There are many factors that cause disease in almost all ornamental fish, such as sudden changes in weather, unstable water temperature, water corruption, parasites or bacterial and other microbial infections.

Generally speaking, healthy fish have smooth scales, bright colors, no damage to the surface, no broken fins, bright red gill filaments, intact eyes, and clean and flawless eyes. They swim at all times except when the water temperature is very low. Move freely and very lively. The opposite is true after illness.

The following are 5 common parasitic diseases of ornamental fish.

1. Melonworm disease

Melonworm disease is the white spot disease, which is relatively common. The pathogen is the multi-seeded melonworm.

In the early stage of the disease, the mucous membrane on the body surface of the sick fish is thickened, and white dot-like vesicles gradually appear on the body surface, fin rays and gills. In severe cases, the white dots will join together and the body surface will be covered with white vesicles. Dots and white slime. The sick fish gradually loses its appetite, becomes sluggish and inactive, has scales falling off, fins rotting and cracking, is too lazy to swim and often floats on the water, and its breathing is blocked until it dies.

The suitable water temperature for the reproduction of small melon bugs is 15~25℃. When it is below 10℃ and above 25℃, the development of small melon bug larvae stops or gradually dies. Therefore, this disease mostly occurs from early winter to late spring.

Melonworm disease often occurs after sudden changes in weather or water changes. Due to fish colds or body damage, the disease and pests take advantage of the opportunity to enter.

We can take advantage of the small melon worm’s intolerance to high temperatures and slowly raise the water temperature to 28°C. After a few days of rest, the cysts of the small melon worm will begin to fall off. At this time, the water must be changed in time, and the sick fish will Gradually recover. If combined with drug-assisted treatment, the general cure rate can reach 90%, and the recovery speed will be faster.

There is also a situation where there is no heating condition. This situation can only be treated with medication. Because the melonworm disease is highly contagious and very fast, once it is discovered, it should be isolated immediately and treated with drugs.

2. Trichodiasis

Trichodiasis is caused by trichozoa parasitizing on the body surface. It often floats on the water surface and has obvious difficulty breathing. They usually invade the gills in large numbers, causing destruction of gill tissue, blackening of body color, loss of appetite, thin body, swimming alone and slowly. Sometimes whitening or congestion can be seen on the body surface.

3. Chlorophyllosis

Chlorophyllosis is also called white nebula disease. The pathogen is Chlorophytum, which is parasitic on the skin and gills of fish. It often occurs in small tanks or small pools with dirty water.

When the epidermal tissue of the fish body is invaded, the secretion will increase and gradually form a white mist-like film from small to large. In severe cases, it will cover the entire fish body surface, causing the fish body to lose its original luster. The body color becomes darker and gradually becomes thinner.

The fins are often shrunken and stiff, unable to fully extend. When a large number of parasitic tubeworms parasitize on the gills, it will also make it difficult for the fish to breathe, prompting the sick fish to swim to the water surface with a floating head, and accelerate the death of the fish.

The water temperature suitable for the reproduction of S. obliquus is 12~18℃. When the water temperature drops to 8~12℃, it can still appear in large numbers. Insects can reproduce in large numbers in 3 to 5 days, and the epidemic season is from December every year to May of the next year. Generally, when the water temperature reaches above 25°C, it is usually not infected with schistosomiasis.