Disease Prevention in the Freshwater Aquarium

Coping with sickness and disease in fish is one of the bitter realities of keeping aquariums. Every aquarist who has kept fish for any substantial amount time has to deal with fish sickness. One of the most common diseases to afflict fish is the notorious “ich” parasite. There are literally hundreds of diseases and parasites out there, some more common than others.
Every aquarist should be prepared for a possible infection or outbreak of sickness in the aquarium. Medicines, salt, extra equipment and an isolation tank are all things that serious aquarists should have on hand. Even those new to the hobby can greatly benefit by utilizing tools and strategies designed to combat the spread of sickness in the aquarium.
While every disease has its own course of treatment, the best way to overcome fish sickness is to prevent such an occurrence before it takes place.
The Basics for Keeping Fish Healthy
There are a few simple practices that, if upheld and performed regularly, can help prevent disease and sickness from getting a solid foothold in the aquarium. These practices require time and dedication from the aquarist. With a little effort, performing regular aquarium duties can be a very minimal chore, amounting to mere minutes per week.

• Water Changes – Water changes are one of the most important aspects of keeping fish. The influx of fresh water and the removal of old water helps to regulate and stabilize water chemistry, including pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels. A stable environment reduces stress on fish and their immune system. Further, the removal of excess waste and ammonia will create an environment that is clean and will not foster the growth and reproduction disease and parasites.

• Overcrowding – Aside from water quality, overcrowding is one of the most common reasons for the onset of fish sickness. Stress, injuries, territorial issues, and a high bio-load being produced by an excessive number of fish can be a dangerous combination. Not only do these conditions tend to instigate sickness, but such crowded fish spread the disease much more quickly.

• Feeding Practices – Overfeeding fish can cause numerous problems in the aquarium. The primary problem is that excess fish food creates excess waste, which ultimately leads to higher ammonia levels in the water. Generally, fish should be fed every other day, and only a small amount of food. Extra feedings means that extra water changes need to be performed to remove the excess waste. Excessive feeding can also lead to constipation and digestion problems.

Good Husbandry Means Good Health in Fish
Husbandry is essentially the practices we engage in to care for, breed, and stock the fish in our aquariums. Careful, conscientious husbandry that focuses on the health and wellbeing of fish will almost always have a successful outcome. Aside from the basic care to prevent disease, there are further practices that emphasize the study of the fish as well as reflecting upon how the aquarist interacts with the fish and aquarium.

• Observation – Take time to study and watch the fish and their behavior. With practice and knowledge, the aquarist can learn to differentiate normal, healthy behavior from erratic uncommon behavior. Most importantly, the aquarist should learn to read the signs of possible oncoming disease. These signs are numerous, but common signals of disease are gasping or labored breathing in the fish, clamped fins, lethargy, discoloration, and erratic swimming, to name a few.

• Elimination of Stress – Stress is one of the biggest killers of fish. Stress usually weakens the immune system and causes the fish to behave in an erratic fashion. Stress can take numerous forms, such as excessive noise, exterior movement or traffic, lighting, cramped conditions, poor water quality, or aggression in the aquarium. Be sure to research any fish being kept and try to meet their needs to the fullest.

• Sterilization – As they say, “cleanliness is next to godliness.” This mindset should be thoroughly embraced by the aquarist. Not only should the aquarist regularly clean the aquarium and provide clean water, but all equipment, including the aquarist himself, should be cleaned regularly. Clean and sterilize all nets, gravel siphons, and any other equipment before placing them inside the aquarium. This will help prevent the accidental introduction of outside bacteria and other disease vectors. Wash your hands before and after working on an aquarium. Isolation aquariums should also be used to mitigate the introduction of disease through newly purchased fish.

While it may be impossible to maintain a perfect aquarium and fend off all stress and disease, the aquarist can make a noble attempt. Good husbandry practices, while they make take some time to master and implement, can save the aquarist much frustration in the long-run. Remember, the first and most important step towards preventing a disease is to know of its existence. Research accordingly and apply that knowledge in your aquarium practices.

Courtesy - http://www.aquabotanic.com/?p=683