What the Beginning and Advancing Aquarist Absolutely Needs to Know and Do When Starting An Aquarium

What a Beginner Need to Know Before a Health Emergency Arises

Before an emergency develops, it is recommended to do some reading to get used to the different common fish diseases, what they look like from the pictures.  The Internet has increasingly useful web sites that can be found by searching with key words (such as "Aquarium Fish Diseases").  Also, consider who you can contact if you need help.  Consider joining a local society in aquarium or pond keeping where you can meet experts and receive advice when you need it.  Search the Internet for societies near you.  One place to start is with FAAS, the Federation of American Aquarium Societies www.faas.info/. Searches on the Internet (Koi societies, marine aquarium societies, etc.) will reveal many others.

Since the Kordon and AquaVet Divisions of Novalek have a range of treatments for aquarium and pond fishes, reading the information on the products (see Kordon's home page) will provide help as well.  

Fish diseases and other health problems are at least just as complicated as for other animals.  Also, because they are in the water environment within which diseases can and do spread fast, their suddenness often is unexpected.  In many cases it is going to require a fish health expert to diagnose and treat what is wrong.  If diseases become serious, consider contacting a local veterinarian who specializes in aquatics.  On the Internet go to www.aquavets.com for a list of veterinarians by Country, State and address to find those who are local to you.  A major problem is that it is not easy to take your aquarium or your fish to a veterinarian for a diagnosis and treatment.  In fact it is often important for the one doing the diagnosing to see the environmental conditions in the aquarium or pond to see what might be causing the conditions that have resulted in infection. 

Do not overlook that your local pet/aquarium or pond-products store may have experts on its staff, or know of experts who can help, including local veterinarians and maintenance service personnel for aquariums and ponds.

If help is not available, you can do the following for the most easily identified fish infections:

Tiny White Spots on the Body and Fins of the Fish.  (see Kordon Ich Attack, Prevent Ich, Rid Fungus, Rid-Ich+, and the Kordon Article "The Life Cycle of Ich") Since this is one of the most common infections that freshwater and coral reef fishes get, and one of the easiest for the aquarist to diagnose and treat, the following may be of help.

There is no known treatment that effectively kills the Ich when it is in the white spot stage of its life cycle.  Depending upon the species of Ich, it may take days or weeks before each white spot hatches out into the free-swimming stage.  Usually it is one, two, or three weeks, but may be up to 32 days.  During the free swimming stage of 18 hours or more the Ich can be killed by a full dose of Kordon Ich Attack. Prevent Ich, Fungus Rid, or Rid-Ich+.  Since it is not possible to know on what day each of the Ich tomites will hatch out, which will usually be on different days, daily treatments are needed until all white spots are gone, including those out of sight in the mouth, gills, and nostrils of the fish.  For further information go to the Kordon Article on "The Life Cycle of Ich" [hyperlink].

As for dosing for diseases, less than a full dose each day for the full term needed for the treatment is rarely sufficient for totally eradicating the infection.  It needs to be full doses every dose.  If the fish are covered with Ich white spots, it is recommended when using organic herbal treatements to do two full doses per day, one in the morning, the other later in the day, until all white spots are gone.  Usually it is best to treat 3-4 days or more after the last white spot is seen, since some may be hidden from sight.   Each white spot results in about 1000 young for freshwater Ich, and about 250 young for marine Ich.


Cotton-like Tufts on the Body and Fins of the Fish. (see Kordon Rid Fungus, Ich Attack, Prevent Ich, Rid-Ich+, Malachite Green, and
Formalin-3 )

Visible Worms or Insect-like Lice on the Body and Fins of the Fish.  (see Kordon Formalin-3, Trifon, freshwater Permoxyn and Malachite Green)

Slimy Surface Infections on the Body, Cloudy Eyes.  (see Kordon Ich Attack, Prevent Ich, Rid Fungus, Rid-Ich+, Malachite Green, and Formalin-3 ).  These may be external or internal bacterial infections for which Kordon's organic herbals and external chemical treatments will not be effective for internal use.  For a bacterial infection an antibiotic is needed for which an expert diagnosis has been made of which antibiotic to use is needed, or for external infections an appropriate sulfe drug should be used. Read the following section for more information on antibiotics.

Two last thoughts on this subject.  The aquarium's handlers can pass on diseases or toxicants that adversely affect fishes and other aquarium life.  The handlers should wash their hands before handling aquarium equipment or putting them or hands into the aquarium.  Be sure hands and any objects used in aquarium keeping are well rinsed, such as with an antiseptic (see Kordon SanAqua), so as not to pass on toxicants such as medications, solvents, soaps, etc.  Wearing disposable or washable gloves are recommended. 

It is common for aquarists to believe that when their fish die, the fault lies in the remedy used having killed their fish.  In fact in most cases it is due to other factors.  Often when there are infections, more than one kind is involved.  The infection that killed the fish may not have been noticed by the aquarist.  There can be a wrong diagnosis as to the infection or condition that actually caused the deaths.   Adverse factors in aquarium conditions can be the reason that have nothing to do with fish infections.  This is often the case.

Continue to "What a Beginner Needs to Know about Antibiotic Treatments"