Some diseases of goldfish affect them more often, some less often, but there are a number of diseases typical of these fish. As all aquarists know, diseases of aquarium fish are divided into infectious and non-infectious. Infectious diseases of goldfish are divided into invasive, caused by animal organisms (protozoa, unicellular, arthropods and parasitic worms) and infectious, caused by microorganisms of plant origin (viruses, bacteria, fungi, unicellular algae).
Very often, the diagnosis of a diseased fish can only be established after laboratory tests. In the event of a goldfish disease, it is best to immediately contact an ichthyologist or other specialists.
Non-contagious diseases of aquarium goldfish can be caused by improper conditions of detention, improper feeding, exposure to chemicals, mechanical damage (injuries). Having established the cause of the disease, any aquarist can timely eliminate the factors that caused it and thereby cure their fish.
Goldfish infectious diseases can be acute and chronic. The most common non-communicable diseases include:
1. Gas embolism (an excess of oxygen).
Symptoms: vesicles on the body, lethargy or restless behavior, slow movement of gill covers.
Treatment (prevention): eliminate an excess of oxygen.
2. Asphyxia (lack of oxygen).
Symptoms: fish near the surface of the water swallow air for a long time, impaired appetite, protruding gills, growth retardation.
Treatment (prevention): water change (30% of the volume of the aquarium), increased aeration, cooling water, reducing the number of fish, removing organics from the bottom.
3. Subcooling or overheating.
Symptoms: with hypothermia - lethargy, fish are at the bottom, loss of appetite; upon overheating: rapid breathing, fish swallow air on the surface of the water.
Goldfish are classified as cold-water fish. Do not allow overheating or severe hypothermia of water. Temperature differences can cause temperature shock, leading to the death of fish.
4. Stress.
Symptoms: lying at the bottom, shyness, erratic movements, mucus secretion, fins cramping, loss of appetite, nervousness.
Treatment (prevention): eliminate the factors that caused stress.
5. Alkalosis (too alkaline environment) and acidosis (too acidic environment).
Symptoms of alkalosis: anxiety, impaired coordination, mucus secretion, cramps, scratching on stones and decor, corneal opacity.
Symptoms of acidosis: the excited state of the fish becomes depressed over time, slowing down the movements of the gill covers, loss of coordination, mucus secretion.
Treatment (prevention): set the pH value and replace the water.
6. Poisoning with nitrates, ammonia and nitrites.
Symptoms of nitrate poisoning: lethargy, scratching on stones, decreased appetite, twitching fins.
Symptoms of ammonia poisoning: excitability, acceleration of the movements of gill covers, red veins on the fins, hemorrhage in the eyes.
Symptoms of nitrite poisoning convulsions, accelerated movements of gill covers, twitching fins.
Treatment (prevention): replace water and create normal conditions of maintenance (moderate feeding, live plants, biofiltration, soil cleaning, aeration).
7. Overfeeding.
Goldfish are voracious, but they cannot be overfed. They can get obesity or inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract leading to the death of the fish.
Symptoms: immobility, inflammation of the anus, a significant increase in the abdomen, mucous red excrement (with air bubbles), “flip-flop” (the fish loses balance, is pushed to the surface of the water, swims on its side, upside down or upside down).
Treatment (prevention): moderate feeding, dietary diversity, soaking dry food before feeding, fasting day. Inflammation of the digestive tract is treated by fasting for 3-7 days.
8. Injuries.
Symptoms: wounds on the body and eyes, rupture of fins, loss of scales, abrasion.
Treatment (prophylaxis): isolation of fish, treatment of fish with drugs designed to accelerate tissue regeneration and prevent the formation of fungi (methylene blue).
We are able to prevent the infectious diseases of goldfish by creating the most optimal conditions for their maintenance.