Ornamental Fish Production and Management

10.1.2 Bacterial diseases

(i) Red Pest

Symptoms: Bloody streaks on fins or body.

Treatment :

Aquarium should be treated with a disinfectant. Acriflavine ( 0.2% ) solution may be used at the rate of 1 ml per litre.

(ii)Mouth Fungus

Symptoms: White cotton patches around the mouth.

Mouth Fungus is so called because it looks like a fungus attack of the mouth. It is actually caused by the bacterium Chondrococcus columnaris. It shows up first as a gray or white line around the lips and later as short tufts sprouting from the mouth like fungus. Penicillin at 10,000 units per liter is a very effective treatment. Second dose with chloromycetin, 10 to 20 mg per liter may be given after two days.

(iii)Dropsy

Symptoms: Bloating of the body, protruding scales.

Dropsy is caused from a bacterial infection of the kidneys, causing fluid accumulation or renal failure. The fluids in the body build up and cause the fish to bloat up and the scales to protrude. It appears to only cause trouble in weakened fish and possibly from unkept aquarium conditions. An effective treatment is addition of antibiotic such as chloromycetin (chloramphenicol) and tetracycline at the rate of 10 mg per liter of water.

(iv)Tail Rot & Fin Rot

Symptoms: Disintegrating fins that may be reduced to stumps, exposed fin rays, blood on edges of fins, reddened areas at base of fins, skin ulcers with gray or red margins, cloudy eyes. Tail and fin rot appears to be a bacterial infection of the tail and/or fins and may be caused by generally poor conditions, bully, or fin nipping tankmates. An effective treatment is addition of antibiotic such as chloromycetin (chloramphenicol) and tetracycline at the rate of 10 mg per liter of water.