Common Aquarium Fish Diseases

Causes

Dropsy (also known as ‘Pinecone’, ‘Protruding Scales’ or ‘Edema’) is caused by bacterial infection of the kidneys and is quite common in Goldfish. When the fish suffers physical injuries, diseases, weakened immunity caused by poor water conditions, or mucosal damage, it is easily infected by pathogens (virus, bacteria or even fungi).

When the kidney function has been damaged, the fish is unable to regulate the body’s water balance, resulting in swelling of the fish particularly around the abdomen and causing the scales to protrude. This gives the fish a spiky, ‘pinecone-like’ appearance.

Prevention

1. Maintain good water parameters and tank cleanliness. Remove uneaten food, conduct regular water changes and do not overstock your tank.
2. Minimize handling and choose compatible tank mates to minimize risk of physical wounds and stress factors.
3. Quarantine new fishes and reduce feeding of ‘live feed’ to minimize risk of introduction of diseases or parasites.
4. Dose Ocean Free ‘0’ DISEASE herbal treatment according to the recommended dosage.

Treatment Method

1. In the early stage of the disease, add OF MAGNA SALT according to recommended dosage. It is recommended to isolate the affected fish or to remove the aggressor to reduce the chance of any further wounds or infections. At the same time, the water temperature must be kept constant at around 30 °C. Observe the fish, if it breathes and swims normally; do not add other drugs. Allow the fish to recover naturally.
2. If there are no signs of relief of the symptoms, or worsening of the symptoms (such as forming of ulcers, redness, or the increase in the number of scales, etc.), add Ocean Free SUPER INTERNAL BACTERIA & ULCER AWAY (D) according to recommended dosage. Continue treatment and perform a 30% water change every 3 days. Repeat twice.

Notes

• During the medication period, please remove mediums such as activated carbon, zeolite and OF® Cata-pure cartridges (if you are using OF® Hydra Depurators), as the effectiveness of the medication will be reduced.
• Increase oxygenation with an Air Pump during the course of medication. After dosing, observed your fishes for any signs of distress or heavy breathing for the next two hours. Immediate water change is required should the fish appear to be in distress (1/2 tank water change, ensure that the fresh water supply has been properly treated and dechlorinated).

Causes

It is common for fishes to injure themselves during handling, when they hit against rough surfaces in the aquarium or in fights with other fishes.

Prevention

1. Minimize handling and choose compatible tank mates to minimize risk of physical wounds.
2. Avoid large ‘ornamental’ displays with rough surfaces that take up large space in the aquarium. Give your fish sufficient swimming space.

Treatment Method

1. It is recommended to move the injured fish to a quarantine tank for treatment.
2. If injuries are not serious, dose Ocean Free SUPER SLIME, WHITE SPOT & VELVET AWAY (F) according to the recommended dosage, and ensure prevention of secondary infections.
3. In the event of more serious injuries, supplement with Ocean Free EXTERNAL BACTERIA & FUNGUS AWAY (E) according to recommended dosage. After dosing the medication, perform a 30% water change every 3 days. Repeat twice.

Notes

• During the medication period, please remove mediums such as activated carbon, zeolite and OF® Cata-pure cartridges (if you are using OF® Hydra Depurators), as the effectiveness of the medication will be reduced.
• 2. Increase oxygenation with an Air Pump during the course of medication. After dosing, observed your fish for any signs of distress or heavy breathing for the next two hours. Immediate water change is required should the fish appear to be in distress (1/2 tank water change, ensure that the fresh water supply has been properly treated and dechlorinated).

Causes

The main cause of this disease is by bacterial infection. Deterioration of water quality or feeding unclean food will cause fishes with weakened immunity to be affected.

Parasitic or physical wounds might also cause secondary infection leading to ulceration.

Prevention

1. Maintain good water parameters and tank cleanliness. Remove uneaten food, conduct regular water changes and do not overstock your tank.
2. Minimize handling and choose compatible tank mates to minimize stress to the fishes.
3. Quarantine new fishes and reduce feeding of ‘live feed’ to minimize risk of introduction of bacteria and parasites.
4. Dose Ocean Free ‘0’ DISEASE herbal treatment according to the recommended dosage.

Treatment Method

1. Dose OF® 3rd Generation Yellow Powder according to the recommended dosage.
2. Continue treatment and perform a 30% water change every 3 days.

Notes

• During the medication period, please remove mediums such as activated carbon, zeolite and OF® Cata-pure cartridges (if you are using OF® Hydra Depurators), as the effectiveness of the medication will be reduced.
• Increase oxygenation with an Air Pump during the course of medication. After dosing, observed your fishes for any signs of distress or heavy breathing for the next two hours. Immediate water change is required should the fishes appear to be in distress (1/2 tank water change, ensure that the fresh water supply has been properly treated and dechlorinated).

Causes

Fish Lice (Argulus spp) is a parasitic crustacean from the Branchiura subclass. Using large ventral suckers to feed, they usually attach themselves to the tail fin, dorsal fin, abdominal area by piercing through the skin and consuming the blood through the blood vessels.

They measure about 3-5 mm and are not easy to spot. Most hobbyists will often observe a behavioral change in their fishes which alerts them to the presence of the fish lice, e.g. the fish constantly rubbing against surfaces or ‘darting’.

The Fish Lice are often introduced into aquarium through new fishes or ‘live feed’.

Prevention

1. Quarantine new fishes and reduce feeding of ‘live feed’ to minimize risk of introduction of diseases or parasites.
2. Dose Ocean Free ‘0’ Anchor Worm & Fish Lice according to the recommended dosage.

Treatment Method

1. Dose Ocean Free ‘0’ Anchor Worm & Fish Lice according to the recommended dosage.
2. Repeat medication and perform a 30% water change every 3 days. It is recommended to maintain the treatment for at least 2 weeks even when the fish has recovered earlier to ensure that the Fish Lice has been thoroughly eliminated.
3. Physical removal is not recommended as it is stressful for the fish and it is not easy to completely remove the Fish Lice.

Notes

• Increase oxygenation with an Air Pump during the course of medication. After dosing, observed your fishes for any signs of distress or heavy breathing for the next two hours. Immediate water change is required should the fishes appear to be in distress (1/2 tank water change, ensure that the fresh water supply has been properly treated and dechlorinated).

Causes

When fishes are stressed by factors such as poor water quality, high stocking density, unsuitable tank mates or water with low oxygen levels, it will cause the fishes to be susceptible to the disease.

The Gill is quite often the route of infection as it is the first point of contact where fungal spores and parasite spores are taken in from the water into the fish, and soon leading to secondary infection in poor water conditions.

Gill Rot caused by the fungi Branchiomyces sanguinis and Branchiomyces demigrans is contagious. Both fungi grow in the gill area of the fish resulting in necrosis (death of gill tissue). Once the gills start to rot, the fish will suffer from respiratory problems that often lead to death.

Prevention

1. Maintain good water parameters and tank cleanliness. Remove uneaten food, conduct regular water changes and do not overstock your tank.
2. Minimize handling and choose compatible tank mates to minimize risk of physical wounds and stress factors.
3. Quarantine new fishes and reduce feeding of ‘live feed’ to minimize risk of introduction of bacteria, fungus and parasites.
4. Dose Ocean Free ‘0’ DISEASE herbal treatment according to the recommended dosage.

Treatment Method

1. Dose Ocean Free SUPER SLIME, WHITE SPOT & VELVET AWAY (F) and Ocean Free SUPER INTERNAL BACTERIA & ULCER AWAY (D), using half the recommended dosage for both.
2. Continue treatment and perform a 30% water change every 3 days.

Notes

• During the medication period, please remove mediums such as activated carbon, zeolite and OF® Cata-pure cartridges (if you are using OF® Hydra Depurators), as the effectiveness of the medication will be reduced.
• 2. Increase oxygenation with an Air Pump during the course of medication. After dosing, observed your fishes for any signs of distress or heavy breathing for the next two hours. Immediate water change is required should the fishes appear to be in distress (1/2 tank water change, ensure that the fresh water supply has been properly treated and dechlorinated).

Causes

1. Poor aquarium conditions resulting in illnesses that introduce open wounds that fungus grow on. Healthy fishes have a mucus layer on the skin that fungus is unable to develop on.
2. Physical wounds/injuries caused by unsuitable or aggressive tank mates.
3. Parasitic attacks which creates open wounds for the fungus to grow on.

Prevention

1. Maintain good water parameters and tank cleanliness. Remove uneaten food, conduct regular water changes and do not overstock your tank.
2. Minimize handling and choose compatible tank mates to minimize risk of physical wounds and stress factors.
3. Quarantine new fishes and reduce feeding of ‘live feed’ to minimize risk of introduction of diseases or parasites.
4. Dose Ocean Free ‘0’ DISEASE herbal treatment according to the recommended dosage.

Treatment Method

1. Dose Ocean Free SUPER EXTERNAL BACTERIA AND FUNGUS AWAY (E) and Ocean Free SUPER SLIME, WHITE SPOT & VELVET AWAY (F), using half the recommended dosage for both.
2. Repeat treatment and perform a 30% water change every 3 days.

Notes

• During the medication period, please remove mediums such as activated carbon, zeolite and OF® Cata-pure cartridges (if you are using OF® Hydra Depurators), as the effectiveness of the medication will be reduced.
• Increase oxygenation with an Air Pump during the course of medication. After dosing, observed your fishes for any signs of distress or heavy breathing for the next two hours. Immediate water change is required should the fishes appear to be in distress (1/2 tank water change, ensure that the fresh water supply has been properly treated and dechlorinated).

Causes

Swim bladder is an important organ that helps the fish maintains its buoyancy. Fishes affected by Swim Bladder Disease exhibits certain symptoms which includes the fish floating nose down, tail up, upside down or floating/sinking.

Swim Bladder Disease is usually caused by two main factor:

1. Constipation causing the impingement of the swim bladder
2. Infection of the swim bladder organ, or both Infection and Constipation.

Prevention

1. Minimize feeding of food that is difficult to digest, if necessary, process the food to remove ‘dangerous’ parts like pincers, sharp and hard parts before feeding.
2. Feed at regular times with pellet food (e.g. OF Pro-series Fish Food)
3. Maintain good water parameters and tank cleanliness. Remove uneaten food, conduct regular water changes and do not overstock your tank.

Treatment Method

1. Transfer the affected fish(es) to a treatment tank and minimize feeding.
2. Reduce water level to one that allows the fish to remain afloat to reduce stress on the fish and maintain constant temperature at 32°C.
3. Add Ocean Free MAGNA SALT according to the recommended dosage.
4. Dose OF 3rd GENERATION YELLOW POWDER to combat possible bacterial infection.
5. Repeat medication and perform a 30% water change every 3 days.

Notes

Increase oxygenation with an Air Pump during the course of medication. After dosing, observed your fishes for any signs of distress or heavy breathing for the next two hours. Immediate water change is required should the fishes appear to be in distress (1/2 tank water change, ensure that the fresh water supply has been properly treated and dechlorinated).

Ichthyophthirius multifiliis or more commonly known as Ich, is a ciliated protozoan that attaches itself to the fish’s body, skin or gill. Ich is vulnerable to medication only in the Tomont and Theront stages of its biological cycle.

The entire biological cycle takes approximately 7 days at 25°C (77°F) to 8 weeks at 6°C (43°F), thus increasing the water temperature to 30°C can accelerate their biological cycle, allowing treatments to target in the Tomont and Theront stage.

• Trophont Stage – Found under the surface mucus coating on skin and gills of the fish where it is protected from medication. A fully developed Trophont measures about 1mm and is visible to naked eye.
• Tomont Stage – Detaches from host and floats around till it attaches on a plant or surface.
• Tomite Stage – Tomont starts to encyst and multiply within the cyst to form hundreds of Tomite.
• Theront Stage – Infective and needs to find a host within 2-3 days.

Causes

1. Abrupt changes in aquarium parameters like pH, water temperatures. This usually occurs after a water change.
2. Poor aquarium conditions resulting in weaker fish immunity.
3. Introduction of fish, equipment or objects that is carrying the cysts.
4. Stress caused by rough handling, unsuitable or aggressive aquarium mates.

Prevention

1. Maintain good water parameters and tank cleanliness. Remove uneaten food, conduct regular water changes and do not overstock your tank.
2. If possible try to ensure parameters (temperature and pH) of your aquarium and new water is as similar as possible to reduce shock caused from abrupt parameter changes.
3. Minimize handling and choose compatible tank mates to minimize risk of physical wounds and stress factors.
4. Quarantine new fishes and reduce feeding of ‘live feed’ to minimize risk of introduction of diseases or parasites.
5. Dose Ocean Free ‘0’ DISEASE herbal treatment according to the recommended dosage.

Treatment Method

1. Increase the water temperature to 30 °C ~ 32 °C to accelerate the Ich’s biological cycle.
2. Dose Ocean Free SUPER SLIME, WHITE SPOT & VELVET AWAY (F) according to the recommended dosage.
3. Repeat medication and perform a 30% water change every 3 days. It is recommended to maintain the treatment for at least 2 weeks even when the fish has recovered earlier to ensure that the Ich has been thoroughly eliminated.
4. Physical removal is not recommended as it is stressful for the fish and it is not easy to completely remove the Ich.

Notes

• During the medication period, please remove mediums such as activated carbon, zeolite and OF® Cata-pure cartridges (if you are using OF® Hydra Depurators), as the effectiveness of the medication will be reduced.
• Increase oxygenation with an Air Pump during the course of medication. After dosing, observed your fishes for any signs of distress or heavy breathing for the next two hours. Immediate water change is required should the fishes appear to be in distress (1/2 tank water change, ensure that the fresh water supply has been properly treated and de-chlorinated).

Causes

Velvet disease is a common disease that occurred in aquariums which have poor maintenance conditions. It is also known as gold dust or rust disease. It is caused by tiny parasite, Oodinium, which gives off the dusty appearance. This disease is very similar to ich.

Other factors include:

1. Poor water quality
2. Abrupt changes in water temperature
3. Poor diet
4. Introduction of new fish
5. Introduction of plants with cysts

Prevention

1. Maintain good water parameters and tank cleanliness. Remove uneaten food, conduct regular water changes and do not overstock your tank.
2. If possible try to ensure parameters (temperature and pH) of your aquarium and new water is as similar as possible to reduce shock caused from abrupt parameter changes.
3. Quarantine new fishes and reduce feeding of ‘live feed’ to minimize risk of introduction of diseases or parasites.
4. Provide fish with a healthy balanced diet. Do not feed expired food to your fish.

Treatment Method

1. Dose F-pro Slime, White Spot & Velvet Away and K-Pro Copper Safe according to the recommended dosage.
2. Remove active absorbent filter media and carbon from the tank or pond.
3. (a) For aquarium tank: treatment maybe repeat at 2 days interval when necessary, maximum 4 dosages.
   (b) For pond: treatment should be repeated daily for 5 days.

Notes

• During the medication period, please remove mediums such as activated carbon, zeolite and OF® Cata-pure cartridges (if you are using OF® Hydra Depurators), as the effectiveness of the medication will be reduced.
• Increase oxygenation with an Air Pump during the course of medication. After dosing, observed your fishes for any signs of distress or heavy breathing for the next two hours. Immediate water change is required should the fishes appear to be in distress (1/2 tank water change, ensure that the fresh water supply has been properly treated and de-chlorinated).

Causes

Fin rot is one of the most common fish disease, but it is also easy to prevent if you are well prepared.  Fin rot is caused by bacterial infection. These bacteria eat away at the membranes of the fish’s fin, which caused them to rot and fray. The most common cause of fin rot is due to poor water quality.

Other factors include:

1. Stress due to overcrowding or bullying
2. Fighting among the fishes
3. Very low water temperature (below 10 Celsius)

Prevention

1. Maintain good water parameters and tank cleanliness. Remove uneaten food, conduct regular water changes and do not overstock your tank.
2. If possible try to ensure parameters (temperature and pH) of your aquarium and new water is as similar as possible to reduce shock caused from abrupt parameter changes.
3. Quarantine new fishes and reduce feeding of ‘live feed’ to minimize risk of introduction of diseases or parasites.
4. Provide fish with a healthy balanced diet. Do not feed expired food to your fish.
5. Remove or isolate aggressive fish who nip or bites at others.

Treatment Method

1. Dose E-pro External Bacteria & Fungus Away according to the recommended dosage.
2. Remove active absorbent filter media and carbon from the tank or pond.
3. (a) For aquarium tank: treatment maybe repeat at 2 days interval when necessary, maximum 4 dosages.
   (b) For pond: treatment should be repeated daily for 5 days.

Notes

• During the medication period, please remove mediums such as activated carbon, zeolite and OF® Cata-pure cartridges (if you are using OF® Hydra Depurators), as the effectiveness of the medication will be reduced.
• Increase oxygenation with an Air Pump during the course of medication. After dosing, observed your fishes for any signs of distress or heavy breathing for the next two hours. Immediate water change is required should the fishes appear to be in distress (1/2 tank water change, ensure that the fresh water supply has been properly treated and de-chlorinated).

Causes

Gill flukes are small white worm-like parasites. They are 1-2mm long and hard to spot without a microscope. The flukes attach themselves to the body of the fish to feed on upper layers of the gill.

They are caused by several factors:

1. Poor water quality
2. Overcrowding
3. Stress by incompatible species
4. Introduction of new fish

Prevention

1. Maintain good water parameters and tank cleanliness. Remove uneaten food, conduct regular water changes and do not overstock your tank.
2. If possible try to ensure parameters (temperature and pH) of your aquarium and new water is as similar as possible to reduce shock caused from abrupt parameter changes.
3. Quarantine new fishes and reduce feeding of ‘live feed’ to minimize risk of introduction of diseases or parasites.
4. Provide fish with a healthy balanced diet. Do not feed expired food to your fish.

Treatment Method

1. Dose F-Pro Slime, White Spot & Velvet Away and K-Pro Copper Safe according to the recommended dosage.
2. Remove active absorbent filter media and carbon from the tank or pond.
3. (a) For aquarium tank: treatment maybe repeat at 2 days interval when necessary, maximum 4 dosages.
   (b) For pond: treatment should be repeated daily for 5 days.

Notes

• During the medication period, please remove mediums such as activated carbon, zeolite and OF® Cata-pure cartridges (if you are using OF® Hydra Depurators), as the effectiveness of the medication will be reduced.
• Increase oxygenation with an Air Pump during the course of medication. After dosing, observed your fishes for any signs of distress or heavy breathing for the next two hours. Immediate water change is required should the fishes appear to be in distress (1/2 tank water change, ensure that the fresh water supply has been properly treated and de-chlorinated).