It is often difficult to tell if a fish or shoal of fishes is sick, however their general behaviour should be easy to recognise by observation and any unusual behaviour should be apparent to you, typical examples are listed under STRESS.

Fish not feeding, fins closed and held against the body, loss of colour, lethargic or laboured movement, rubbing themselves against objects as if to remove irritants etc. If a fish is netted and held on its side, when you look over it and the eye is looking straight at you i.e., flat to the body instead of the top of the eye raised, this is a good indication that the fish is not well and a reason for this should be sought.

It is a fact that fish like all animals have their 'off days' and it may be that isolation and a simple stress treatment will resolve the problem in a day or so.

BLOOD IN FINS: See 'FIN CONGESTION'. If necessary see 'FUNGUS' or
                             'FIN ROT'

FIN CONGESTION:
SYMPTOM: Blood streaks and clots in the finnage, usually the caudal of long-
                   finned fishes. This will quickly turn into Fin Rot if not dealt with.
TREATMENT: Fish are being kept too cool. Raise temperature and aerate.
                      Some fancy fish are not suitable to be kept in ponds.
                      Cooking Salt Bath - Trim away long infected fins (not more
                      than a third). Keep long finned fishes at a slightly higher
                      temperature.

FIN ROT:
SYMPTOM: Fins fraying with the membrane between the rays rotting away,
                    leaving a series of filaments to the fin.
TREATMENT: Potassium Dichromate - Acriflavine. You can trim away
                      infected fins (not more that a third).
COMMERCIAL TREATMENTS: 'Anti Fungus' - 'General Tonic'.

FISH LEECH & LOUSE:
SYMPTOM: Fish Leech(s) attached to the body of the fish -
                   The same treatment applies for Fish Louse (Argulus).
TREATMENT: Remove the Louse by touching it with a baby bud soaked in
                      Iodine. Try and keep the Iodine off of the fish's body.
                      Cover the wound withFriars Balsam or Vaseline.

FUNGUS:
SYMPTOM: Clumps of white or off white cotton wool like threads usually a
                   secondary infection associated with a wound or ulcer, and can
                   occur on the body, fins or even on the gills.
TREATMENT: Malachite Green - Cooking Salt - Acriflavine.
COMMERCIAL TREATMENTS: 'Fungistop' 'Anti Fungus'.

GILL FLUKES:
SYMPTOM: Fish are obviously ill, closed fins. Fish mouth surface
                   even gulping air. Gill are pale, white instead of red.
TREATMENT: Methylene Blue - Potassium Dichromate.
COMMERCIAL TREATMENTS: 'Formaldehyde 30%.' 'Gill-Wash'.

MOUTH ROT:
SYMPTOM: Damage to mouth as the tissue is being eaten away,
                   Signs of Fungus as a secondary infection.
TREATMENT: Potassium Dichromate - Acriflavine.
COMMERCIAL TREATMENTS: 'Anti Fungus' - 'General Tonic'.

SKIN FLUKES:
SYMPTOM: Fish are obviously ill, twitching and/or closed fins.
                   Rubbing themselves against solid objects as if trying to remove an
                   irritant. One can often see small blood marks on the fins and/or
                   body.
TREATMENT: Methylene Blue - Cooking Salt.
COMMERCIAL TREATMENTS: 'Formaldehyde 30%.

STRESS:
SYMPTOM: Stress recognised by fish not feeding, fins closed and held against
                   thebody, loss of colour, lethargic or laboured movement.
TREATMENT: Try feeding moving live food 'Daphnia' etc.
COMMERCIAL TREATMENTS: 'Revite'.

WHITE SPOT:
SYMPTOM: Many tacking pin head size white, or off-white, spots on body and
                   fins. Ichthyophthirius multifilis, a minute parasite that feeds off
                   the body of the fish encysting itself in a small white protective
                   coating. Has a fairly complex reproduction cycle and can be
                   cured simply by interrupting this cycle.
TREATMENT: Isolate the victim. Raise the temperature to speed up the cycle
                      and change all the water daily. Or treat with chemicals.
                      Methylene Blue, Potassium Dichromate, Acriflavine.
COMMERCIAL TREATMENTS: 'ContraSpot' - 'Anti Parasite'.

ULCERS:
SYMPTOM: Ulcers are an open ulcerated area on the body, sometimes
                   infected with secondary problem usually a fungus.
TREATMENT: Cooking Salt, Acriflavine, Vaseline, and Friars Balsam.
COMMERCIAL TREATMENTS: 'Anti Ulcer' - 'Ulcer Swab'.

PERSISTENT ULCERS OR WOUNDS:
SYMPTOM: Ulcers or wounds that do not heal whilst in contact with water.
TREATMENT: Vaseline, Friars Balsam.
COMMERCIAL TREATMENTS: 'Anti Ulcer' - 'Wound Seal'.

DEAD FISH:
If one of your fish dies DO NOT flush it down the toilet. This is one way in which fish diseases are transferred into our river systems and devastate our British native fish. Incinerate it, bury it, or put in a plastic bag in the dustbin.

USING REMEDIES

1) Always read the instructions on the use of the treatment before using it -
    and adhere to them.
2) Handle all chemicals and treatments with care avoid spillage and splashing,
    wear 'Marigold' type gloves.
3) Protect your eyes from splashes with glasses or protective eye shields.
4) NEVER check a chemical by taste or smell.
    If not sure what it is do not use it and dispose of it safely.
5) Avoid breathing in any fumes.
6) Always measure or weigh out the required dosage using a graduated
     container or scales. Do not over or under treat, and never guess the dosage.
7) All sick fish must be isolated from the others at once.
8) All treatment must be undertaken in controlled conditions and in isolation.
9) Do not view an exposed UV tube when powered up with the naked eye
    it will damage the retina and can cause blindness.
10) Many chemicals will not store always keep them in the dark and in a
     refrigerator if possible clearly labelled and dated.
11) Last, but not least. Prevention is always preferred to cure.
     Quarantine fish before releasing them into a pond.
     Disinfect plants and examine them for snails, snail spawn and other nasties
     before introducing these into a pond or stream.

© FBAS 2004 RCM/RDE                                    Pond Care Sheet 8 2/2

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