Diagnosing Illnesses in the Tropical Tank & Choosing the Right Medication

There is nothing worse that feeling you get at thebe treated with medication. You should inspect tank
first signs of disease in your tropical fish tank. Fearregularly to ensure your fishes' fins are in good
not, many fish ailments easy to treat, provided theycondition as fin rot requires immediate treatment.
are nipped in the bud at the first chance. Here's aFlukes
quick guide to some of more common diseases andThis is a parasite which attacks the skin or gills and is
treatments.demonstrated by the fish's cloudy skin and flicking or
Ich or White Spotrubbing against ornaments or substrate. Poor water
The symptoms of this disease are small white dots,quality can cause flukes to multiply very quickly and it
appearing a little like grains of sugar sprinkled on theis therefore imperative that fish are treated as soon
fish. This is a common parasite. Fish often carry theas symptoms are noticed.
disease without showing any symptoms unless thereWhen medicating tropical aquariums it is very
is poor water quality in the tropical aquarium, or theimportant to follow the medication instructions very
fish becomes stressed and their immune systems arecarefully. Isolating sick fish in a quarantine tank is the
compromised. Ich can easily be treated withideal precaution in containing any disease. If that
medication if caught in time.option is not available to you, however, we
Fungusrecommend a 30% water change at least to improve
Grayish cotton wool like patches on the skin or gillswater quality. Good water quality through careful
usually point to fungus. This is caused by decayingaquarium maintenance is the best prevention of
matter building up in the tropical fish tank. It usuallytropical fish disease in tropical aquariums. Do
clears up quite easily with medication if it has notremember to use a water treatment to remove
progressed too far.chlorine and chlorimine from tap water, and be sure
Fin Rotto remove any carbon from your filter before adding
Fin Rot is prevalent where there is poor water qualitymedication otherwise the medication will be absorbed
or the fish have become stressed, and isby the carbon.
demonstrated by ragged, split fins. Again, fin rot can