If you own a pet goldfish then it is very important that you know about goldfish diseases and what their symptoms are. Knowing the signs of sickness in your goldfish will allow you to catch the illness before it gets worse; most goldfish fatalities are the result of their owners not realizing that their pet is already sick. In this article the most common of the diseases that goldfish comes into contact with is discussed, and hopefully this will help you extend the life of your goldfish.
Swim Bladder Disease - The signs that there is something wrong with your fish's swim bladder is if it either stays at the bottom of the tank or near the surface. Their swim bladders act as the ballast for fish, enabling them to dive or surface whenever they like, if there is something wrong with the bladder then swimming becomes problematic for the fish. If you think that your fish has swim bladder disease, try feeding it with frozen peas, if the problem still persists then take it to the veterinarian.
Ich - or white spot disease, is caused by a parasite called Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. Ich is one of the more common goldfish diseases, it can be recognized as white spots appearing all over the fish's body. When your fish contracts Ich, you will find it rubbing its body against the hard decorations in your tank in order to scrape away at the growths on its body. This illness is usually caused by introducing an infected fish into your fishtank; which is why it is very important that you only get your goldfish from a reputable breeder.
Dropsy - This is one of the most fatal of goldfish diseases. If this disease is left by itself and allowed to progress, there is little or no chance that your goldfish will survive; that is why it is very important to recognize this disease at an early stage so that treatment can be administered. The symptoms of dropsy are swollen eyes (usually one at a time), massively swollen belly, and the goldfish's scales stick out of its body rather than lying flat. This disease is mostly caused by bad water condition and poor tank maintenance.
Anchor Worm - Just like Ich, anchor worm is caused by a parasite that has infected your goldfish, but instead of white spots you will see hanging growths at different parts of the fish's body. And like Ich, anchor worm will cause your goldfish to rub themselves against any rough or hard surface trying scratch the growths off. By itself anchor worm does not pose any serious threat to your fish, though it greatly weakens it's immune system, making it very susceptible to other kinds of goldfish diseases.
It is true that goldfish are a hardy fish that are able to thrive in any kind of water condition, but they are far from perfect; they still get sick just like other animals. But by recognizing the signs of goldfish diseases you will be able to treat them before they get worse.
For more information on goldfish diseases, please visit My Goldfish Care: http://MyGoldfishCare.com
Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert