Common Pet Fish Diseases

When caring for a pet fish, their health becomes your responsibility. Just like other animals, pet fish are susceptible to many different diseases, which can sometimes be prevented with proper pet care. Taking care of your fish involves being aware of some of the common diseases that can affect fish. While some health conditions in fish may disappear with minimum maintenance, other fish diseases will require specialized fish care procedures in order to fully remedy the condition. Here is some general information about some of the most common diseases that are seen in pet fish.

LYMPHOCYSTIS

Technically, lymphocystis is classified as a viral infection that affects the cells of a pet fish. The most common symptom is large white growths on a fish’s body, sometimes being cauliflower-like in appearance. Though this is one of the few viral infections that can affect fish, it is relatively rare. There is no cure for lymphocystis, though isolation of infected fish usually results in remission of the disease.

DROPSY

Dropsy is a bacterial infection that can affect some pet fish. Dropsy is actually caused by a bacterial infection that affects a fish’s kidneys. The most common symptom of dropsy in pet fish is severe bloating of the body from fluid buildup, and renal failure. Protrusion of the scales is also seen in some advanced cases of dropsy. Since this is a bacterial infection, it can be treated by adding an antibiotic medication to a fish’s food. Some common antibiotics used to treat dropsy in pet fish include chloromycetin and tetracycline.

TAIL & FIN ROT

The condition most commonly known as “fin rot” is a bacterial infection that causes a ragged appearance of a fish’s tail and fins. This condition is most commonly caused by poor conditions in a fish’s tank, resulting in severe bacterial growth in the tank. Tail & fin rot can also be caused by aggressive behavior of certain types of fish, which may nip at the tail or fins of other fish in the tank. Tail & fin rot can also be caused by tuberculosis, in some cases. For treatment of tail & fin rot, antibiotics are the best course of action. Antibiotics can be added to the water of a fish’s tank, along with being added to a fish’s daily feeding portions.

TUBERCULOSIS

Tuberculosis in pet fish is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium piscium. The most common symptoms of tuberculosis in fish include lethargy, pale appearance, ‘hollow-belly’, visible skin ulcers, loss of appetite and loss of scales or fin tissue. The most common cause of tuberculosis in pet fish is overcrowding, or poor tank conditions. If a fish is living in a tank that has poor water quality, they become much more susceptible to developing tuberculosis. Certain species of fish are more prone to developing tuberculosis, as they are very sensitive to any changes to their environment. The most common treatment method used for tuberculosis in pet fish is treatment with Vitamin B-6 and Kanamycin for approximately thirty days.