Common Tropical Fish Diseases & Prevention Guide

Most tropical fish diseases are triggered by water quality deterioration, sudden temperature changes, or stress. Regular water changes and observation can prevent the majority of diseases.

Common Diseases and Problems

White Spot Disease (Ich) - **Symptoms**: White granules appear on body and fins; fish rubs against objects. Appetite decreases - **Cause**: Ciliate parasitic infection. Risk increases with temperature drops and stress - **Treatment**: Medicate with malachite green or methylene blue. Raising water temperature to 28-30C enhances treatment effectiveness

Fin Rot (Columnaris) - **Symptoms**: Fin edges turn white and cloudy, then fray and dissolve - **Cause**: Columnaris bacterial infection. Prone to develop from wounds or immune suppression - **Treatment**: Medicate with specialized antibacterial medication. Salt bath (0.5%) can also be effective in combination

Cotton Wool Disease (Water Mold) - **Symptoms**: White cotton-like mold grows on body surface or eggs - **Cause**: Aquatic fungal infection. Promoted by low temperature and poor water quality - **Treatment**: Treat with methylene blue. Gently remove affected tissue with tweezers before medicating

Dropsy / Popeye (Aeromonas) - **Symptoms**: Dropsy causes scales to protrude like a pinecone. Popeye causes eyeballs to bulge - **Cause**: Internal Aeromonas bacterial infection. Primarily caused by immune suppression from poor water quality - **Treatment**: Medicate with appropriate antibacterial medication. Early detection is key to recovery

Prevention Tips

Perform regular water changes of about one-third of the volume weekly, maintaining an environment where ammonia and nitrite are undetectable. A one-week quarantine observation is recommended for new fish.

Benefits of Buying on Buri-Choku

On Buri-Choku, breeders list specimens they have managed in healthy conditions for extended periods. You can confirm the breeder's care environment and feeding status before purchase, reducing post-introduction issues.