Fish pox is a disease that often occurs in neglected tanks, especially among novice aquarists who acquire fish from unreliable sources. It is caused by a parasite – spheres. Its name comes from the shape it takes in an aquarium, where it can sometimes be seen without magnification. Smallpox in aquarium fish is usually violent and can be fatal if not noticed in time. Find out how to recognize it, diagnose it and treat it so that the fish survive.
Fish pox – causes
Smallpox in an aquarium usually comes from the neglect of the aquarist himself. For this reason, it is considered a disease that occurs mainly in novice hobbyists. It is more susceptible to it. Why is smallpox in molynesia diagnosed particularly often? It is probably influenced by the uniform color of the fish, which makes it easier to see changes. Additionally, this species is not very resistant to low temperatures in the tank.
The most common reasons why smallpox appears in an aquarium include:
- introduction of sick fish from an unreliable source into the tank;
- replacement with water containing a parasite;
- secondary infection due to the use of utensils that were previously used to care for fish with smallpox;
- Live food that has not been disinfected or frozen;
- plants purchased from an unreliable source, improperly cleaned;
- decorations that were previously used in a fishpox tank.
What does smallpox look like in aquarium fish?
Every aquarist should be familiar with the symptoms of chicken pox. Early detected, they give a chance to save the fish from death. What does smallpox look like in aquarium fish? What should worry you? Here are the symptoms you should look out for:
- rubbing the fish against objects in the tank;
- excessive, unusual mobility, restlessness in fish;
- shortness of breath due to damage to the gills – the fish lie on the bottom or, on the contrary, swim just below the water surface;
- cloudy eyes;
- bloodshot gills;
- mucus-covered fins;
- white spots all over the body of the fish.
It is worth knowing that although chickenpox was defined with this name precisely due to the presence of changes in the body, this symptom indicates an advanced stage of the disease. This means that then it is practically impossible to rescue the fish. The very first symptoms should prompt you to separate the sick individuals from the rest of the cast.
Fish pox – how to treat it?
Treatment of chickenpox is best carried out with the use of ready-made preparations. There are both ready-made remedies for this disease and specific factors added to the aquarium. These include malachite green and methyl blue.
If you don’t know how to treat chicken pox, see your veterinarian for help. It’s best to find a specialist who deals with aquaristics. Another way is to contact an experienced breeder. Everyone has their own ways of fighting the disease. It will also help to set rules for decontaminating equipment and moving fish.
Fish pox – home treatments
When chicken pox appears in your aquarium, home treatments can help combat it. However, they are usually not sufficient to save the fish. Fish pox requires that the water temperature in the tank be increased to above 27 ° C. The method used by aquarists is to gradually increase salinity. However, this must be done wisely, otherwise animals can be poisoned. This is because fish pox attacks mainly freshwater species.
Is chickenpox dangerous to humans?
Many novice aquarists wonder if smallpox is dangerous to humans. While this parasite can be transmitted to humans, the disease itself does not affect humans. This means that man is primarily a carrier. So you can, by contact with sick fish and even contaminated water, transfer the smallpox in the fish to the second tank. That is why it is so important to maintain hygiene and regularly clean all equipment in the aquarium in which you keep your fish in quarantine.
Smallpox in fish – how to prevent it?
Smallpox in fish usually occurs as a result of specific negligence. For this reason, it is much easier than to treat it simply to prevent it. Fish pox is a disease that often occurs in neglected reservoirs. What to do to prevent its development? Here are some tips:
- use quarantine for living organisms introduced into the tank;
- disinfect and freeze live food;
- buy healthy fish from reliable sources, from experienced aquarists;
- observe the fish for several days in an additional tank to exclude symptoms of the disease;
- take care to maintain a constant, sufficiently high temperature in the aquarium;
- separate suspected smallpox animals from the rest of the population.
Among the many diseases that occur to animals in aquariums, fishpox is one of the most dangerous. Due to the high infectivity and rapid course of the disease, it often ends in the death of the majority of the cast. This is especially true when it is noticed too late. Now you know how to recognize it – remember how to prevent smallpox so it does not attack your fish.