People keeping fish in outdoor ponds and aquaponics are reminded to check fish for evidence of fish diseases now, to prevent problems over winter and spring. Autumn is a critical time for disease control because parasitic infestations present now determines the risk of winter and spring problems.
Below is a list of things to look out for:
Behavioural abnormalities
• Loss of balance, bobs, or swimming upside down.
• Erratic/spiral swimming.
• Separating from group/sulks in the corner.
• Staying near the surface or piping.
• Flashing/body scraping.
• Increased respiration (increased opercula rate).
• Fin clamping (fins held flat against the body).
Physical abnormalities/External gross pathology
• Change in colour.
• Skin/fin lesions (white-red; proliferative-ulcerative).
• Cloudy skin (indicates excess mucous production due to an irritant).
• Exophthalmos/endophthalmos (unilateral-bilateral).
• Poor body condition (indicated by “sunken belly”, or disproportionately large head for body size).
• Abdominal swelling & subcutaneous oedema =“dropsy”.
• Gills pale (anaemic), with excess mucus (gill irritation), or tan brown colour (suggests methaemoglobin formation).
• Carrying a long faecal trail (indicates intestinal disease).
Autumn is the ideal time to check for parasites that may have increased in numbers over the summer.
Get your fish checked by a Certified Aquatic Veterinarian.
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Yours sincerely,
Dr Richmond Loh DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology), MANZCVS (Aquatics & Pathobiology), CertAqV, CMAVA, NATA Signatory.
THE FISH VET, Perth, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA.
Mobile Aquatic Veterinary Medical & Diagnostic Services.
http://www.thefishvet.com.au
Ph: +61 (0)421 822 383
Skype: thefishvet
President WAVMA 2014
Adjunct Lecturer Murdoch University | Secretary Aquatic Animal Health Chapter – ANZCVS.
