No one likes to think that their pets are sick. Yet even your finned friends will sometimes come down with an illness. Whether it's something that you can cure or not-or at the very least, something that you can prevent in the future-will all depend upon the information and fish disease pictures that you can gather.
If you're new to owning fish, you should know that most fish will become sick when they are first introduced to their new tank. Getting used to their new environment will take a bit of time. But if you've prepared your tank at least 3 to 4 days ahead of time, and take every precaution when introducing your fish to their new home (such as floating them in their plastic bags for at least 30 minutes before releasing them into the water), then you can greatly minimize the chance of any initial sickness becoming fatal.
If you've owned fish for a while, however, or if you have fish that you've had in a particular tank for a time and they become sick later on, then it's likely that you'll need the help of some in-depth resources and even some fish disease pictures to help you determine what's going on.
To give you a good start, generally speaking it's true that most fish disease pictures will show instances in which fish are sick and yet the water "looks" just fine. The truth is, though, that most common fish diseases are brought about by subtle, invisible changes in water quality, such as temperature, chemical and salt levels. All fish tanks, for instance, need a certain level of bacteria in order to stay healthy. Good bacteria will inhabit the growth of potentially fatal substances, such as nitrates and ammonia, and will therefore encourage the good health of your fish. Yet most new tanks don't have these bacteria yet; it takes a while for it to grow and become a part of your indoor marine ecology. That's why experienced hobbyists often incorporate water from an established tank into a new one-to quick-start the bacteria that can help their fish survive and avoid disease.
Ultimately, it's true that fish can become sick in even the best filtration and natural bacteria system. If you suspect that your fish are ill,or if you know they are but don't know what to do about it, pick up a book at your local library or bookstore, or do some research online. You may be surprised what some in-depth information and fish disease pictures can teach you.
