The Duboisi.com
Emergency room is a quick reference guide for disease identification and first-aid treatment
for your fish. The contents are a result of the research and experiences of our members
in the situations listed below. If medications are to be used, please keep in mind
that most will destroy your fish tank's bacteria balance, possibly causing it to experience
an ammonia and nitrite spike. Activated carbon will adsorb most medicines and thus nullify
their effectiveness. Read and follow package directions carefully and thoroughly. If
you have further questions or need more recommendations, visit our
Discussion Forum
where you will surely find the help you need.
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SUDDEN
DEATH
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Observance:
The sudden death of many fish over a short period of time with few
preceding symptoms. Surviving fish hang around the water surface
/ stay on the bottom and may lose equilibrium. They are lethargic
and don't eat.
Possibilities
and Solutions:
1)
Low dissolved oxygen levels.
2)
Peracute bacterial disease.
3)
Acute Posioning: carry out a 75% or more water change on
the presumption of some (as yet, unknown) toxin.
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RUBBING
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Observance:
Fish
rub against solid objects and "flash" when they turn to
rub their sides giving a flash of silver colour as their undercarriage
is exposed. They may also leap out the water.
Possibilities
and Solutions:
This
is normal to some extent, but excessive rubbing indicates some form
of irritation of either the skin or gills.
1)
This could be caused by raised levels of ammonia, nitrite or high/low
pH. Widely fluctuating shifts in pH can also cause irritation. Test
water and change accordingly to desired levels. Find out what is
causing the problem (clogged filter, etc.)
2)
Irritation can also be caused by ectoparasites such as flukes, Trichodina,
white-spot etc on the skin or gills. Examine the fish's surface
and gills.
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GASPING,
FAST BREATHING
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Observance:
Fish
swim normally but appear to be breathing heavily, gasping for air,
crowding at water inlets, or breathing at the surface of the water.
Possibilities
and Solutions:
1)
Hypoxia: Dissolved oxygen levels may be low, check filter
or add airstone.
2)
Poor water quality causing gill hyperplasia, excess mucus production
or nitrite toxicity. Check ammonia, nitrite levels and pH. Check
to see if mechanical filter is clean.
3)
It could indicate the early stages of gill disease or Gill parasites
4)
Anaemia. Gills look pale
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SECLUSION
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Observance:
Individual fish stay apart from others. Breathing is normal.
They may refuse food. They may have "cloudy" or grey areas
on the skin. There are no other physical signs.
Possibilities
and Solutions:
These
are common symptoms of many diseases, so further investigation may
be necessary.
1)
Fish may be suffering from a parasite problem. Examine the gills.
2)
There could be internal disease problems
3)
Early stage of systemic bacterial infection. Isolate and observe
4)
Test water conditions
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NO
APPETITE, SKIDDISH, AND/OR FIN ROT
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Observance:
Fish
seem lazy and are not eating or eating very little.
Fish are skittish and shy. Some fish may have split or ragged fins
Possibilities
and Solutions:
These
are common symptoms of many diseases, so further investigation may
be necessary.
1)
Poor watery quality. Check ammonia, nitrite, pH. If high levels
are present, do a partial water change and check filter.
2)
High levels of organic pollution. Check filter and mechanical filtration.
3)
Ectoparasite infestation. Check fish for parasites or gill problems.
4)
Early stage of bacterial disease. Examine fish for lesions, inflammation
and ulceration.
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GILL
OR SKIN MUCUS
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Observance:
Overproduction of gill and/or skin mucus. Grey slime/ trailing
mucus. May be accompanied by rubbing/flashing, heavy 'breathing'.
Possibilities
and Solutions:
1)
Ectoparasites. Medication is available.
2)
Poor water quality. Test water and do a partial water change.
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SKIN
ULCERS / LEGIONS
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Observance:
Skin lesions or ulcers, Reddening
or inflammation on the body or fins. Raised scales. Localised swelling.
Open wounds or lesions that do not heal within a day or two
Possibilities
and Solutions:
1)
Physical damage. This will normally present as a 'clean' lesion
with little inflammation. Usually heals within days. Always a risk
of secondary infection.
2)
Local tissue irritation caused by ectoparasite infection. Medication
necessary.
3)
Bacterial disease
4)
Water quality problem. Test water conditions.
5)
High levels of organic pollution. Do a 40% water change and check
filter.
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RED
OR WHITE PARASITES ON THE BODY
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Observance:
Focal red or white lesions on the body.
Possibilities
and Solutions:
Larger
ectoparasites such as lice, leeches or anchor worms. These parasites
are normally visible with a close examination and can be
removed with tweezers or medications.
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FIN
ROT
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Observance:
Frayed, split or ragged fins. Possibly with whitish edge and
some reddening of the fins
Possibilities
and Solutions:
1)
Bacterial infection. Medicaitons available
2)
Ectoparasite infection. Medications available
3)
Poor environmental conditions. Test water and do a partial water
change if necessary.
4)
Physical damage due to agression. Remove agressive fish, or injured
fish.
5)
Over crowding with poor filtration.
6)
Saprolegnia (fungus) infection
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SWOLLEN
ABDOMEN (DROPSY)
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Observance:
Fish has swollen abdomen (dropsy). Possibly raised scales and
some reddening on the body or fins. They may possibly exhibit pop-eye
(exophthalmos)
Possibilities
and Solutions:
1) Intestinal
blockage. Common in African Cichlids and usually caused by improper
diet.
2)
Systemic bacterial infection. leading to 'dropsy' (build up of fluid
in the abdomen. Can be differentiated from tumour by shape, symmetry
and feel (feels soft and fluidy)
3)
Neoplasm (tumour). Can usually be determined by size, shape (usually
asymmetric) and palpation (feeling - usually hard)
4)
Heart or kidney disease. Can only be diagnosed by post mortem
5)
Internal parasites (endoparasites)
6)
Genetic disorder
7)
Viral Infection.
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WHITE
SPOTS (LIKE SALT GRAINS)
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Observance:
Tiny white spots over the skin and fins, as though fish has
been sprinkled with salt. Usually with thickened mucus
Possibilities
and Solutions:
Ichthyophthirius
(white spot). Definitive diagnosis by skin scrape. Click HERE
for more in-depth information on the Ich parasite.
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WHITE
PATCHES (LIKE COTTON)
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Observance:
White or or discoloured 'cotton-wool' patches on the skin or
fins. Often accompanied by inflammation and skin erosion
Possibilities
and Solutions:
1)
Saprolegnia (fungus) infection
2)
Columnaris infection (mouth fungus/cotton wool disease). Medications
are available.
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SWELLING
PATCHES UNDER SKIN
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Observance:
Swellings on the skin surface
Possibilities
and Solutions:
1)
Parasitic cysts. Antibiotics may be available.
2)
Physical damage. Examine fish and observe
3)
Bacterial infection. Usually accompanied by inflammation and raised
scales. Examine fish for inflammation and/ or raised scales.
4)
Internal tumours.
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OTHER
GROWTHS ON SKIN / FINS
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Observance:
Growth on skin/fins
Possibilities
and Solutions:
Tumours
or viral infections such as;
1)
'carp pox', which resembles melted wax poured over the fins
or skin
2)
papillomas, 'warty' types of growths, can be quite large, smooth
or cauliflower-shaped, white, red or pink
3)
lymphocystis, various sized, white to pink masses on the skin and/or
gills.
There are no treatments for these growths. They are usually benign
and often self-resolving. There is always the risk of secondary
bacterial infection
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CLOUDY
EYE
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Observance:
Corneal Opacity (cloudy eye)
Possibilities
and Solutions:
3)
Poor water quality is the culprit 90% of the time. Test water for
Nitrite, Ammonia, Nitrate, and PH level. Do a partial water change
and check filters.
2)
Nutritional deficiencies, change in diet recommended.
3)
Physical damage
4)
Bacterial infection. Medications are available.
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KINKED
SPINE, SKELETAL DEFORMITY
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Observance:
Skeletal deformities / kinked spine.
Possibilities
and Solutions:
1)
Electrical shock. Check all electrical components.
2)
Use of organophosphates
3)
Nutritional imbalance
4)
Genetic abnormalities
5)
Muscular damage / physical damage
6)
Toxins
Unless
there is an obvious known problem, it is difficult to establish
the cause.
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LOSS
OF EQUILIBRIUM
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Observance:
Loss of equilibrium with fish unable to stay upright. Fish may
be able to maintain position when swimming, but turn over when they
stop swimming.
Possibilities
and Solutions:
1)
Swim-bladder disorder / disease caused by viral or bacterial
infection, constipation (mainly fancy goldfish) or other organ disease.
Not very common in cichlids.
2)
Internal organ disease, i.e. kidney / intestinal disease or blockage.
Usually only established at post mortem
Cichlids
sometimes swim sideways to look directly below them. Don't confuse
this behavior with a disease.
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