Fish Ailments

• Fish are subject to intestinal, bacterial, fecal, kidney, gallbladder and liver disorders. It is more of a matter of being aware of the onset of the ailment before it becomes uncontrollable. According to animal-world.com, noticeable symptoms of a fish ailment may be lethargy, possible sores, bloated, white cotton patches on the body, protruding scales, skin ulcers and disintegrating fins. Also be aware of lumps and bumps, which could indicate parasites. Most of these ailments can be treated with an oral medication, which is distributed directly in the food.
  
  

Significance

• Once you note that your fish is having a problem, it is critical to put the affected fish into a separate quarantine tank or bowl for treatment with an oral medication. This will help prevent contamination of the other inhabitants of the aquarium.
  
  

Oral Medications

• Besides a multitude of medications that can be added to the water in your aquarium, oral medications, according to nationalfishpharm.com, can treat a host of fish ailments such as bacterial, fungal, parasitic and intestinal problems in your fish. Doxycycline hydrochloride is an antibiotic used to treat most bacterial disorders and fin rot. Metronidazole powder can be used to treat some types of parasites such as ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis) and intestinal bloat. Paracide-D or X is used to treat cases of internal and external parasites.
  
  

How to Administer

• An oral medication is added to frozen or dry pellet food. For pellet food, the medicine will be mixed with water, poured over the pellet food and left to air dry before administering once a day for a two-week regimen, or as directed. For frozen food, thaw the food, mix in the medication, place in zip lock bag and place in freezer to feed once a day as directed.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• In caring for your aquarium fish, it is best to take steps to prevent diseases. Animal-world.com suggests proper steps in starting with good quality compatible fish, don't over feed, reduce stressful handling of the fish, remove sick fish immediately, keeping them quarantined during illness and treatment and disinfect anything that may come into contact with your fish until fully treated with the oral medication and well enough to return to the aquarium.