Are Your Fish Sick?

Keeping a fish tank is a wonderful and relaxing hobby, but it can turn stressful if your fish start to die off. The most common cause of fish disease is poor water quality so it is vital that you perform regular maintenance on the tank, making sure you do a partial water change periodically and clean out any waste or uneaten food so it does not decay and poison the water.

Many fish disease can be halted if you provide treatment as soon as you see any signs of your fish being sick. Therefore, it is important that you monitor your fish each day to see if there are any signs of illness.

Some common symptoms of disease are listed below.

White dots ? sometimes fuzzy looking, almost like grains of salt on your fish. This disease is called Ichthyophthirius), or simply Ich. It is a rather common disease and is caused by poor water quality or can effect your fish when it's immune system is not functioning up to par due to stress. It can be treated easily if you catch it in time. There is a special solution you can buy at the pet store to medicate your tank and, hopefully, get rid of this problem.

Gray patches on the skin, looks cottony and can be around the gills. This is a fungus also caused by excess fish waste and food decaying in the bottom of the tank. You can buy treatment for it and it should clear up easily unless you have let it go too far. In the future remember to clean the tank each week so you do not have a reoccurrence.

If your fish seem like they are gasping for air, this could be simply due to lack of oxygen in the water and not necessarily a disease. You could add an airstone to see if that helps the problem. Make sure you do not overcrowd the tank with too many fish.

If you see your fish scraping itself agains the bottom of the tank or the decorations, it's possible that he has a parasite called Flukes. These attack the gills and skin and are rather difficult to get rid of once your tank is infected. Again, poor water quality will make this much worse. They do sell medication for the tank and you may be able to clear it up if you treat the tank at the first sign of trouble.

Rotting fins are sometimes seen if the fish is under stress and also if the water quality is substandard. It is a bacteria that is attacking the fins and you must treat the tank at the first sign of this problem. If possible, isolate the affected fish to another tank to prevent the bacteria from spreading.

To insure that you always have healthy fish, you should keep the tank clean and religiously perform partial water changes. This will not only keep your fish happy but will make for a better looking tank as well!

Lee Dobbins is a pet lover and owner of Fish Tank Guide.com where you can learn to setup your freshwater aquarium. Visit the site and learn more about fish disease.

---

Electric Dog Fences: Keep You Pet in the Yard and Out of Places You Dont Want Them to Be

Electric Dog FencesIs an electric dog fence something for you?... Read More

House Rabbits are Fun and Cute Pets

House rabbits are a perfect pet for many people, regardless... Read More

Dog Training: Teaching Your Dog Self-Control

Is your dog one of those that pulls at his... Read More

Ticks On Your Dog: What to Do?

Once though of as a mere harmless but annoying pest,... Read More

Dogs Get More Human Every Day

First pet stores began selling clothes for pets. Then kennels... Read More

Discover: How to Prevent Dog Bites Case

Of all the aggressive behavior in dogs dog bites is... Read More

Buster the Beloved Pussycat

"Dogs have owners; cats have staff," and I have worked... Read More

Dog Lover Gifts

Whether you are searching for something to say "Happy Birthday"... Read More

Hypoallergenic Dogs

When we talk about hypoallergenic dogs, we mean that they... Read More

Crate Training for Puppies and Dogs

Wondering how to begin crate training your puppy or dog,... Read More

Puppy Training that is Safe for Your Puppy

Puppy training can and should begin the day you bring... Read More

Adopt A Pet

In order to add love and affection to their lives,... Read More

How To Find a Lost Cat

Losing your cat is a worrying experience, use these 'How... Read More

How To Determine The Sex of Discus Fish

One of the biggest question asked of the discus breeder... Read More

Arthritis Pain Relief For Dogs ? Simple Home Remedies That Work

Did you know that arthritis affects one in five dogs... Read More

Which Breed Is Right For You?

Why does one breed appeal to a person over another?... Read More

Breeding Tetra Fish Successfully

If you are keeping tetras, chances are you are breeding... Read More

Dog Behavior Training: Methods of Working with a Shy Dog

Shy dogs are more common than most people think, but... Read More

Guinea Pig History

Their scientific name is Cavia Tschuldi and their nickname in... Read More

Pet-Rabbit Information ? What Is Domesticated Rabbits? How To Care For Your Pet-Rabbit?

Domesticated rabbits are one of the most popular pets, apart... Read More

Is your Dog Malnourished?

Americans are more concerned about health than ever before, so... Read More

Tips for Overcoming Boredom and Routine Stress

There are many ways in which you can prepare for,... Read More

How to Make Your Pets Healthier and Happier

Pets are family members and should be treated as such.... Read More

Housetraining Tips for Your Dog or Puppy

Puppies need to go to the bathroom after they play,... Read More

Ten Important Things Your Dog Wants You To Know

If your dog could talk, these are some of most... Read More

With Understanding Comes Success

One of the reasons I strongly encourage horse owners to... Read More

Chinese Shar Pei Character

If you have never seen a Shar Pei before, the... Read More

Chocolate And Your Dogs Health -- What You Should Know

Chocolate. Who can resist it?Your dogs health depends on it!... Read More

West Highland WhiteTerrier Grooming - Key Considerations

Whether you intend to show your Westie, or keep him... Read More

Fur Isnt Such a Good Sunscreen

You might think the most important bit of dog health... Read More

A Review of Cat Fancy Magazine

Occasionally, some of us get to do work that is... Read More

Analysis of Cat Behavior

The most important thing to remember in analyzing the behavior... Read More

Puppy Crate Training -- Fast Track to a Contented Dog

Puppy crate training is one of the most effective ways... Read More