Pet Topics

Pet owners everywhere have to contend with diseases and their pets. Making sure our pets are at their best is a priority for anyone who cares for their animals. There are even health concerns within fish tanks.

Tropical fish disease often can wipe out nearly an entire tank of exotic well tended fish. Some tropical fish disease can be treated if caught early enough. Being on the lookout for tropical fish disease is a pro-active step in keeping a fish tank healthy.

Fin Rot

Fin rot is a tropical fish disease that affects the fins of the fish. They will look inflamed and infected. The fin may eventually fall off. The course of treatment involves antibiotics, topical treatment and trimming the fin to limit damage. If treated properly fin rot can be controlled and the fish will survive.

Chilodonella

Chilodonella is another tropical fish disease. This one is caused by a parasite, and can inflect major damage to a fish tank. When infected the fish will look as though they have labored breathing, cloudy skin, loss of appetite and the fish become very lethargic.

To treat this tropical fish disease the fish is bathed in a specific formula that will kill the parasite. The treatment is usually very successful, but early signs for the parasite need to be watched for. There are other parasites that can cause similar injuries to fish and this need to also be watched for.

Different Treatments

Sometimes a fish with a tropical fish disease will need to be bathed or dipped into an antibiotic treatment bath. This is not necessarily an effective treatment for internal infestation, but often can help relieve the external symptoms the fish may have developed including ulcers.

Tropical fish disease can also be treated by injecting the fish with antibiotics. This works well in fish that have bacterial infections. Medicated food can also be used to help get the fish to ingest important antibiotics.

There are a variety of tropical fish diseases and it is important to find a veterinarian that can treat these types of unique diseases. Ask at pet stores and through friends to locate a veterinarian who has training with tropical fish disease.

Keeping our pets healthy is a priority for most pet owners, and fish are no different. Making sure fish have a clean environment can help prevent certain diseases and conditions from occurring, however it will not prevent every disease from showing up.

Make sure that your fish are healthy by checking on their skin condition and they way they are acting. Both of these are good clues to your fish’s health.

The video below demonstrates each step in setting up a large aquarium, including adding the dechlorinator, setting up a filter, and decorating. If you are planning to set up an aquarium for the first time, I highly recommend you watch the entire video. There is no sound, and it is about 6 minutes, but it is worth watching, since this is the first step to healthy fish.