When you own fish, disease is something you must always be on the lookout for. Everyone hopes their fish are happy and healthy, but today, we’ll tell you how to know! Knowing the signs of illness is crucial to protecting your tank and making sure it stays on the right track.
If you want to keep your swimming buddies safe, keep these signs in mind:
Good Appetite
Hungry fish are healthy fish. They should have a good appetite and come when you break out the food.
Unhealthy Breathing/Discolored Fins
Examine your fish to make sure they are breathing well and their fins have no tears or splits. Their scales should be smooth and they should move around enthusiastically. If a fish keeps to themselves or only in one part of the tank, they may be in trouble! Check your fish for tiny white spots or milky eye to keep them happy.
Bloated Bellies/Protruding Scales
Unless your fish are pregnant, distended bellies are a bad sign. Conversely, they shouldn’t be sunken, either. Check their scales for fungus disease (characterized by white tufts around the fin or mouth) or fin rot, the wasting of tissues between the fins.
Erratic or Uneven Swimming
If your fish is swimming to the side or slower than usual, it can be a sign of illness. For example, fish with poor air quality will clamor to the surface if they don’t have enough oxygen. Make sure you don’t leave them breathless!
The Solution
The good news is that while some of these conditions need special attention, most of them are caused by poor water quality. Make sure you monitor the tank temperature, salinity, and oxygen. Close monitoring of your tank can help you observe smaller problems before they become bigger ones – your fish will thank you for it!
