Thursday, 10 October 2024

The most common diseases of fighting fishes

17 May 2021

FIGHTER FIN DISEASE

Fighter fin necrosis appears mainly in the tail area. Fish become ill when they are not provided with the right physical and chemical conditions and are inadequately fed. This promotes the development of a bacterial infection. Fin necrosis occurs mainly due to mechanical injuries, too much ultraviolet radiation, poor conditions in the breeding tank and too low water temperature. Bacteria that live in emergency tanks, attacking only weakened fish, contribute to fighter fin necrosis. Most often attacked are fish species with dark pigmentation like mollies, BOYFS. Fin necrosis occurs in fish of different age, but especially sensitive are young specimens, which die massively because of it.

FIGHTER DISEASE - EYES

The most common cause of eye exophthalmos is septicemia or tuberculosis.

Septicemia can start from a skin infection as in the case of fin necrosis, and also from poor hygienic conditions in the tank. Bacteria penetrate blood vessels, cause inflammation and damage. They damage the blood vessels in the skin and the base of the fins, damage the heart muscle, cause fluid leakage into the abdominal cavity, which causes swelling. To cure sick fish, you need the help of a veterinarian who will administer appropriate antibiotics.

Tuberculosis- it is common bacterial infectious disease in fish. Infected individuals should be immediately removed from the tank to avoid infecting other healthy fish. Diseased fighters, despite their appetite, lose weight as their internal organs are destroyed. In some individuals nodules appear under the skin, e.g. behind the eyes, causing "exophthalmos", which develop into ulcers. People can get infected with fish tuberculosis, which causes nodules on the skin, it is not a serious infection. Once the disease is identified, all precautions should be taken. Definitive diagnosis of the disease is possible after dissection.

how to treat a sick fighter

FIGHTER DISEASE - SKIN

Skin diseases in fighters include velvet disease, oodiniosis, velvet disease, golden sand disease, rust disease. The last one is caused by protozoa from bruzdin group - in freshwater fish it is Oodinium pillularis or Oodinium limnetioum, in case of marine fish it is Oodinium ocellatum and it is called coral fish disease. If left untreated, the disease can lead to significant die-offs especially of juvenile fish.

The presence of Oodinium parasites in a tank may go unnoticed for a long time. Only during infection on the whole body and fins of fish you can notice secretion of mucus and tiny, dark yellow-brown dots. During big infestation dark pearl or slightly golden tarnish appears on the body. In the light, the coating resembles a fine powder, and in the most affected areas the skin peels off.

Affected miltivores are irritated and rub against aquarium decorations. Sometimes they hide among plants and are lethargic. During the disease they lose their appetite and eat very little. The fins of the fish may be stuck together, folded, slightly frayed. If skin on gills is affected, breathing disorders occur. Petechiae and congestion of the gill plates often appear.

The quarantine period is 10-14 days. Then a bath can be used to eliminate the parasite carrier.

Medicinal preparations do not always cope with parasites. We recommend a therapeutic bath at a temperature of 27-30 degrees C in an illuminated tank. This shortens the development cycle considerably, causing the cure to be quicker. If oodinosis is detected in at least one fighter or another fish in an aquarium, move all fish to a substitute tank as soon as possible and treat them there. During this time the aquarium should be heated at 25 - 27 C and illuminated, and disinfectants such as Aquaseptin or Abioseptin should be administered. The cured fish can be returned to the aquarium after 7-8 days. Such action guarantees complete elimination of the disease.