Aquarium fish are susceptible to disease, like all living things on the planet. Often a white coating appears on them. The owner should not panic. The main thing is to find out the cause of the disease and help the pets. We will analyze the main pathologies in which the appearance of white plaque on fish in an aquarium is possible.
Alkalosis
This disease occurs in some fish species that, from an acidic environment, enter alkaline conditions with a pH of 7.3 to 8.0. Other causes of the disease:
- Excessive lighting in the aquarium.
- Too much vegetation.
To notice alkalosis, you need to look at the fish. The following symptoms are found in them:
- The scales become pale.
- Convulsive movements.
- Slime on the gills.
- The fins are spread wide.
Fish with this pathology gradually become blind, and they die quite quickly.
If a white coating forms on goldfish or other individuals, you need to transfer them to water with high acidity.
Dermatomycosis
This is a fungal disease in fish. It affects individuals with weakened immune defenses. Mushrooms of various species can inhabit fish.
The disease appears if the fish are in a low temperature water for a long time. The situation is aggravated by improper feed composition, acidity and a lot of organic matter.
The first stage can be detected when the fish in the aquarium are covered with a white coating that resembles moss. If white threads appeared on individuals, then soon ulcers and microtraumas should be expected. Gradually, plaque becomes like cotton wool, it covers the body and fins.
Dermatomycosis Treatment
Before starting treatment, prepare a recuperator. In this case, the drug "Bicillin" is used. This is an effective tool for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases of fish. For 50 liters of water, 250,000 units of composition are needed. A diluted preparation is added to water. The procedure is performed within 4-6 days. The temperature in the tank at this time should be at 26 degrees.
All objects in the aquarium and plants are treated with antifungal compounds.
Gyrodactyles
In this case, white plaque is seen on the fish in the aquarium. The hue may also be bluish. Fish stop moving, rub against various objects of the aquarium. Gradually, their fins separate, sores appear on the body. Individuals die from a lack of oxygen.
Copper sulfate is used to treat the disease. For 10 liters of liquid it will need 14-15 grams. The prepared medicine is poured into the depositor. It will take 6-7 days to overcome the disease. To exclude infection of the remaining fish, the aquarium is subjected to processing with salt.
Trichodinosis
The disease causes ciliary ciliary. At an early stage, the disease is not noticeable. It can be assumed by the accumulation of diseased individuals at the aerator.
If you notice a white coating on goldfish in the aquarium, which later begins to separate with flakes, then the disease has passed to the next stage. Mucus is visible on the gills, breathing of individuals becomes difficult. The appetite of the fish disappears, they stop moving, begin to itch on objects, the bottom of the aquarium. Some species can swing from side to side.
Trichodinia occurs due to untreated water, untreated decorative items and poor quality feed. The ciliates die as soon as the fish are removed from the aquarium. Strong and healthy individuals are not afraid of the disease, even if the pathogen got into the aquarium. If the fish organisms are already weakened, the pathogen begins active reproduction. The trichodins themselves are not very tenacious; they can survive no more than two days without fish. Therefore, it is important to establish the cause of the spread of the incidence and eliminate adverse factors in time.
Trichodinia Treatment
To rid the fish of this disease, it is easiest to add one of the special preparations to the water:
- NILPA "Aquaform".
- Kostapur.
- "Kontraik."
In each of them - malachite greens. You can also purchase malachite green from a chemical store. For treatment, a solution concentration of 0.05-0.07 mg / L should be prepared. Trichodins "do not like" malachite greens, therefore this substance is highly effective. According to the reviews of the owners of the aquariums, the medicine is added within five days: first 2 ml, the next day 3 ml, then 4 ml and 10 ml. If you bought the finished product, you should adhere to the instructions for it.
Another effective remedy is FMC (FMC). It is also used according to the attached instructions. The owners of the fish say that the drug helps in 100% of cases to defeat an unpleasant disease.
Salt baths are also effective. A salt solution of 1.5-2% should be taken. Bathing in such baths is carried out for 10-15 minutes. Instead of salt, potassium permanganate can be used. To do this, take 0.5 grams of potassium permanganate per 10 liters of water, the fish are placed in such a bath for 10-15 minutes every 12 hours.
In addition, aeration should be increased in the aquarium, and the water should be heated to 30 degrees.
Kostiosis
Pathology is caused by the flagellate. After the parasites enter the fish, they invade the skin cells and begin active reproduction. The most comfortable environment for them is water with a temperature of 26-28 degrees. However, with an increase in the indicator to 31 degrees, the death of parasites begins. Upon contact with the pathogen, individuals stop consuming food and moving. A white coating appears on the fish in the aquarium. Gills are covered with mucus, breathing is difficult. Fish can die quickly, especially when it comes to young individuals. Adults do not die, but become carriers of a dangerous pathology.
Sources of parasites are:
- Infected fish.
- Parasites in the soil.
- Low quality food.
What to do if there is a white coating on the fish in the aquarium? Treatment should be started as soon as possible.
Ways to fight the disease
For treatment, methylene blue is used. It is a synthetic dye. It is necessary to take or prepare its 1% solution (1 gram of the substance per liter of water), dissolve 3 ml of the drug in 10 liters of water. Individuals should be in such a liquid until complete recovery.
In the aquarium, the temperature is gradually raised to 30-34 degrees, this helps to get rid of parasites.
You will also need quarantine containers. They are filled with water into which a solution of potassium permanganate is added. For 10 liters of liquid take 0.1 grams of the mixture. In this solution, each infected individual should be bathed.
You can use a solution of salt. But in this case, caution should be exercised, since prolonged exposure to salt water can lead to the death of fish. Salt baths should be very short-lived.
To prevent pathology, all newly purchased fish should be kept in quarantine for a month. After that, they should be passed through the preventive salt bath at least three times, only after that they can be placed in a common aquarium. In no case should water be allowed to enter the aquarium, which contained live feed, as well as water from natural sources.
Point disease
This disease is also called ichthyophthyroidism, as well as semolina. The causative agents of the disease are ichthyophthyria - parasites that feed on the skin of fish.
At the same time, white plaque is seen on the fish in the aquarium. Parasites cover the gills, internal organs and the surface of the fish. At the very beginning, white dots appear on the body of the individual, the number of which gradually increases. Fishes stop consuming food, rub their bodies on objects, they get scared of everything. If treatment is not started in time, the individuals will die.
If the fish is covered with white coating, a quarantine aquarium is prepared for its treatment. Bactericidal drugs are dissolved in it. Usually used "Bicillin" or malachite green. The temperature of the liquid is increased by 3-5 degrees. Water is changed every 3-5 days.
In addition, such drugs are effective:
- "Phyosept."
- "Furazolidone."
- "Antipar".
- SeraOmnisan.
- Aquarium Pharmaceuticals.
- JBLPunktolULTRA.
- Sera Omnisa.
It is very important to follow the instructions, since all drugs are highly toxic, their overdose is very dangerous for fish. The water in the aquarium is kept at around 23-25 degrees. If after 5 days of treatment there is no positive dynamics, it is necessary to check the pH level, find out if there is an excess of organic matter, and what is the oxygen saturation of the water.
Prevention
To avoid the appearance of the disease, all objects, the substrate and all devices intended for the aquarium should be treated. Feed should be purchased in high-quality and in reliable stores to prevent parasites from entering the fish tank.
So, now the owners of a home aquarium will understand what to do if the aquarium fish are covered with white coating. First of all, you need to find out the cause and deal with it. In most cases, fish diseases are treatable, so you should not panic.