| "All diseases run into one, old age" | | | | Exophthalmia or Pop-Eye |
| In the above lines the famous poet Ralph Emerson | | | | Pop-eye is a symptom commonly found in angelfish |
| tells us that all diseases come with old age only. But | | | | and it can be due to lots of reasons, both curable |
| that's not true, diseases are not only limited to old | | | | and incurable. Pop-eye happens due when you do not |
| age, they can happen to anybody of any age. As no | | | | change frequently the tank water which results into |
| one in this world is immortal, the same way there is | | | | the building up of impurities or other waste material |
| nobody in this world who does not get ill. Be it human | | | | resulting into a fungal infection known as |
| beings, plants or animals, every living organism gets ill. | | | | Ichthyosporidium. On observing one can even find, |
| Sounds bizarre but aquatic animals such as angelfish | | | | black spots, tumors, bloody spots, body sores, the |
| also get ill and get inactive. Some of the common | | | | fish loses its fins. When this infection is spread, all the |
| diseases of the fish are: | | | | fish get affected sooner and this is the time when |
| Ichthyophthirius or Ich | | | | the disease gets incurable. As a cure or treatment to |
| It is also known as "white spot disease". Ich is a | | | | it, 1% phenoxetol, 50 cc should be added to per |
| protozoan infection for which a parasite | | | | gallon of water. For treating this disease, 50mg |
| Ichthyophthirius multifiliis is responsible. An encysted | | | | Tetracycline or Terramycin can be added to per |
| adult parasite appears on the infected fish. It is more | | | | gallon of water or adding it to the fish's food in a |
| common in tropical fish but angelfish also get infected | | | | quantity of 200mg to every 4 oz. of food and |
| by it. Normally, Ich has three stages: in the first | | | | continuously feeding the fishes for 10 days. This |
| stage, the protozoan parasite enters the skin of a | | | | disease is normally found in wild snails, so always |
| fish and eats the tissues and other fluids present its | | | | avoid them, you can go for aquarium snails, as they |
| body, the body gets white spots on it. In the second | | | | do not get exposed to water birds who are the |
| stage, the parasite now comes out of the host fish's | | | | carriers of this disease. |
| body and starts dividing. The third is the most crucial | | | | Hunger Strike |
| one when the divided protozoan parasites get a host | | | | As the name only explains, the fish refuse to eat |
| fish for each one of them. At the third stage only, | | | | anything; it's a total loss of appetite. This disease can |
| the treatment for this is most effective. As a | | | | be avoided by cleaning the water tank time to time. |
| treatment, the temperature of the water is | | | | Feed them in moderation and you can tempt their |
| increased to 80 degree Fahrenheit. With increase in | | | | taste buds by feeding them on baby brine shrimps or |
| temperature, the cycle completes faster and this | | | | any live food. |
| reduces the time for the parasites to get a host | | | | Take care of your angels and make them grow |
| before their destruction. | | | | healthy, because every life is precious. |