subject: Understand Which Fish Medicines Are Best Used For Different Diseases [print this page] It is possible for various ailments and diseases to effect fish that live in ponds, lakes, and open water. There can be various causes, some of which are preventable and others treatable. If you have a serious problem with the health of the fish in your garden pond then you may need to get hold of the right type of Fish medicines .
To start with it is important tat you can identify when there is a problem. If you were to wait too long then the result can be an epidemic of disease which depletes your fish population dramatically. If possible always isolate sick fish from others as this will prevent contagious sicknesses from spreading. You can minimize the risk considerably if you were to ensure that the water quality remains optimum throughout the seasons.
You can reduce the occurrence of illness in fish by understanding exactly the right kind of food to give and the correct amount. The balance of minerals and vitamins will not be the same for all species. Also overfeeding can lead to serious problems and even fatalities.
One of the most common ailments that can strike freshwater fish is white spot disease, otherwise known as ichthyophtyrius. This would be apparent by the development of white spots on the gills, fins and skin. Ichthyophtyrius is actually a parasite. When infected the fish will move their gills more rapidly and try to scratch against plants and other objects to bring relief. This disease can be caused by poor water quality. Fortunately you can cure your fish of this condition by using malachite green. Just be warned that this medicine will be toxic to any invertebrates that also live in the water body.
Another sickness that can have a serious impact on stocks is fish fungus. This is actually caused by the parasite saprolegnia which wounds the fish's outer protective layer. It is noticeable by a grey or white cotton like substance on the fins and body. It is possible to cure the infection by using malachite green chloride.
If the density of fish in the pond is too high, or the water quality too poor, the result can be bacterial fin rot. Over time the fins can completely disappear resulting in an infected stump. You can fix this condition by reducing the number of fish present in the water and treating those that are remaining with antibiotics and medications such as tetracycline.
A problem that can affect various fish species in the warm spring and summer months are external parasites. This is more common in muddy and stagnant ponds that make the perfect habitat for worms and leeches. Though not a pleasant situation to deal with, it is possible to cure any infected individuals with a course of mercurochrome.
One of the most dangerous diseases that can develop in pond fish is dropsy. This may be caused by poor quality food or too much fish excrement being in the water. An infected fish would appear bloated and should be removed from the pond and isolated. Fish that have dropsy can be brought back to health with antibiotics.
Understand Which Fish Medicines Are Best Used For Different Diseases
