Freshwater

Fungus
Symptoms: White growths on the body or fins that are fluffy in appearance
and make your fish look like a cotton puff or marshmallow.
Cause: Fungus often attacks regions where the mucus or slime coating on the
fish has worn off due to damage by injury or parasites. Once the slime coat is
damaged, the fish is more susceptible to all types of other disease.
Treatment: Spot treat with gentian violet, methylene blue, or use aquarium
fungicide in extreme cases.
Gill parasites
Symptoms: Redness in the gill areas; labored respiration; scratching; excessive
mucus coat; glazed eyes; inflamed gills; loss of motor control (your fish
resemble slam dancers).
Cause: Flukes (Dactylogyrus).
Treatment: Sterazin or other proprietary treatment. Formalin baths can be
effective as well.
Hole in the head
Symptoms: Pus-filled holes on the head, near the lateral line or the base of
the tail. This disease is most common among cichlids.
Cause: Hexamita parasite.
Chapter 11: Diseases and Treatments
Treatment: Flagyl. Recent findings show that Vitamin A and C supplements
are effective in treating this disease (aquatic vitamins, not Flintstones
Chewables).
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