperature of the water. TREATMENT: There is no specific medical treatment for swim bladder disorder and I have never been able to cure this disease. If the origin of the problem is not from disease, a fish may recover on it's own. If the water conditions are normal and the fish is eating, and no signs or symptoms are noticed, the cause may be from a bacterial infection. The best treatment to try is a broad spectrum gram negative Antibiotic such as Furan or Kanamycin Sulfate. Treatment in a hospital tank is recommended.
TAIL ROT	SYMPTOMS: The tail is eaten away with red area next to the body. TREATMENT: This is caused by fungus and bacteria. It can be treated with Fungus Eliminator, Binox, Maracyn or MarOxy. It can be spread to other fish and other aquariums by using the same net.
VELVET	SYMPTOMS: Very small white speckles on fish, it resembles a dusting of fine powder. The white pustules are finer than that of ick and are located mainly on the body of the fish. It can be caused by poor water quality as well as by stress or chilling during transportation. TREATMENT: This is caused by parasitic algae. Velvet is suppose to be easier to cure than Ick because the life cycle is shorter. I have never had to treat this disease but some medications used for treatment are Velvet Guard, Coppersafe, Maracide and Super Velvet.

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***COMMON FRESHWATER DISEASES***

ANCHOR WORMS

SYMPTOMS: Threadlike worms hanging from the fish, the base of the worm may be red.TREATMENT: This is caused by a parasitic crustacean. It can be treated with Parasite Guard or Coppersafe. Heavy aeration is needed because dead parasites can cause the water to become cloudy.

ARGULUS

SYMPTOMS: Quarter inch bubble like lumps slowly moving on the skin and fins.TREATMENT: This is caused by a parasitic crustacean. It can be treated with Parasite Guard or Coppersafe.

BLACK SPOT

SYMPTOMS: Small black specks on skin.TREATMENT: This is a parasitic disease caused by Diplostomulum (small fish worms). It can be treated with Parasite Guard or Coppersafe. Heavy aeration is needed because dead parasites can cause the water to become cloudy.

CLOUDY EYE

COLUMNARIS

SYMPTOMS: White cotton sprouting from fins or body..TREATMENT: This is a bacterial disease. It can be treated with Fungus Guard or Fungus Eliminator or with MarOxy. It can be spread to other fish and other aquariums by using the same net.

DROPSY

FIN AND TAIL ROT

FUNGUS (GREY)

SYMPTOMS: A light grey cottony patch on any part of the fish.TREATMENT: This is a parasitic fungus. It can be treated with Fungus Guard or Ick Guard. It can be spread to other fish and other aquariums by using the same net.

FUNGUS (WHITE)

GILL FLUKES

HEMORRHAGIC SEPTICEMIA

SYMPTOMS: Red streaks on fins usually near the body with no signs of skin damage.TREATMENT: It is caused by a bacteria. It can be treated with Fungus Eliminator and Maracyn-Two.

HOLE-IN-THE-HEAD

ICK

INTERNAL PARASITES

ITCHING A.K.A. FLASHING

SYMPTOMS: The fish will scratch on objects in the tank.TREATMENT: This is a skin irritation caused by tiny skin parasites. It can be treated with Coppersafe, Parasite Guard or Ick Guard. It can be spread to other fish and other aquariums by using the same net.

MOUTH ROT

SYMPTOMS: The flesh is eaten away around the mouth.TREATMENT: This is caused by a fungus or bacteria. It can be treated with Fungus Eliminator, Maracyn, MarOxy or Binox. It can be spread to other fish and other aquariums by using the same net.

POPEYE

SWIM BLADDER DISEASE

TAIL ROT

SYMPTOMS: The tail is eaten away with red area next to the body.TREATMENT: This is caused by fungus and bacteria. It can be treated with Fungus Eliminator, Binox, Maracyn or MarOxy. It can be spread to other fish and other aquariums by using the same net.

VELVET

COMMON FRESHWATER DISEASES

SYMPTOMS: Threadlike worms hanging from the fish, the base of the worm may be red.

TREATMENT: This is caused by a parasitic crustacean. It can be treated with Parasite Guard or Coppersafe. Heavy aeration is needed because dead parasites can cause the water to become cloudy.

SYMPTOMS: Quarter inch bubble like lumps slowly moving on the skin and fins.

TREATMENT: This is caused by a parasitic crustacean. It can be treated with Parasite Guard or Coppersafe.

SYMPTOMS: Small black specks on skin.

TREATMENT: This is a parasitic disease caused by Diplostomulum (small fish worms). It can be treated with Parasite Guard or Coppersafe. Heavy aeration is needed because dead parasites can cause the water to become cloudy.

SYMPTOMS: White cotton sprouting from fins or body..

TREATMENT: This is a bacterial disease. It can be treated with Fungus Guard or Fungus Eliminator or with MarOxy. It can be spread to other fish and other aquariums by using the same net.

SYMPTOMS: A light grey cottony patch on any part of the fish.

TREATMENT: This is a parasitic fungus. It can be treated with Fungus Guard or Ick Guard. It can be spread to other fish and other aquariums by using the same net.

SYMPTOMS: Red streaks on fins usually near the body with no signs of skin damage.

TREATMENT: It is caused by a bacteria. It can be treated with Fungus Eliminator and Maracyn-Two.

SYMPTOMS: The fish will scratch on objects in the tank.

TREATMENT: This is a skin irritation caused by tiny skin parasites. It can be treated with Coppersafe, Parasite Guard or Ick Guard. It can be spread to other fish and other aquariums by using the same net.

SYMPTOMS: The flesh is eaten away around the mouth.

TREATMENT: This is caused by a fungus or bacteria. It can be treated with Fungus Eliminator, Maracyn, MarOxy or Binox. It can be spread to other fish and other aquariums by using the same net.

SYMPTOMS: The tail is eaten away with red area next to the body.

TREATMENT: This is caused by fungus and bacteria. It can be treated with Fungus Eliminator, Binox, Maracyn or MarOxy. It can be spread to other fish and other aquariums by using the same net.