Fish diseases white spot disease: In our new series on fish diseases our ornamental fish Let's start with one of the most common diseases. The white point disease or with the scientific name also short Ichthyo or Ichthyophthirius called, is unfortunately very common. Again and again aquarists have this disease in their tanks. You can find out what the symptoms are and how to treat them here.
External symptoms and behavior of the fish
Recognizing white spot disease is not difficult and can usually be recognized very quickly. White spots on the fins are usually the beginning. These can then spread further to the whole body of the fish. The skin is then covered with these small white dots. Hence the name of the spot disease. In addition, the mucous membrane of the fish also detaches at a later stage. Almost all fish can get spot disease and become infected with it. It doesn't matter whether it's catfish, cichlids, tetras or livebearers. However, cichlids and perch / cichlids seem to be increasingly affected. Nevertheless, we were even able to recognize and determine this spot disease in catfish and neon tetras.
- Highly active combination of active ingredients against common diseases in pond fish
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- fast and safe help in the event of illness
- medicinal product for ornamental fish with unique healing properties
- all sera medicinal products are characterized by maximum safety for animals and users.
- Which components are included in the scope of delivery of the product: a bottle of sera omnipur S 50 ml
You can also see a lot in the behavior of the fish. The fish very often rub themselves on objects or plants. They can also become slower and more lethargic. The spot disease also has an effect on eating behavior. Usually the appetite decreases and the fish hide and withdraw.
Let's briefly summarize the symptoms again:
- White spots on the fins
- White dots all over the body
- scouring the fish
- Rather sluggish swimming behavior
- anorexia
- fin clamps
- animals hide
- Lack of oxygen: Gills are already affected
How does white spot disease come about?
Surely some are wondering how this disease of the fish can even come about. White spot disease is caused by the skin parasite Ichthyophthirius, or Ichthyo for short. The pathogen nests in the skin of the fish, but can also nest in other areas of the aquarium. So there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to treatment. Through a chain of transformations of the pathogen, it happens at a later stage that parasites later cling to debris or plants.
The pathogen is usually brought into the aquarium with a new stock or via plants. Nevertheless, it can also happen that white spot disease breaks out in an aquarium where nothing has been done for a long time. The reason for this is usually the spread by a fish that has been infested for a long time. Fish can carry this parasite without it breaking out. Fish can even become immune to it.
- Highly active combination of active ingredients against common diseases in pond fish
- Very broad spectrum of activity
- Helps effectively and quickly against skin parasites and bacterial skin infections
- For use on wounds and all types of external injuries
- Also for prevention and disinfection
- Fast and safe help in case of illness
- Medicinal herbs for ornamental fish with unique healing properties
- All sera medicines are characterized by maximum safety for animals and users.
- fast and safe help in the event of illness
- medicinal product for ornamental fish with unique healing properties
- all sera medicinal products are characterized by maximum safety for animals and users.
- Which components are included in the scope of delivery of the product: a bottle of sera omnipur S 50 ml
However, an outbreak is usually related to a change in the aquarium. The water values and their changes can also play a role. Stress factors can also lead to an outbreak in the fish.
If, for example, an immune fish, which has the parasites in it, is stressed too much, white spot disease can break out. What could such stressors be?
- New ornamental fish in the aquarium
- new plants
- Wrong feeding
- Water parameters and temperature have changed
- Stress from other fish
Finally, a word about the exact origin of white spot disease. There are different stages like the Trophont, Tomot or the swarming phase. We do not want to go into detail about these, since it is usually not important for the aquarist how the individual stages of development differ. If the white spot disease is on the fish, then one always talks about the trophonts. But they also leave a fish again if it dies, for example.
Treatment and control of white spot disease
Let us now come to the crucial question of how to get this problem under control again. One thing in advance. If you recognize the disease quite quickly, then it can also be treated very well and efficiently. The more the fish suffer from it, the harder it becomes to save their life.
Temperature method: Probably the simplest method is the temperature method. Here the temperature is increased up to 30 degrees. Many of the carriers and bacteria or parasites cannot tolerate this temperature and die off. Unfortunately, there are already some mutations that can survive well over 30 degrees. Still, it's worth a try. Not all fish tolerate these high temperatures. Here they should know exactly the profiles of the fish they keep. In addition, you should offer additional oxygen with this method, because if the temperature rises, the oxygen is usually reduced. In principle, if there are problems with white spot disease, the oxygen content should be increased. A better flow and special pumps are recommended for this purpose.
salt method: It is best to use the salt method in conjunction with the temperature method. Here salt is added to the aquarium water. Only a small amount, of course. This special salt is also available in specialist shops. Please do not use iodized salt! Here, however, it is crucial to know how sensitively the fish kept can react to this addition of salt.
water change: Especially when detecting the parasite, one should take a very large one daily Water change carry out. Here we recommend replacing 50 percent of the water every day. So you can remove the floating parasite to a large extent immediately. In addition, you provide new nutrients and sufficient oxygen for the fish. This is also necessary with the salt method.
- Against white spots and other ectoparasites.
- In the case of parasite infestation for freshwater and saltwater fish and, to a limited extent, for invertebrates in the aquarium.
- Against re-infestation: Due to the life cycle of the pathogen, multiple doses are required. Pathogens detach from the fish after a few days and sink to the bottom. Without copper, without side effects
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- Scope of delivery: 1 x pack of JBL Punktol Plus 125, 10065, 100 ml, for max. 1000 l aquariums, application: 10 ml/100 l
- Against 18+ symptoms: highly effective and effective
- Treats primary and secondary fungal infections, bacterial skin infections and skin / gill parasites, protozoal parasites, ulcers and wounds, ascites and fin rot
- Can be used together with eSHa EXIT or with eSHa gdex
- Is well tolerated by fish, plants and the filter bacteria
- Available in 20/180/500/1000 ml
- Effective against Ichthyophthirius and Oodinium
- 20 ml are sufficient for 1000 liters
- The manufacturer recommends treatment together with eSHa 2000
- Fast and safe help in case of illness
- Medicinal herbs for ornamental fish with unique healing properties
- All sera medicines are characterized by maximum safety for animals and users.
Treatment with multiple aquariums: You can also think about relocating the fish. Nevertheless, this will usually not bring anything, since the pathogens have not only settled on the fish, but are also in the sludge or on the plants. Nevertheless, the fish could be removed and treated in another tank in order to reduce the stress on species that may not be infested. In practice, however, this has not proven itself.
Treatment with medication: This is usually one of the most common methods to get white spot disease under control quickly. The manufacturers provide a lot of preparations to get the white spot disease under control. Certainly one of the most important preparations is from JBL Punktol. Many aquarists have already had good experiences with it. The application must be carried out according to the manufacturer's instructions. Punktol also helps very well and you quickly get the better of white spot disease.
Things to note after treatment:
If you use medication in the aquarium, you not only have to do a large water change after the treatment and also vacuum off the sludge, but you should also filter with activated carbon. This is the only way to get the drug residues out of the water.
Protection against white spot disease
Can you protect yourself? Basically there is 100% protection against white spot disease. Nevertheless, if you pay attention to a few things, you can at least protect yourself somewhat.
- Never buy fish that are already sick
- Observe new fish very well
- Let the dealer show you the gills
- Possibly place new fish in a quarantine tank
- Only buy plants from plant tanks
- Dangers exist here from mixed tanks
- Slow stocking with new fish
Finally one more Note, if you have shrimp / invertebrates. In any case, you should be careful when it comes to medication. Again and again there are reports that animals have died after treatment. In any case, read the package insert carefully and do not experiment.
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