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Fish Diseases: What you should know

© Winston Vaughan Schoenfeld

No matter how hard you try, disease is something which almost all aquarists deal with some time in their aquarium lifetime. There are many things that we can controll in our aquarium, but there are also many things which we cannot. So what causes fish to die or be distressed? Well, there are a vast number of reasons why distress and disease can overcome aquarium inhabitants, but most are in one of three categories: malnutrition (overfeeding and underfeeding), improper environment, and lastly, secondary organisms.

Most fish can live for a few weeks on the fat in their livers alone. Most feeding problems are due to overfeeding, which will fall under the second category as I will talk about in a moment. But, fish can be underfed as well. This usually happens due to neglect. I should point out first, that fish have a particular coat on their exterior which is known as a slime coat (this is why they feel slimy). This coat is what protects the outer portions of the fish from many different sources. When stresses causes by some outside source are put on a fish, its slime coat decreases, and it is more prone to bacterial attack. When underfed, the fish can easily become malnurished, in which case its slime coat decreases, making it more succeptable to disease.

Poor environment also can have an ill effect on aquarium species. Water quality is one of the most important factors in establishing a healthy aquarium. When pH is too acidic or basic (for example, due to overfeeding), stresses are intduced on the fish. These stresses lead to a decrease in the immune system of the species, and possibly disease. How is this prevented? Regular water changes, proper feeding, and cleaning. Temperature fluctuations can also lead to problems. Temperature of the aquarium should be maintained using a heater with a thermostat, or a chiller if needed. Fish are effected greatly by temperature, and too much of a change in a small ammount of time can lead to disease.

The last major cause of disease is secondary sources. This includes things such as parasites. In a healthy aquarium, parasites don't just spontaneously appear...they come from some outside source. For example, I know of someone who put a plant from a river into his freshwater aquarium. Within days, all of his fish were covered with parasites. Where did they come from....the plant. Fish bought from fish stores are also a common secondary source for disease in an aquarium. If you are interested in a new fish, make sure that it is eating properly and that it has no visible signs of desease. All too often, aquarists introduce a new fish from the local pet store, and withing days, all of their fish are dead. The bottom line is that you should be skeptic of everything that you put into your aquarium, because it can have a great effect on the future of your aquarium.

The copyright of the article Fish Diseases: What you should know in Aquariums is owned by Winston Vaughan Schoenfeld. Permission to republish Fish Diseases: What you should know in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.