Freshwater

158
Part II: Fish and How to Care for Them
Intestinal parasites
Symptoms: Worms sticking out through the vent; emaciation of the body.
Cause: Several different varieties of intestinal worms.
Treatment: Standard fungus cure or in advanced cases, veterinarian-prescribed
anthelminthic added to the daily diet. Add 1 tablespoon of aquarium salt for
each 5 gallons of water to help your fish with normal body fluid functions.
Remove any activated carbon during treatment. Change 15 percent of the
water daily to keep environmental conditions optimal.
Large skin parasites
Symptoms: Scratching; visible parasites.
Cause: Fish lice (argulus) and anchorworms (Lernaea).
Treatment: Remove large parasites with tweezers. Apply an antiseptic solution
to the injured site.
Mouth fungus
Symptoms: White cottonlike growths around the mouth area (your fish looks
like Santa Claus having a bad hair day) or patchy white skin in the same
region. In advanced stages, the jawbones begin to deteriorate badly.
Cause: Usually flexibacter, which follows after other infections have begun.
Treatment: Proprietary fungus treatment or methylene blue in the early
stages. If this treatment is not effective and the fungus is out of control, consult
your veterinarian about antibiotics immediately.
Pop-eye
Symptoms: Eyes inflamed and protruding from their sockets to the point
where they almost “pop” out of the head. Often the fish’s eyes develop a
cloudy, whitish haze. Inflamed eye sockets are also common with this
disease.