Gold fish disease can make a gold fish owner very upset and may require a number of different prevention and treatment methods. Here's everything you need to know about this problem.
Gold Fish Disease - Facts
Problem Definition:
Gold fish disease can be a very serious problem for aquarium owners and fish enthusiasts. These diseases can develop rapidly and leave your fish feeling very ill. Some common diseases include fin rot, anchor worm, parasitic infections, digestive diseases, gill flukes, and hole in the head disease.Symptoms:
The symptoms of disease will vary with each single disease and will also vary according to the level of health your fish was in before it got sick. Some common symptoms are swimming sideways, swimming near the water surface, changes in the eating habits of the fish, development of aggression, a lack of interest in daily living activities, appearance of rashes or spots on the body of the fish, and other changes in the behavior and physical status of your fish.Duration of Problem:
Many problems can be minor and successfully treated within just a few days. There are problems that are more serious and take weeks, months, or even years to go away.Exposure:
Exposure comes in a number of forms. Those fish with weakened immune systems due to previous illnesses or attacks by other fish will be more likely to develop diseases. If you change the water chemistry, lighting, water quality, or temperature of your tank too rapidly, this can also encourage diseases.
Gold Fish Disease - Prevention & Treatment
The Treatment:
Treatment of fish diseases depends on the type of disease and how long it has been present. If you catch a disease early, you may be able to treat it with one or two courses of medication. If you do not catch it early, it may become more serious and require additional medication. You may even be able to treat diseases by making changes in the way you care for your aquarium.Prevention:
Regular care and maintenance of your tank is the best prevention method when it comes to fish diseases. You should also watch to make sure the environment in the fish tank does not change rapidly.Precautions:
Be very careful to monitor your fish and its response to the treatment you are providing. If it is not responding, or if it is getting worse, you may need to consider another treatment.Helpful Supplies:
You may find books that help identify and treat disease, new cleaning and filtering supplies, and many medications helpful when treating fish diseases.
Gold Fish Disease - Concerns
Level of Seriousness:
How serious the disease is will depend on how early it was caught, what type of disease it is, and how well your fish responds to the treatment.Lasting Consequences:
Some diseases, if not treated early enough, can cause permanent behavioral and physical damage or even the death of your fish.Genetics:
The environment that the fish live in usually dictates what diseases, if any, will develop. Genetics play a very small role in fish diseases.Lifestyle Accommodations:
The only accommodation you may need to make is taking more time to clean and maintain your tank more frequently.Expense:
You can often treat your fish disease with a medication that only costs a few dollars. However, more serious diseases will require more prolonged and drastic treatment that can become expensive.
