The following is a list of aquarium diseases. Aquarium fish are often susceptible to numerous diseases, due to the artificially limited and concentrated environment. New fish can sometimes introduce diseases to aquaria, and these can be difficult to diagnose and treat. Most fish diseases are also aggravated when the fish is stressed.
Common aquarium diseases include the following:
Freshwater
| Disease | Cause | Fish Affected | Image | Symptoms | Treatment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neon tetra disease | Pleistophora hyphessobryconis (Microsporidia) | Neon tetras, zebrafish, various aquarium fish | Heavily infected fish appear emaciated and lethargic. Infection targets skeletal muscle, which will appear more opaque through the skin. | [1] | ||
| Piscine tuberculosis | Mycobacterium marinum bacteria | All | Weight loss evident on underparts, with corresponding loss of appetite, papules, discoloration and bulging eyes. | Amputation[citation needed] | [2][3] | |
| Fin rot | Bacterial or Fungal | All | Erosion at edges of fins | Improve water quality. Aquarium salt baths can treat mild cases. Use anti-fungal meds if visible film/spores/tufts. Use gram-negative antibiotics otherwise. | ||
| Columnaris | Flexibacter bacteria | All |  | Cottony growth near mouth and or patches of grayish-white film on the body or fins. | Improve water conditions. Early or mild cases can be treated externally with active ingredients like chloramphenicol, nifurpirinol, nifurprazine and oxolinic acid. If late stage, meds should be given mixed with food. A antibacterial polymer like Seachem Focus can be used. Oxytetracycline and Nitrofuran should be use internally. A mixture of Kanamycin and nitrofurazone mixed with food are also a popular remedy in online forums. | |
| Swim bladder disease | Varies from constipation, physical damage or bacterial infection of the swim bladder. | All, especially balloon mollies | Inability to balance in the water, sinking or floating, belly-up | Constipation can be treated with Epsom salt baths. Frozen de-shelled blanched pea pieces can be fed as a last resort. Bacterial infections are treated with water changes and gram-negative antibiotics like Kanaplex. Often if the swim bladder has already been damaged, it cannot be repaired. | ||
| Vibrosis | Vibrio bacteria | All | Discoloration, reddish staining of fins, bulging eyes, lethargic behavior | Medicated food | ||
| Pseudomoniasis | Pseudomonas bacteria | All | Hemorrhages in mouth and ulceration on body | Medicated food | ||
| Saprolegnia | Oomycetic | All | Whitish, fur-like growths | Vitamin C enriched food, or a commercial remedy in a medical bath. Check to make sure that your fish doesn't prefer Brackish water | ||
| Egg fungus | Fungal | Eggs only | Fungal growths on eggs | Remove affected eggs. Use methylene blue to medicate the hatching tank. | ||
| Lymphocystis | Viral | All | Cauliflower-like growths and white areas around the eyes | Vaccines may be available | ||
| Iridovirus dwarf gourami disease | Viral | Gouramis, angelfish, Ramirez dwarf cichlids and others | loss of appetite. Darkening in color. Enlarged abdomen. Occasionally lymphocystis | None | ||
| Singapore angelfish diseases | Angelfish | Inactivity, loss of appetite, high and rapid mortality | None | |||
| Malawi bloat | Probably viral | Lake Malawi cichlids, especially vegetarian ones | Similar to dropsy | Offer a high-fiber diet | ||
| White spots (ich) | Ichthyophthirius multifiliis parasite | All | Small white spots, which may ulcerate | Treat water with commercially available remedies | ||
| Hole-in-the-head | Hexamita parasite | Discus and cichlids |  | Pale ulcerated area around head | Metronidazole or similar medication. Use food containing vitamin C | |
| Skin or gill flukes | Gyrodactylus and Dactylogyrus parasites | All | Labored breathing, scraping against objects, abnormal gill function | Commercially available medication | ||
| Anchor worm | Lernaea parasite | All | Visible parasites attached to body leading to ulceration and irritation | Remove parasites with forceps and use a medicated bath to prevent secondary infection. Insecticide may help. | ||
| Dropsy | All |  | Bloat, scales stick out | Constipation can be treated with Epsom salt baths. Frozen de-shelled blanched pea pieces can be fed as a last resort. Bacterial infections are treated with water changes and gram-negative antibiotics like Kanaplex. Often if the swim bladder has already been damaged, it cannot be repaired. | ||
| Tetrahymena [citation needed] | Parasite | Freshwater fish | None | |||
| Icthyobodosis | Parasite | Treatment of water with formalin, salt, and potassium permanganate or copper sulfate. | [4] | |||
| Nocardiosis | Bacteria | Successful treatment with sulphamethoxazole, doxycycline, and minocycline have been reported | [5] |
Saltwater
- Cryptocaryon (marine ich)
- Marine velvet or coral reef fish disease
- Anemonefish disease
Both
| Disease | Cause | Fish Affected | Image | Symptoms | Treatment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marine velvet | Amyloodinium parasite | All, fresh and salt water | Powdered appearance, gasping and disorganized swimming | |||
| Velvet disease | Oodinium and other parasites | All salt and freshwater fish |  | Golden dots, rubbing against rocks while swimming | [6] | |
| Septicemia or Egtved virus | Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus | Many fresh and salt water fish |  | hemorrhaging, internal and external | Virkon AQUATIC |
Quarantine
The goal of quarantine is to prevent problems in the main tank due to sickness. A quarantine tank should be used before to introduce any newly acquired animals in the main tank and to treat fish that are already sick. By doing this, the aquarist can avoid the spread of the disease and make it easier to treat the fish.[7]
See also
References
- ↑ Sanders, Justin L.; Lawrence, Christian; Nichols, Donald K.; Brubaker, Jeffrey F.; Peterson, Tracy S.; Murray, Katrina N.; Kent, Michael L. (2010-07-26). "Pleistophora hyphessobryconis (Microsporidia) infecting zebrafish Danio rerio in research facilities". Diseases of Aquatic Organisms. 91 (1): 47–56. doi:10.3354/dao02245. ISSN 0177-5103. PMC 4155925. PMID 20853741.
- ↑ Decostere, A.; Hermans, K.; Haesebrouck, F. (2004-04-19). "Piscine mycobacteriosis: a literature review covering the agent and the disease it causes in fish and humans". Veterinary Microbiology. 99 (3–4): 159–166. Bibcode:2004VetMb..99..159D. doi:10.1016/j.vetmic.2003.07.011. ISSN 0378-1135. PMID 15066718.
- ↑ Gauthier, David T.; Rhodes, Martha W. (2009-04-01). "Mycobacteriosis in fishes: A review". The Veterinary Journal. 180 (1): 33–47. doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2008.05.012. ISSN 1090-0233. PMID 18620877.
- ↑ Isaksen, Trond E.; Karlsbakk, Egil; Repstad, Oddvar; Nylund, Are (2012-12-01). "Molecular tools for the detection and identification of Ichthyobodo spp. (Kinetoplastida), important fish parasites". Parasitology International. 61 (4): 675–683. doi:10.1016/j.parint.2012.07.006. hdl:1956/9830. ISSN 1383-5769. PMID 22824336.
- ↑ Lewbart, Gregory A. (2001-01-01). "Bacteria and ornamental fish". Seminars in Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine. 10 (1): 48–56. doi:10.1053/saep.2001.19543. ISSN 1055-937X.
- ↑ Sudhagar, Arun; Sundar Raj, Nithianantham; Mohandas, Sowmya Pazhur; Serin, Shaji; Sibi, Konnoth Kuttappan; Sanil, Nandiath Karayi; Raja Swaminathan, Thangaraj (2022-11-14). "Outbreak of Parasitic Dinoflagellate Piscinoodinium sp. Infection in an Endangered Fish from India: Arulius Barb (Dawkinsia arulius)". Pathogens. 11 (11): 1350. doi:10.3390/pathogens11111350. ISSN 2076-0817. PMC 9695384. PMID 36422601.
- ↑ "How To Quarantine Aquarium Fish And Invertebrates". Aquariums Life. 2009-03-24. Archived from the original on February 6, 2010. Retrieved 2015-09-18.
Bibliography
- Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish (2005) (David Alderton), DK Publishing, ISBN 978-0756609412