Disease Symptom Chart

Disease Symptom Chart

Disease causing organism	Condition	Symptoms		Likely Causes	Remedies
		Appearance	Behaviour
Bacteria: which may include Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, Flexibacter or Mycobacteriosis	Fin Rot or Tail Rot	Torn and tattered edges or white edged holes in fins, red streaks in the fin and tail, white edges to the fins and tail.	Fish may appear lethargic and tired.	Bacteria often infect fish when they becomes stressed, or when their immune system has been compromised. There are many causes for this including: Poor water quality. Physical damage. Previously unwell.   Introduction of non-quarantined new fish to the tank - harmful bacteria has been transferred to the tank.	Treatment
Bacteria:usually Flavobacterium columnare (Flexibacter)	Mouth Rot	Rotting/erosion of the mouth areas. Small grey or white marks on the head, fins, gills and mouth that grow to resemble white 'fungus like' tuff, loss of colour	Fish may appear lethargic, They may have clamped fins. Loss of appetite		Treatment
Bacteria: which may include Aeromonas, Pseudomonas and Flexibacter	Gill Rot	Inflamed gills with rotting white patches	Fish may appear lethargic and tired, have clamped fins, lose of appetite.   Fish may struggle to breathe (check your waters nitrite levels) and appear to be gasping at the water surface.		Treatment
Bacteria:Vibriosis	Ulcers or red streaks	Red areas or open wounds or sores on the body that have been infected	Fish may appear lethargic and tired, have clamped fins, lose of appetite.	Poor water quality. Physical damage.	Treatment
Bacteria:Mycobacteriosis	Fish TB	Thin appearance, bloated areas in gut area of body, crocked spine, loss of colour, ulcers. Reproduction stops in females. Guppies and other live-bearers often strongly affected Very similar symptoms to other bacterial infections above.	Fish often appear lethargic and tired, hide in corners near the bottom.	Incurable mostly. Euthanise animal. This very hardy bacteria lives in the gut and internal organs of the animal so rapidly infects others in the tank. Long term quarantine of several months needed to ensure you don't import it.	Treatment
Parasites	White Spot (Ich)	Tiny white spots on the skin and fins, extra skin mucus.	Fish may appear irritated and flick against objects;they may look uncomfortable; loss of appetite	Parasites often infect fish when their immune system has been compromised.   There are many causes including: Poor water quality, Poor food variety, Adding infected fish, Over crowding.	Treatment
Parasites	Costia (Ichthyobodo)	Cloudiness of the skin caused by excess mucus	Fish may appear irritated and flick against objects;they may look uncomfortable; loss of appetite;lethargy;clamped fins, fish may rest on the bottom for long periods.		Treatment
Parasites	Trichodina	Grey patches on skin if highly infected	Rubbing against objects, clamped fins, lethargy. Fish may rest on the bottom for long periods if seriously infected.		Treatment
Fungus	Often Saprolegnia	Grey white patches on skin or gills that resemble tuffs of cotton wool	Fish may appear lethargic and show a loss of appetite.	Poor Water quality. Fungus is a secondary infection that attacks fish on open wounds from other fish or other injuries, such as ulcers.	Treatment