What are the treatment methods for common diseases in parrotfish?

The parrotfish, also known as the parrotfish (Scaridae), is a tropical fish that lives in coral reefs, with brilliant colors and extremely high ornamental value. So, what common diseases do parrotfish have? What are the treatment methods? Let's take a look together!

1. White spot disease

White spot disease is a highly contagious external parasitic disease and is also a common disease of parrotfish. White spot disease has the following symptoms: in the early stage, there are individual small white spots on the fins and body, the fish still has an appetite, and its spirit shows little change; in the middle stage, white spots are everywhere on the fins and body, there is no appetite, the fish is inactive, rubs and itches everywhere, and its color darkens; in the late stage, white spots cover the whole body, the fish floats on the water surface or sinks to the bottom of the tank, is weak and listless, sways left and right, the mucus on the body surface increases, breathing becomes difficult, and it dies of suffocation.

This disease requires comprehensive treatment; using medication alone has little effect, and strengthening feeding management is very important. First, food must be withheld for 4-5 days to reduce pollution, and the water temperature must be kept constant, preferably raised 2-3 degrees above the original water temperature. In the absence of aquatic plants, medication can be appropriately added; aquatic plants are sensitive to various drugs and quickly wither and die. Common proven prescriptions are as follows:

① In the early stage, 0.5%-1% table salt can be added, which can achieve a certain effect

② In the initial and middle stages, 1-5 ppm of furacilin powder can be sprinkled over the whole tank. Dip a matchstick in methyl blue crystal powder and swirl it into the sick fish tank until the color changes; both have relatively good effects

③ In the early and middle stages, put mercurochrome into the water until it turns light red; this has a very good effect of eliminating pathogens, but it cannot be used repeatedly, because mercury is toxic and fish cannot easily excrete it from the body

④ In the middle and late stages, the specific drug is mercurous nitrate, but fish are very sensitive to this drug and it easily causes death, so it is generally not used. For a 90×45×60 (cm) tank, put in a piece the size of a mung bean; this drug also cannot be used repeatedly.

2. Hemorrhagic rot disease

Hemorrhagic rot disease is a bacterial infectious disease. After contracting hemorrhagic rot disease, bleeding spots appear on the fish body, the fins change from bright red congestion to pale and rot away, the gill filaments also change from red to white and partly rot away, and dissection of the internal organs shows bleeding spots. It is often accompanied by enteritis, has an acute onset and spreads quickly, generally within two to three days, and easily causes mass death.

To treat this disease, withhold food for 4-5 days and add the antibiotic penicillin to the whole tank: for a 90×45×60 (cm) tank, 800,000 units, 1 vial in the morning and 1 in the afternoon, with 3 consecutive days as one course of treatment. It can generally be cured in 4-5 days; it can be cured in the early stage, and controlled in the middle stage. Rotted fins take about 1 month to grow back. Pull out the aquatic plants in the affected tank, rinse them clean with clear water, and disinfect them with methylene blue for 15-30 minutes. Add furacilin powder (1-5 ppm) to the sick fish tank; it can generally be controlled in 3 days and cured in about 6 days.

3. Rotifer disease

Rotifer disease is an infectious protozoan disease. The symptoms of rotifer disease are that rotifers gather in the tank in a cloud-like form, the fish float on the water surface, and the rotifers parasitize everywhere on the fish body and in the gills. The mucus on the body increases and breathing becomes difficult. If sick fish are not treated in time, they will also die in large numbers.

The best treatment method is to pour out all the water in the tank, move the fish into a new tank, and then add some medication. The specific drug for treatment is copper sulfate; for a 90×45×60 (cm) tank, put in a crystal piece the size of a mung bean. Aquatic plants are especially sensitive to copper sulfate, so the plants must be pulled out before adding the medication. A partial water change method cannot be used for treatment, as this instead accelerates the massive reproduction of rotifers and the fish will die faster. Therefore, a full water change and adding medication must be carried out at the same time. In addition, treatment with 0.5%-1% concentrated salt water is also effective.

4. Water mold disease

Water mold disease is a fungal infectious disease. The pathogens of water mold disease are various water molds. In a house where fish have been kept for 2-3 years, mold is everywhere; new water can be contaminated by mold in 2-3 days. It does not occur when the fish have no external injuries or when the fish body is strong. If the fish have external injuries, it can occur immediately. Although the incidence rate is not high and the mortality rate is also not high, the course of the disease is long and it is not easy to cure completely, and fish eggs are even more susceptible to infection.

There is no specific drug for water mold disease, so prevention is the main approach: keep the water quality clean and the fish body strong, and be gentle during daily operations and when catching fish so as not to cause external injuries to the fish. Using 0.5%-1% table salt can inhibit mold growth. Pay attention to ventilation and sun exposure to increase ultraviolet irradiation. In addition, the affected fish can also be taken out, the white fuzz at the external injury can be removed with tweezers, and some furacilin dry powder can be applied to the affected area, which has a certain therapeutic effect.

The above is the editor's brief introduction to the common diseases of parrotfish and their treatment methods. I hope it can help you!