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Freshwater and Saltwater Diseases and Medications

168K views 50 replies 1 participant last post by  Lupin 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I've decided the time has come for me to prepare this thread as a reference for several diseases. This will make it easier for you to diagnose the disease afflicting your fish. I will gradually add up each disease and their data.

If you have pictures and data, please send me a private message and I'll gladly add them up here.:)

A list of medications can be found on the last post on this thread.

One simple advice: Prevention is better than cure. There are several ways to avoid diseases and it is simple. Simply maintain your tank industriously, vary the food menu and quarantine any new fish.


Ich
For details, please look into this thread.
 
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#2 ·
Marine Ich

Marine Ich (Cryptocarion irritans)
Symptoms:
Clearly visible white posts, rapid breathing, flashing and rubbing

Causes:
Stress, poor water conditions and poor food diet will likely allow the Cryptocarion to infect the fish. Cryptocarion is almost similar to the Ichthyophthirius in freshwater hence the name "marine ich" where it will naturally occur in the marine conditions.

Treatment:
Copper Sulfate, Formalin, hyposalinity

Do not use the copper sulfate if the aquarium where you intend to use it contains invertebrates. Copper can harm the invertebrates. Not recommended for use in the main aquarium where copper trace are difficult to remove.

 
#3 ·
Brooklynella hostilis

Brooklynella hostilis
Symptoms:
Lethargic movements, heavy breathing, lack of appetite, faded small areas which gradually enlarge

Causes:
Brooklynella hostilis is a ciliated protozoan which is considered a parasite that is similiar to Chilodonella in almost every aspect. It is found in the marine aquaria and heavy infestations can cause severe stress on the fish.

Treatment:
Sera Cyprinopur, Acriflavine, freshwater dip, Formalin


Picture retrieved from this site for reference purposes.
 
#4 · (Edited by Moderator)
Cloudy Eyes
Symptoms:
Eyes appearing to have cloudy white or grey "haze" that may cause blindness.

Causes:
Poor water quality, malnutrition, severe stress, overproduction of slime coating, cataracts, old age

Treatment:
I don't usually recommend the use of antibiotics. Frequent water changes are strictly necessary to improve water quality. It will usually clear up on its own if the water quality has improved. Be sure to provide your fish varied diet to improve its resistance against diseases.
Pictures taken by idle0095. Refer to this thread for more details.
 
#5 ·
Glossatella (Heteropolaria colisarium)
Synonyms:
Apiosoma

Symptoms:
A furry coating forms after the mucous membrane has been injured. You can see many elongated protozoans on a short stalk with a strong magnifying glass.

Causes:
Damaged mucous membrane allowing protozoans to invade and expand on the lesions. They do not feed directly on the lesions but on the secondary bacteria and isolated cells of the destroyed tissue.

Treatment:
Sera Costapur, Formalin, Copper Sulfate


Picture retrieved from Sera guide by Dieter Untergasser
 
#6 ·
Costia (Ichthyobodo necatrix)
Synonyms:
The name was formerly Costia necatrix, however the name Costia is more familiar and nevertheless still use until today.

Also called "Blue Slime Disease" in reference to heavy secretion of mucous membrane.

Symptoms:
Gray or milky areas of skin, clamped and frayed fins, frequent flashing movements

Causes:
This is caused by external flagellates which are secondary parasites that will gradually appear if the fish succumbs to stress or severely weakened.

Treatment:
Hydrogen peroxide, Formalin, Copper Sulfate, Acriflavine, Sera Costapur, Sera Ectopur


Picture retrieved from this site.
 
#7 ·
Chilodonella
Symptoms:
Heavy breathing, flashing movements, clamped fins, overproduction of mucous membrane, lethargic movements, loss of appetite

Causes:
It is caused by the "heart-shaped" ciliated protozoan, Chilodonella itself.

Treatment:
Sera Costapur, Sera Omnisan, Malachite Green, Potassium Permanganate, Formalin, Copper Sulfate, salt baths


Picture retrieved from Sera guide by Dieter Untergasser for reference purposes.
 
#8 ·
Tetrahymena
Symptoms:
Flashing movements, clamped fins, overproduction of mucous membrane, lethargic movements, loss of appetite

Causes:
It is caused by a teardrop-shaped ciliated protozoan that lives in organic debris on the bottom of the aquarium implying that this is not a parasite at all. In an overloaded aquarium, it is possible that this protozoan will proliferate massively due to water pollution noting that this protozoan lives in areas with very high organic loads.

Treatment:
Sera Costapur, Sera Mycopur, Sera Baktopur, Malachite Green, Potassium Permanganate, Formalin, Copper Sulfate, salt baths


Picture retrieved from Sera guide by Dieter Untergasser for reference purposes.
 
#9 ·
Trichodina
Symptoms:
Lethargic movements, flashing and rubbing, reddening of certain areas due to rubbing out of sheer extreme irritation

Causes:
Another protozoan that is not actually a parasite and are characterized by their flying saucer shape. It does not feed on fish but use them as a means of transportation from one aquarium to another. Healthy fish is not usually bothered by a low number of protozoans however a big infestation of Trichodina brought by poor water quality and overcrowding can cause extreme irritation and eventually stress to the fish.

Treatment:
Sera Costapur, Sera Omnisan, Malachite Green, Potassium Permanganate, Formalin, Copper Sulfate, salt baths


Picture retrieved from this site for reference purposes.
 
#10 ·
NTD

Neon Tetra Disease (Pleistophora hyphessobryconis)
Symptoms:
Restlessness especially at night (a weird behavior can be distinguished when the afflicted fish seems to be swimming on its own while the rest are "asleep"), loss of coloration on its body usually starting on the midsection, secondary infections brought by finrot and dropsy, curved spine, erratic behavior

Causes:
This is caused sporozoan parasites and is very contagious.

Treatment:
There is no known cure up to this date as the sporozoan parasites have proven themselves very resistant to several medications. Any fish suspected to be afflicted or afflicted must be isolated immediately and eventually euthanized if no improvement in its health has been observed in the next few days. Transmission is done mostly by fish picking on the afflicted and spores infecting new hosts as the current host dies.

Notes:
This disease has been confused with Columnaris. Note that the NTD is usually associated with a creamy colored patch which appears to "delete" the actual coloration of the fish. Columnaris is associated with white patches, a case very different from NTD.

Neons are very vulnerable to NTD but this is also found among cichlids, danios, rasboras and other species. There have been several reports that so far only the cardinal tetras are immune to this disease.
 
#11 ·
Columnaris

Columnaris (Flexibacter columnaris)
Synonyms:
Cotton-wool, Mouth Fungus, Flexibacter

Symptoms:
White mouth with tiny filaments, white areas near edge of scales, clamped fins, fins start to rot in the later stage, fish struggles and sways near the surface

Causes:
This is bacterial infection which is very common in the aquaria and is very contagious. Immediate action is needed to contain it before it spreads to other fish.

Treatment:
Broad spectrum antibiotics, Sera Baktopur, Binox, Maracyn I & II, Kanacyn, Terramycin, Acriflavine, Furan, Copper Sulfate

Flexibacter columnaris thrives very well in warm waters therefore it is necessary to gradually lower the temperature to prevent it from progressing.




Pictures retrieved from Sera guide by Dieter Untergasser for reference purposes.
 
#12 ·
Velvet Disease (Oodinium)
Synonyms:
Coral Fish Disease, Amyloodinium

Symptoms:
Fine gold-white "dust", rapid breathing, erratic behavior, flashing, clamped fins, lack of appetite

Causes:
Amyloodinium pillularis infests fish in freshwater environment whereas Amyloodinium ocellatum infests fish in saltwater environment. The fish will look like they have been poured with flour as the spots rapidly spread.

This parasite is a dinoflagellate that can easily spread to other hosts hence it is very contagious. Poor water quality can attribute to their rapid reproduction.

Treatment:
Freshwater dip, hyposalinity, Copper Sulfate, Atabrine (Quinacrine hydrochloride)
 
#13 ·
Gyrodactylidea

Gyrodactylidea
Symptoms:
Rubbing movements, overproduction of mucous membrane, listlessness around the surface, rapid breathing due to stress

Causes:
The livebearing flukes, Gyrodactylidea are responsible for the erratic behavior of the fish which will eventually be overcome by the stress. Gyrodactylidea is found more often in the ponds rather than the aquaria but they can be transported to the aquaria too if the infested pond fish is introduced. They prefer colder temperatures and are much less common in warm water aquaria.

Some species can reach 3 mm and can be seen with the naked eye if closely watched.

The flukes hook themselves to the fish's tissues severely damaging it and at this stage, the fish begins to rub itself around the aquarium. The flukes must be eliminated immediately as soon as you detect them.

Treatment:
1. Formalin (It has been noted that this is not very effective against the eradication of fluke eggs.

2. Potassium Permanganate

3. Flubendazole-Noted to be very effective against the fluke eggs.

4. Praziquantel

5. Salt dips

6. Sera Mycopur

7. Sera Ectopur

8. Chloramine T

 
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#14 ·
Dactylogyridea

Dactylogyridea
Symptoms:
Rubbing movements, rapid breathing, one gill is usually shut while using the other

Causes:
Poor water quality, stress and overpopulation will allow the gill flukes to reproduce quickly and the fish soon begins to rub over objects. If they are heavily infested, then they will stand under the surface breathing heavily. Adult fish usually can tolerate minor infestations but if infested heavily or severely stressed, they will eventually succumb to the gill flukes.

Dactylogyridea is an egg-laying gill fluke that is just the opposite of the Gyrodactylidea. They live mainly in the gills and can be visible with the naked eye as they reach 2-3 mm. Eggs fall to the bottom of the aquarium or vat. The fluke after it hatches eventually finds a host where it can attach itself.

Gill flukes have hooks that they use to attach themselves on the mucous membranes of the skin and gills of the fish thus injuring them. As a result, secondary infections such as fungi, protozoans and bacteria will appear and start to overtake the fish. Treatment must be done immediately to stop this situation from getting to the worse.

Treatment:
1. Formalin (It has been noted that this is not very effective against the eradication of fluke eggs.

2. Potassium Permanganate

3. Flubendazole-Noted to be very effective against the fluke eggs.

4. Praziquantel

5. Salt dips

6. Sera Mycopur

7. Sera Ectopur

8. Chloramine T
 
#15 ·
Lymphocystis
Synonyms:
Cauliflower Disease

Symptoms:
Lethargy, firm globular cysts on the skin which when stroked with a finger feels hard and does not come off, imbalanced swimming position if cysts are located near the lateral line, bacterial infections appear as secondary infection in the later stages eventually killing the fish

Causes:
Viral infection that infests the fish and changes the cells of the mucous membrane. They rapidly increase in size thus allowing them to be seen even with a naked eye. Cells expand at a diameter of 1 mm and takes on the appearance of a cauliflower hence the name "Cauliflower Disease".

The cells continue to grow and eventually explode releasing a million viruses that float into the water and eventually infecting more fish. The disease usually starts around the fin edges and eventually to the base and other parts of the body.

Dyed fish are very vulnerable to this disease as their epidermis has been damaged from being subjected to dyeing processes.

Treatment:
There is no known cure for this disease. It has been suggested however that the afflicted parts can be surgically removed. If spotted in time, the edges of the fins must be cut away with a sharp scissors noting that the disease itself usually starts at the edges of the fins. Treat the fins with medications prescribed to prevent pathogens from infecting them.

 
#16 ·
Carp Pox
Symptoms:
Round or oval-shaped pale or pink elevations measuring from 5-10 mm appearing on the body surface of the affected fish

Causes:
Cold temperature can bring about the carp pox which is not a real pox but a herpes disease, which is not transmitted to humans.

Treatment:
In some cases, it has been known to return on winter season or when the temperature becomes cold and eventually disappears as the warm weather comes noting that this disease is caused by a coldwater virus. The fish, however, do not appear to be suffering very much from the infection even when heavily infested hence they will not die from the carp pox. They gradually recover when kept under the optimum conditions.

The disease is, however still a remnant of the organism and will break out every time the fish becomes weakened especially during the spring.

Acriflavine can also be used to treat for carp pox.

 
#17 ·
Dropsy of Carp
Symptoms:
Protrusion of scales, pop-eyes, bloated abdomen, kidney failure

Causes:
Pathogens invade and proliferate in the weakened fish. Remove the diseased fish immediately and quarantine and treat accordingly.

On the side note, according to Dieter Untergasser, dropsy of carps has been considered as an independent disease before. However, investigation with more sophisticated methods has shown that it can also be the symptomology of spring virosis in its advanced stadium of development.

Treatment:
Sera Baktopur, Sera Cyprinopur

Usually the affected fish cannot be saved anymore.




Pictures retrieved from the Sera guide by Dieter Untergasser for reference purposes.
 
#18 ·
Spring Virosis
Symptoms:
Protrusion of scales, pop-eyes, bloated abdomen, kidney failure, anus is puffed out excreting slimy wastes, fish gather around the filter outflow to keep themselves in balanced swimming position, punctual bleedings around the skin, gills, fin bases and pale gills

Causes:
It is a contagious viral infection and will be transmitted via an unquarantined fish infected with the virus. If the fish survives the disease, it becomes immune to it for the whole lives however they will remain as carriers of the disease. The disease tends to break out during autumn when temperatures fall below 20 degrees Celsius.

A lot of theories have been speculated on the transmission of spring virosis and one such theory is that the viruses enter the blood circulation through the gills. Fish lice, fish leeches and other external parasites have been proven to transmit the disease among several fish when attempting to suck their blood.

According to Dieter Untergasser, the viruses only reproduce slightly with lower temperatures and are not active in winter. They will start to reproduce only when the temperatures soars above 6 degrees Celsius in spring and when the fish's immune system is weakened.

Treatment:
A combination of Sera Baktopur and Sera Cyprinopur

There is no cure for the eradication of the active viruses which is why it is recommended to treat the fish immediately or during the period where the viruses become inactive. The earlier you discover the outbreak, the better the chances of containing the viral outbreak. Note that a lot of viruses are quite resistant against antibiotics and several medications prescribed.


Pictures retrieved from the Sera guide by Dieter Untergasser for reference purposes.
 
#19 ·
Bacterial Fin Rot
Symptoms:
The fins are frayed and getting shorter. Edges are whitish.

Causes:
Overpopulation, severe stress especially on transit, untreated injuries, poor water quality and poor maintenance are the main causes of fin rot. Fin rot can occur in connection with columnaris, fungal overgrowths, lesions and as a secondary infection to parasite infestations. Ffish begins to have difficulty swimming due to the damaged fins.

Treatment:
Broad spectrum antibiotics, frequent water changes are a must to improve water quality


Picture retrieved from O-fish.com for reference purposes.
 
#20 ·
Bacterial Gill Rot
Symptoms:
Gill areas become white or gray, gill filaments fall off and decompose

Causes:
Ammonia intoxication, alkalosis, parasites that damage the sensitive mucous membrane of the gills

Treatment:
Know your water parameters. What exactly are your ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and pH? Frequent water changes are necessary to improve water quality. Very high pH can also be one of the main causes along with very poor water conditions and high organic loads.


Picture retrieved from the Sera guide by Dieter Untergasser for reference purposes.
 
#21 ·
Dropsy of Aquarium Fish
Synonyms:
Bloat, Malawi Bloat

Symptoms:
Protrusion of scales, distended abdomen, pop-eye

Causes:
Dropsy has several possible causes: poor water quality, poor food quality, bacterial infections, intestinal flagellates, excessive proteins (especially to purely vegetarians)

Longer periods of stress can weaken the fish's immune system thus enabling the bacteria to enter the fish's body. At this stage, it becomes increasingly difficult to remedy the situation. The disease begins with a bacterial infection of the intestines resulting in the excretion of slimy fish wastes. In the course of the disease, parts of the mucous membrane of the intestines come off. They stay at the anus of the fish. Even if the fish keeps taking up the food, it cannot digest the food anymore leading to the malfunctioning of the internal organs. The amount of water the fish takes in then cannot be expelled and the excess liquid gather in the body cavity resulting in the protrusion of scales and eyes.

Excessive proteins can also cause bloat among fish, mbunas most especially as the fish cannot effectively digest the proteins in their stomachs. Herbivorous fish have longer digestive systems that are not designed to digest excessive proteins in comparison to the carnivores' shorter digestive system. Do not feed your herbivorous fish foods that contain too much protein. For more information about foods and their nutritional values, please check this topic.

Treatment:
Epsom salts, metronidazole, kanamycin sulfate

Treatment may not be effective as the disease itself is internal making it difficult to treat and determine the exact cause.

 
#22 ·
Erythrodermatitis
Synonyms:
Red Sore Disease

Symptoms:
Lethargic, anorexic, emaciated, heavily ulcerated with bloody red sores

Causes:
Poor environment conditions can encourage bacteria of the Aeromonas genus to proliferate and infect fish. The bacteria itself is responsible for other bacterial diseases such as fin rot.

Erythrodermatitis for carps occur during summer and autumn. The disease takes a slow course. At first, the fish may appear to have a healthy impression but red stains appear in the next few weeks turning into ulcers that break open and the fish soon afterwards die with large open sores on the skin.

This disease has been confused with spring virosis as it appears as red stains the early stages. It can be assumed that this disease can be transmitted by blood-sucking parasites, a similar case that occurs with the spring virosis.

Treatment:
Terramycin, Romet-30, Sera Cyprinopur


Picture for reference purposes.
 
#23 ·
Enteric Red Mouth (Yersinia ruckeri)
Symptoms:
Red mouth and hemorrhages on the belly, lethargy, lack of appetite, infection in the kidney, liver and spleen

Causes:
The disease is caused by the motile, gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium identified as Yersinia ruckeri. This disease can readily be transmitted by contact or water. Fortunately, this disease is very rare.

Salmonids, goldfish, cisco, largemouth bass, emerald shiners, sturgeon, fathead minnows, walleye, crayfish and muskrats have been found to be infected with ERM in the past based on researches.

Treatment:
Sulfamerazine, Terramycin, Oxytetracycline

Note: None of the drugs used in the past against ERM has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use on food fish
 
#24 ·
Body Fungus (Saprolegnia spp.)
Symptoms:
White cottony patches on the skin with long filaments that stand away

Symptoms must be differentiated from the false mouth fungus, Columnaris.

Causes:
Fungi are decomposing organisms that exist in every aquarium. The wound must always be treated immediately. If left untreated, fungal spores can attach themselves on the wounds and eventually harm the fish. They serve as a secondary infection to the wounds and open sores.

Treatment:
Methylene Blue, Jungle Fungus Guard, Mardel Maroxy

 
#25 ·
Hemorrhage Septicemia (Aeromonas hydrophila)
Symptoms:
Bright red streaks on fins (caused by vascular inflammation due to systemic/bloodborne bacterial infection), patchy red discoloration around the body, pop-eye, protrusion of scales, distended abdomen, rapid breathing

Causes:
Gram negative motile rod bacteria. It is usually associated with poor water quality, stress and overpopulation. Transmission is done by contamination of water with diseased fish.

Treatment:
Broad spectrum antibiotics. Frequent water changes are necessary to improve water quality and allowing recovery of fish.


Picture for reference purposes.
 
#26 ·
Fish Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium spp.)
Symptoms:
Emaciation, inflammation of the skin, exophthalmia (Pop-eye), ascites (Dropsy), open lesions, ulceration, sluggishness, bloated abdomen, fin rot, scale loss, skin discoloration, bent spines

Causes:
Various pathogens. Positive diagnosis not possible outside the laboratory and microscopy.

According to Adrian Tappin, there are several species of Mycobacteriosis species found during further analysis of 42 samples taken from a home aquaria: Mycobacterium fortuitum, M. flavescens, M. chelonae, M. gordonae, M. terrae, M. triviale, M. diernhoferi, M. celatum, M. kansasii and M. intracellulare.

Under pathology examination, these bacteria are often found in apparently healthy rainbowfishes. Young rainbowfishes infected with mycobacteria often show no external signs. As they grow, the infection becomes more serious. However, once present in an aquarium, a 100% infection rate of the population is conceivable.

Treatment:
There is no known treatment against this disease. Destroy all afflicted fish and disinfect the whole aquarium.

More information can be found in Adrian Tappin's website "Home of the Rainbowfish".

Warning:
This can be transmitted as zoonosis called "fish tank granuloma" on hands with open wounds. Use gloves if reaching the tank with suspect animals.

Check this article by Dr. Barb for more details regarding the "fish tank granuloma".
 
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