There are several symptoms of tropical fish diseases, some of which are more obscure than others. While it's impossible to cover each and every instance in one short article, what we will do in this article is go over some of the basic, most common symptoms, which should help you learn to diagnose a tropical fish disease were it to occur.
Bloated or Over-Extended Stomach or Sides
Bloating or over-extension of any kind is usually a sign of a bacterial infection or disease. Typically, this is also a sign of internal infection, which, if untreated, may lead to kidney infection. Usually caused by poor ammonia, nitrate, or nitrite levels in the tank, internal bacterial infections are typically easily treatable with some over-the-counter antibiotic medication or supplements.
Uneven Swimming, Loss of Appetite, and Pin-Like Holes in the Head
Pin-like holes in the head area of a fish indicates the presence of Hexamita, a usually fatal parasitic disease. The symptoms of tropical fish diseases such as this one can be especially devastating to a fish's equilibrium and unless it's caught very early and treated with vitamins or other supplements, it's usually untreatable.
Blood Red or Orange Streaks on the Body, Without Signs of Bodily Damage or Wounding
Red or orange streaks on the body of a fish is indicative of another type of bacterial disease/infection: Hemorrhagic Septicemia. This is extremely common in freshwater fish as well, and can be easily treated with some readily available antibiotics.
Frayed or Shortened Fins
If your fish's fins seem frayed, or shortened with some whiteness along the ends, then it's yet another sign of a bacterial condition or infection in your tank's water supply. A good antibiotic should help cure the condition.
Small, White, Granular-Appearing Pustules on the Body and/or Fins
One of the more recognizable symptoms of tropical fish diseases, small white pustules on a fish's body or fins, is a tell-tale sign of the most common disease: Ichthyophitrius or Ich. Ich is a parasitic disease and can be cured quite easily, if caught early and given the proper treatment at the correct moment. These parasites will eventually burst open and fall to the aquarium floor, at which time they begin to multiply. If killed while attempting this multiplying stage, it's likely they can be eliminated before they spread to all of the fish in your tank.
Conclusion
Remember, prevention is the best way to combat symptoms of tropical fish diseases. Maintaining a clean tank and a healthy water supply, filled with just the right amounts of supplements, chemicals, and pH levels, is the best way to avoid the outbreak of a tropical fish disease. However, if preventative measures have failed (and they sometimes do), then it's good to have a basic understanding of the symptoms of tropical fish diseases, and what to do when and if an outbreak occurs to the fish <.in your home aquarium.
