9. Freshwater Fish Disease and Treatment

Freshwater Solution 8: Freshwater Disease Treatment

The most common diseases in aquariums, the fish that they affect, and recommended treatments are here in an easy chart format.

More than one medication is listed for each type of problem. If positive results are not seen within the course of the full treatment of one medication, then an alternate medication should be used. When using any medication, follow all instructions carefully. Diagnosis is made by your best guess and treatment will not always be successful. Responsible attempts should be made, however, to save fish. Heroic attempts should be made to prevent disease.

Be observant. An awareness of healthy behavior and appearance will tip you off much sooner when problems are brewing. Observe fish carefully during treatment. What you learn from one treatment may help you during the next outbreak. Familiarize yourself with the basics of fish anatomy.

Links to Quarantine Setup (link to solution) and Advanced Pathogen Detection (need to be updated or rebuilt-Fish Diseases??)

Observations	Possible Conditions	Causative Agent	Fish Most Often Affected	Treatment
Gross lesions, open sores, gill hemorrhage, high unexplained loss	Overcrowded tank, low oxygen levels, new fish	Furunculosis, Pseudomonas, Salmonidica	Goldfish Spiny Eels	Kanamycin, Tetracycline with Neomycin Poly Guard Water change and add AquaLife Activate Freshwater
High fish losses, no open sores, blood in fins or gills	Overcrowding, low oxygen, change in temp, high nitrite	Aeromonas septicemia, Aeromonas hydrophila	Goldfish, Gouramis & Cichlids	Kanamycin, Neomycin, Nitrofurazone with Methylene Blue in quarantine Water change and add AquaLife Activate Freshwater
Red fins, sandpaper-like abrasions on sides of fish, fin deterioration	New fish, overcrowded conditions	Bacterial hemorrhagic septicemia, Pseudomonas septicemia	Anabantids, Gouramis, Bettas	Nitrofurazone, Kanamycin, SulfaPlex, Aquarium Salt as conditioner Water change and add AquaLife Activate Freshwater
Gray to white lesions on mouth & caudal area, fin deterioration, fish lie on bottom	Poor filtration, new fish, lack of minerals	Columnaris, Flexibacter	Guppies & other live-bearers, dojo catfish	Kanamycin, Nitrofurazone, Vita Chem Water change and add AquaLife Activate Freshwater
Lumps on body, whirling, spinning, discoloring – black pigment on fish	Overcrowding, new fish, overfeeding	Myxobacterium	Goldfish, Tetras	Praziquantel with Metronidazole Water change and add AquaLife Activate Freshwater
Distended or frayed gills	Overcrowding, low oxygen	Bacterial gill disease unless larger parasites or scratching are seen	All fish	Kanamycin, Neomycin Water change and add AquaLife Activate Freshwater
Bulging eyes, swollen posterior area	Overcrowding, poor filtration, overfeeding	Bacterial Kidney Disease, Corneybacterium	All fish	Erythromycin, Kanaplex, Focus water change with AquaLife Complete and AquaLife Activate Freshwater
Unexplained fish losses, no outward signs or symptoms	Newly arrived fish	Hexamitosis, Octomitus	All fish	Metronidazole Water change and add AquaLife Activate Freshwater
White filmy growths, fin deterioration	Newly arrived fish, poor water quality, drop in temperature	Bacterial hemorrhagic septicemia	Bettas and other Anabantids, & Goldfish	Neomycin Sulfate
Grayish threadlike particles hanging from fish, inflamed gills, small red sores	Temperature change, warmer weather, new fish	Anchorworms, Lernea, Fish Lice	Goldfish & Livebearers	Praziquantel, Kanaplex, Nitrofurazone
Flat clear disc shaped attachments on fish, inflamed gills, small red sores	Temperature change, warmer weather, new fish	Fish Lice, Argulus, ectoparasites	Goldfish & Livebearers	Praziquantel, Cupramin, Paraguard, Metronidazole
Black areas on fins and scales of fish	Poor filtration, overfeeding	Myxobacterium, Myxobacteriosis	Goldfish & African Cichlids	Praziquantel, Nitrofurazone as follow up medication
Scales protruding, giving the effect of bloating	Poor water quality	Viral dropsy, viral septicemia	All fish, especially Goldfish	Kanamycin, Kanaplex
Tiny white spots on fish’s body	Drop in temperature, high ammonia, high nitrite	Ich	All fish	AquaLife proCure, Coppersafe, Cure, Paraguard
Fuzzy white growths like tufts of cotton	Drop in temperature, overfeeding, fish has wounds	Fungus, Saprolegnia	All fish	SulfaPlex, Paraguard, Neomycin Sulfate
Gray slime or fog on fish, clamped fins, body shimmy	Drop in temperature, overcrowding, poor filtration	Chilonodella protozoan infestation	All fish	AquaLife proCure, Cure, Cupramin
Fish stop eating, clamped fins, lumps on body, darkening of fish, fin deterioration	Overcrowding, low oxygen, pH shock, new fish	Ich	Angel fish, Oscars, Discus and some wild caught fish	Metronidazole
Bulging eyes, scars or holes in head area	Poor water quality and poor nutrition	Hexamita	Discus, Angels, Cichlids, Some species of catfish	Metronidazole, VitaChem FW vitamin supplement, DiscusCode for Discus Water change and add AquaLife Activate Freshwater
Abdominal swelling	Poor water quality	Internal bacterial infection	Goldfish, African Cichlids	Kanamycin can be dissolved in water and added to frozen food
Body emaciation, fish eat but loss of weight	Newly arrived fish, live food being fed, live snails present in tank	Internal worms, round worms, tapeworms	All fish	Metronidazole, feed Hex Shield medicated food
Scratching gills, gills distended or red, rapid breathing	Newly arrived fish, live food being fed, live snails present in tank	Gill Flukes, Dactylagyrus, Gyrodactylus	All fish	AquaLife proCure, Praziquantel, Paraguard
Cuts or wounds on fish not caused by parasites	Scraping, aggressive fish in tank	Wounds, cuts or abrasions	All fish	Nitrofurazone
Low grade infection on fins, deteriorating fins	Overcrowding, newly arrived fish	Mild bacterial or fungal infection	Goldfish	Aquarium Salt

•• We cannot be responsible for fish loss due to treatments outlined on this site.
We encourage you to buy healthy livestock from reputable dealers, observe fish carefully at regular intervals and test your water frequently for problems.
Prevention is always your first line of defense against disease. ••