Fish Eye Disease
One challenge you may face with your fish tank is Fish Eye Disease which can make your fish sick, and even kill them.
Some disease can be treated with medicine while others are harder to get rid of. Watch your tank closely to see if your fish exhibit symptoms of disease.
When you look at your fish for Fish Eye Disease, see if they also have tiny white spots like salt - This is probably Ich (Ichthyophthirius), a parasite which is rather common. This disease can be caused by poor water and is easily contracted by fish whose immune system is weak. If caught in time, it can be treated with medication that you buy in the pet store.
If you see that your fish have Grayish cottony patches on their skin or gills, this is probably a fungus caused by decaying matter in the tank. If you haven’t cleaned your tank in a while and there is lots of food and fish waste on the bottom this may be the cause. Easily cured if caught in time, you can buy a remedy for this at the local store or online – and of course you should clean out your tank!
Diseases don’t keep to themselves so the Fish Eye Disease could also show up with fish that have fin rot. This tropical fish disease is probably caused by bacteria attacking the fins and is likely to happen where there is poor water quality and / or the fish are stressed. If only a few fish are affected, you can isolate them to prevent spread of the bacteria. This can be treated with medicine purchased at the pet store specifically for this type of disease. You should check your fish daily to insure their fins are in good condition as this requires immediate treatment.
Fish scraping itself against bottom, cloudy skin - These are symptoms of Flukes – a parasite which attacks skin and gills. Poor water quality can cause Flukes to multiply and it is very difficult to treat the fish. You can buy medication to put in the tank for this but it must be done at the first sign of “itching”.
Fish need oxygen and if it looks like they are fish gasping for air - Your tank may be overcrowded and not have enough oxygen. Try a pump with an airstone to add some oxygen to the tank.
When you use a medicine to clear your tank of Fish Eye Disease, always be sure to follow the directions on the medication and use the proper medication for the problem. Good water quality through diligent aquarium maintenance can help to keep your fish healthy and ward off tropical fish disease.