DIAGNOSING & TREATING SICK FISH

SUGGESTED
APPEARANCE DESCRIPTION CAUSATIVE AGENT
TREATMENT

True fungal infections are caused by

• Whitish cottony tufts or patches appear on the mouth, PIMAFIX™
Saprolegnia and Achlya species.
skin and fins of tropical fish, goldfish and koi.

Fungal Infection

MELAFIX™ Several bacteria infections can cause degradation

For an alternative medication, of the fins and tails of fish. These pathogens
• Fins appear ragged and split. Disease can progress
select one of the following treatments: include Flavobacterium, Nocardia,
until fins and tail are completely eroded.
PIMAFIX, FURAN-2™, Mycobacterium and Pseudomonas
• Secondary fungal infections commonly occur.
TRIPLE SULFA™, E.M. ERYTHROMYCIN™ or species.
FIN & BODY CURE™.
Fin and Tail Rot

Dactylogyrus and Gyrodactylus are

•Most parasitic worms are not visible without the aid of
parasitic worms, commonly called flukes, that
a microscope. Fish will scratch against objects and
attack fins, skin and especially gills of fish.
appear listless. A grayish film may form on the body. GENERAL CURE™ Parasitic worms are frequently found on newly
• Rapid breathing in fish may be accompanied by
For a secondary infection medication, imported fish. The worms attach to the skin of fish
gasping at the surface of the water, or the fish sitting
use the following together: via hooks, where they can feed on blood and body
on the bottom of the aquarium.
MELAFIX and PIMAFIX fluids. Secondary bacterial or fungal infections
Flukes/Parasitic • Gills undergo severe damage, leading to suffocation
may occur following infestation by either of these
Worms and death.
parasites.

• The most obvious symptom is the pitting and erosion

of skin and muscle tissue around the face of the fish.
This erosion appears to be a symptom of the parasiteʼs
Hexamita and/or Spironucleus
presence in the intestinal tract, not on the surface of
the fish.
GENERAL CURE parasites infect the intestinal tract of many
tropical fish, especially cichlids.
• Many fish exhibit poor appetite, weight loss and
Hole-In-The-Head nervousness; without proper treatment, death
Disease ultimately results.

MELAFIX or PIMAFIX
•Fish develop a bloated appearance due to Internal Aeromonas bacterial infections
For an alternative medication,
accumulation of fluid in the body cavity. most commonly cause this disease. Viral and
select one of the following treatments:
•Scales may appear to stick out from the sides of fish. internal parasitic pathogens (Myxobolus
FURAN-2, TRIPLE SULFA,
•In advanced cases, fish lose the ability to swim and cerebralis) have also been indicated, but
FIN & BODY CURE, E.M. ERYTHROMYCIN
may float upside down. are untreatable symptoms.
Dropsy and and add AQUARIUM SALT to
Malawi Bloat reduce fluid accumulation.

MELAFIX Pseudomonas, Aeromonas or

• Fish show blood streaks in the fins and body. For an alternative medication, Streptococcus bacterial species most
select one of the following treatments: commonly cause these symptoms.
PIMAFIX, FURAN-2, TRIPLE SULFA,
E.M. ERYTHROMYCIN or
Bacterial Hemorrhagic FIN & BODY CURE.
Septicemia
 DIAGNOSING & TREATING SICK FISH
SUGGESTED
APPEARANCE DESCRIPTION CAUSATIVE AGENT
TREATMENT

• Eyes develop a whitish haze and/or protrude from MELAFIX Bacterial pathogens include Pseudomonas,
the head. For an alternative medication, Mycobacterium or Streptococcus.
• Hazy or slimy patches appear on the bodies of fish. select one of the following treatments: Parasitic pathogens include Trichodina,
• If infested with parasites, fish may scratch on objects PIMAFIX, FURAN-2, TRIPLE SULFA, Ichthyobodo, and Chilodonella
in the aquarium and exhibit rapid breathing. E.M. ERYTHROMYCIN™ or See Subclinical Parasitic Infection below,
Eye Cloud, if fish are scratching.
FIN & BODY CURE.
Body Slime

Ich, a protozoan parasite, also known as white spot

• Early symptoms of this infection in fish include
darting in the aquarium and scratching against the
gravel and ornaments.
• Fish exhibit labored breathing and may remain at
the waterʼs surface, near filters and aeration
devices.
Ich • White spots may or may not be visible on fish.
(Ichthyophthirius)
SUPER ICK CURE™
In addition, add AQUARIUM SALT
to replace electrolytes.
disease, is caused by the external parasite
Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. This microscopic
parasite has a multi-staged life cycle and is invisible
during its theront stage. Theronts burrow into gill
and skin tissue, causing severe electrolyte loss and
gill damage and prompting secondary bacterial
and/or fungal infections.

Trichodina, Ichthyobodo, and

• Fish may scratch on objects in the aquarium.
SUPER ICK CURE Chilodonella are protozoan parasites that
In addition, add AQUARIUM SALT infect the skin and gills of fish. These parasites
• Slimy skin may develop on fish and fins may be have a multi-stage life cycle, similar to Ich, and
to replace electrolytes.
clamped. are often microscopic. They burrow into gill and
For alternative treatment and both
• Labored breathing may be observed. skin tissue, causing severe electrolyte loss and
MELAFIX and PIMAFIX.
Subclinical gill damage and prompting secondary bacterial
Parasitic Infestation and/or fungal infections.

MELAFIX Aeromonas species most commonly cause

For an alternative medication,
• Fish exhibit open red sores on the body. select one of the following treatments:
PIMAFIX, FURAN-2,
TRIPLE SULFA, E.M. ERYTHROMYCIN
or FIN & BODY CURE.
Open Red Sores
these symptoms. Red sores may also be caused by
high ammonia levels in the water. Test your
ammonia level in your aquarium with AMMONIA
TEST STRIPS to rule this factor out.

• Raised, gray patches are observed on the fins and

mouth areas of fish.
MELAFIX or PIMAFIX
• Live bearers, such as guppies and mollies, develop For an alternative medication,
Flavobacterium columnaris is a
grayish patches on their backs, giving rise to the select one of the following treatments:
common bacterium responsible for this disease.
name “saddle back disease.” FURAN-2, TRIPLE SULFA,
Mouth Fungus - • Infected areas may develop into red ulcers and E.M. ERYTHROMYCIN
Saddleback infect the gills, causing rapid loss of fish. or FIN & BODY CURE.
Disease

• Fish will scratch against objects and appear listless.

A grayish film may form on the body.
MELAFIX This bacterial disease can be caused by many
For an alternative medication, pathogens such as Pseudomonas and
• Rapid breathing in fish may be accompanied by
select one of the following treatments: Mycobacterium species. High ammonia
gasping at the surface of the water, or the fish sitting
PIMAFIX, FURAN-2, and nitrite levels can also impact gills. Test your
on the bottom of the aquarium.
TRIPLE SULFA, E.M. ERYTHROMYCIN ammonia and nitrite levels in your aquarium
• Gills undergo severe damage, leading to suffocation
Bacterial or FIN & BODY CURE. with a MASTER TEST KIT.
and death.
Gill Disease

Questions or comments? Note: At times, more than one medication is needed to treat bacterial infections. This is because, without identifying the species of bacteria, the most
Call us at 1-800-847-0659 effective treatment can be difficult to determine. So, if the first product listed under suggested treatment is ineffective, it is recommended to try the
www.apifishcare.com other products in the order listed.
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