Fish Health Quick
Guide
Table of contents 1 Fish health ...... 1 2 Category 2 (Notifiable) ...... 1 2.1 Cestodes (Tape worms) ...... 1 2.2 Nematodes (Round worms) ...... 1 2.3 Ergasilus briani ...... 1 2.4 Ergasilus sieboldi (Gill maggot) ...... 2 2.5 Thorny headed worm (Acanthocephalans) ...... 2 2.6 Gyrodactylus ...... 2 3 Common FW external Parasites...... 3 3.1 Costia (Icthyobodo necatrix)...... 3 3.2 Trichodina...... 3 3.3 Chilodonella...... 3 3.4 White spot (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis) ...... 4 3.5 Dactylogyrus ...... 4 3.6 Argulus ...... 5 3.7 Leech ...... 5 4 Bacterial infections ...... 5 4.1 Dropsey ...... 5 4.2 Cotton wool disease ...... 5 4.3 Columnaris Disease (Fin rot) ...... 6 4.4 Ulcers ...... 6 5 Common FW internal parasites...... 6 5.1 Eye fluke (diplostomum) ...... 6
1 Fish health. Making a prompt and accurate diagnosis is vital for the successful treatment and the prevention of diseases. Acute problems manifest themselves from hours to within days of an incident, whereas chronic problems take longer to manifest but symptoms will increase with time.
2 Category 2 (Notifiable)
2.1 Cestodes (Tape worms)
Description Bothriocephalus (bell end) Khawia (rosette head) Location found in the stomach or visceral cavity Species Intestine of cyprinids Body cavity in salmonids
Symptoms Bloating, reduces growth and sluggish Control Quarantine new fish Efficient bio-security to stop the spread
Treatment
2.2 Nematodes (Round worms)
Description Anguillicoloides eel swim bladder Anisakis marine fish Location Larvae cyst in visceral or muscle Species Variety of species Symptoms As above Control Cat 2
Treatment
2.3 Ergasilus briani
Description Egg sacks look like maggots Location Usually found on gills, juveniles free living, 1mm in length Species Wide range of FW species Symptoms Gill damage and respiratory problems Control The only way to eradicate it would be to de-stock, drain and lime the pond
Treatment Maintain good water quality, high DO Limit stocking levels
2.4 Ergasilus sieboldi (Gill maggot)
Description Egg sacks look like maggots Location Usually found on gills, 1mm in length
Species Tench and common bream
Symptoms Gill damage, lethargic and respiratory problems Control The only way to eradicate it would be to de-stock, drain and lime the pond Maintain good water quality, high DO Limit stocking levels
2.5 Thorny headed worm (Acanthocephalans)
Description Intermediate host gammarus Attached by hooks Location Fish gut Species Symptoms Control EA cat 2
Treatment
2.6 Gyrodactylus
Description Metazoan. FW microscopic worm, hooked attachment. Large numbers indicate poor husbandry, juvenile visible in adult Location Skin and occasionally gills Species Symptoms Rough patches, scraping, head shaking, lethargy Control Improve environment, limited sensitivity to formalin. Notifiable
Treatment
3 Common FW external Parasites.
3.1 Costia (Icthyobodo necatrix).
Description FW usually, pear shaped flagellate. Extremely motile. Direct lifecycle Location Skin and gills, acute on fry gills Species Carp sp Symptoms Excess mucus, flashing, scraping lethargy Control Improve WQ, regular water changes. Can be triggered by sudden temperature shock
Treatment Responds many anti-parasite remedies. Combination of Formalin and Malachite green (below 15oc) toxic above. Min 6mg/l DO. Water change after 7-10 days
3.2 Trichodina.
Description FW and marine, they are round and ciliate with distinctive ring of hooks. Location Skin and gills Species Carp sp Symptoms Excess mucus around the head, flashing, lethargy, gasping Control Regular filter maintenance and improve WQ.
Treatment PP at 1.5g/1000l, caution with high pH levels. Repeated 5-7 days for 3 weeks max. Or salt bath at 2% (20kg/1000l) for 10-20 min, plus treat secondary infections with propolis treatments.
3.3 Chilodonella.
Description FW, oval ciliate similar to Trichodina, usually on weakened fish, often in spring and autumn, greatest issue is at ~10oc or lower Location Skin and gills Species Carp sp Symptoms Excess mucus, flashing, scraping lethargy. Control Regular filter maintenance and improve WQ.
Treatment Any anti-parasite treatment. PP at 1.5g/1000l but use with caution if in hard water areas. Malachite green and formalin. Do not use salt when using the other treatments.
3.4 White spot (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)
Description Large round ciliate, horseshoe nucleus. Lifecycle temp dependant 10oC-5 weeks, 21oC-4days Location Host epithelium (Skin and gills) Species Symptoms Excess mucus, head shaking lethargy, gasping Control Regular filter maintenance and improve WQ.
Treatment White spot treatments only work on the free-swimming stages not on mature stage.
3.5 Dactylogyrus
Description FW, similar to Gyrodactylus Location Usually on the gills Species Symptoms Rough patches, scraping, head shaking, lethargy Control Regular filter maintenance and improve WQ. Improve DO water changes
Treatment Medications available, or malachite green and formalin >11oc. >7oc PP at 2g/1000l can be repeated every 5-7 days, max 3 weeks. Treat secondary infections with propolis treatments.
3.6 Argulus
Description Crustacean Location Usually on skin and fins, highly motile. Static waters only. Can only be brought in by new fish, quarantine. Species Symptoms Excess mucus, scraping, lethargy Control Quarantine new fish. Drain and eggs will die on any hard surfaces Limited sensitivity to formalin and salt
Treatment Sedate fish, remove lice with tweezers then treat with propolis
3.7 Leech
Description Worm like, flat head, can only be introduced by infected fish or in plants Location Skin and fins Species Symptoms Rough patches, scraping, lethargy Control Inspect newly bought fish and plants
Treatment Drain pond, pumps and filters and start again. Sedate fish and remove any leeches, treat secondary wounds with propolis.
4 Bacterial infections
4.1 Dropsey
Description Pine coning Location Internal Species Symptoms Sudden swelling: A bacterial infection will cause internal bleeding. Slow swelling: Growing tumours, or even parasites, in the fish may cause it to swell. Slow swelling: Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Highly contagious Control Maintain filters and water quality, heat water if possible. Maintain a healthy diet. Inspect newly bought fish Treatment Isolate individual fish depending on quarantine facilities. Salt 5-6kg/1000l for 3-5 days or until improvement has been observed. Increase water temp over this period >25oc (1oc/day) plus a good antibacterial medication (acriflavine) (Virkon s)
4.2 Cotton wool disease
Description Fungus disease (cotton wool) Location Mouth, body and fins Species Symptoms Fungus is a secondary infection. Poor water quality, inadequate diet, parasites or poor handling.
Control Regular filter maintenance, good WQ Treatment Remove fungus, apply malachite green then topical treatment (propolis). Larger infections quarantine while treating. Antibacterial treatment Virkon s
4.3 Columnaris Disease (Fin rot)
Description Fin rot Location Fins, gills and skin Species Symptoms Reddening of the fins followed by necrosis of the area (whitening) Gill rot. Lethargy and gasping for air Control Remove excess biological matter (food). Regular maintenance of filters and WQ
Treatment Fin rot. Remove from pond apply topical treatment (malachite green) then propolis. Severe cases (sedate), remove infected area then apply propolis. Add anti-bacterial treatment to pond (virkon s)
Gill rot. Salt bath at 100g/4.5l for 10 min Add anti-bacterial treatment to pond (virkon s)
Skin Columnaris. Propolis or malachite green or both Add anti-bacterial treatment to pond (virkon s)
Pond treatments Virkon S Chloramine T 1g/4500l extreme caution in soft water Potassium Permanganate (sw) 1.5g/1000l
4.4 Ulcers
Description Bacterial infections Location Body Species All Symptoms Lesions, lethargy Prevention Run a clean pond, regular filter management improve DO and reduce stresses
Treatment Virkon s to reduce the bacterial load in the pond. Potassium Permanganate 1.5g/1000l hinders gills in hard water Chloramine T 1g/1000l toxic in soft water
5 Common FW internal parasites.
5.1 Eye fluke (diplostomum)
Description Clouding of the eye, fish 2nd host. Host pond snail, final host fish eating bird Location Eye Species Symptoms Irritation and blindness Control No treatment, must break life cycle
Figure 1: Eye fluke