What to Do When Parrot Fish Turn Black? Cause Analysis and Solutions
Parrot fish are a species of ornamental fish that many people like to keep. Everyone knows that parrot fish are famous for their brilliant colors and are highly valued for viewing, especially the blood parrot cichlid, which is even more popular. However, keeping parrot fish requires extra care, otherwise they are prone to changing color due to environmental changes or illness, which affects their appearance. Parrot fish turning black is a fairly common problem when keeping them. Let us look at the causes and solutions for parrot fish turning black:
What are the causes of parrot fish turning black?
1. Temperature: Parrot fish are prone to stress reactions from low water temperature and drastic fluctuations in water temperature, which leads to dull body color and loss of brilliant luster, and can even cause black stripes or markings (blackening of the fins and tail of parrot fish). Therefore, during keeping, it is best to keep the water temperature within the range of 25-28°C, and the temperature difference before and after each water change should not exceed 0.5°C. In addition, in winter, pay attention to heating and oxygenating the fish tank.
2. Water quality: Blackening of the mouth or gills of parrot fish is due to poor water quality or unsuitable water conditions. Water should be changed every 2-3 days, with one-third or one-quarter of the water changed each time.
3. Disease: When parrot fish contract black spot disease, the fish body develops "black spots" that appear grayish-white. They can be soaked once a day in salt water at a concentration of 2%-3% (5-10 minutes).
4. Fright: Parrot fish that are frightened will also develop black spots, which will disappear after some time.
What should be done if parrot fish turn black?
The most common cause of parrot fish turning black is contracting black spot disease. The pathogens of black spot disease are mainly water molds and fungi, which parasitize wounds on the fish body and fish eggs, and it is a relatively common fish disease. The main causes are injury to the fish body, loss of scales, and so on, which allow pathogens to invade the wounds.
[Causes of onset] During capture and transport, the fish body may suffer external injuries, or parasites may injure the fish's skin, after which mold spores invade and cause infection. Be careful during capture and transport not to injure the fish body. A small amount of table salt can be added to the aquarium where new fish are introduced to inhibit the occurrence of water mold, and when feeding live bait, pay attention to cleaning and disinfection. Keep the water clean to cut off the growth of water mold. Generally, this can prevent the occurrence of this disease.
[Symptoms and lesions] The fish body develops "black spots" that appear grayish-white, and the hyphae entwine and adhere to the cells and tissues of the wound, causing tissue necrosis. At the same time, the diseased fish has reduced appetite and eventually dies. This disease can occur in all four seasons.
[Treatment methods]
1. Sprinkle a mixed solution of 250 grams of table salt and 250 grams of baking soda into a 100cmx55cmx45cm fish tank, repeat several times, and the effect is remarkable.
2. Dissolve 0.3 grams of malachite green or methylene blue in 100 kilograms of water, soak the fish body for 10-20 minutes, and after several days the hyphae can be seen falling off.
3. Soak in 2%-3% salt water, once a day, 5-10 minutes each time.
4. Mix 2 parts per million (2ppm) potassium permanganate with 1% salt water, then soak the diseased fish for 20-30 minutes.
5. Raise the water temperature to inhibit the growth of water mold. A 15-watt ultraviolet lamp can also be used for several hours of irradiation daily, which can effectively inhibit and eliminate water mold.
Parrot fish turning black is a problem that easily occurs when parrot fish are not kept properly. There are multiple causes, but the most common is still the attack of black spot disease. Therefore, when keeping parrot fish, be sure not to let the fish body be injured, and also pay attention to the cleanliness of the water quality.