A Detailed Guide to the Prevention and Treatment of Common Pufferfish Diseases

The scale and area of artificial pufferfish farming are growing larger and larger, but at the same time the infestation of diseases is becoming more and more severe. There are extremely many types of pufferfish diseases, and some can cause their death, bringing serious economic losses to the development of pufferfish farming. Below, the editor brings an introduction to several common pufferfish diseases, along with their prevention and treatment methods. Let's take a look together.

1. Gas bubble disease

Pufferfish inflate by drawing in air when they encounter danger, looking like a big balloon, but the gas bubble disease mentioned here does not refer to that. The cause of gas bubble disease in pufferfish is supersaturation of oxygen or other gases in the water. When the disease occurs, bubbles appear on the body surface of the pufferfish. Due to buoyancy, these bubbles make the pufferfish float on the water surface, and it is very difficult for them to swim into the water. In the end, because of repeated struggling, they die of physical exhaustion.

Prevention and treatment method: Strengthen water quality management, avoid deterioration of water quality that produces toxic gases, and increase the pH value and transparency of the water body, which can delay the occurrence of this disease. After the disease occurs, splash 5 kg of table salt per mu to increase the water body concentration, reduce the gas content in the water, and treat this disease.

2. Enteritis

Enteritis is one of the common diseases in farmed pufferfish. The cause of the disease is generally related to feed and indigestion. Feed that is too hard may make it impossible for the pufferfish's stomach and intestines to digest it. The feed accumulates in the stomach and intestines and cannot be digested, causing inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Overfeeding can also cause enteritis. When the disease occurs, the sick fish swims alone, away from the group. The body surface turns black, the belly faces upward, appetite weakens or is completely lost, and the anus becomes red and swollen. Death follows before long. When the sick fish is dissected, the intestinal wall is found to be congested and inflamed, covered with purulent material.

Prevention and treatment method: Do a good job of pond disinfection. Feeding should follow the four principles of fixed time, fixed quantity, fixed location, and fixed quality. Feed that is too hard can be softened before feeding. When the disease occurs, oxytetracycline and allicin can be used in the feed for treatment, or oxytetracycline hydrochloride can be splashed over the whole pond.

3. Water mold disease

The pathogen of water mold disease is water mold fungus. After pufferfish are infected, the body color gradually becomes lighter, and there are hemorrhagic red spots on local parts of the body surface. In the later stage of the disease, the sick fish does not eat, and cotton-like floc appears on the body surface, which will cover the entire fish body in a short time and cause death.

Prevention and treatment method: Strengthen water quality regulation, do a good job of water body disinfection, and keep the water quality clear. During rearing, try to avoid injuries to the body surface of pufferfish. When the disease occurs, 10% potassium permanganate can be splashed over the whole pond for prevention and treatment, or the sick fish can be soaked in baking soda or salt water for a period of time.

4. Outbreak disease

The pathogen of outbreak disease is Aeromonas hydrophila. After pufferfish become ill, the fins on the body surface begin to become congested. In severe cases, severe congestion appears in various parts of the body surface. Some also show symptoms of orbital hemorrhage, exophthalmos, and gill rot. Dissection of the sick fish reveals congestion of the intestinal wall, relatively large amounts of mucus, an enlarged gallbladder, and a somewhat black spleen. When the disease is severe, the sick fish becomes restless or lies quietly at the bottom of the water, and finally dies. It can occur when the water temperature is relatively high, and the course of the disease is relatively short. Death can occur 24 hours after the onset of the disease.

Prevention and treatment method: Disinfect the whole pond before releasing fry. Pay attention to density when stocking, and it should not be too dense. Keep the feed fresh. When the disease occurs, first carry out disinfection, then add allicin and vitamins to the feed for treatment.

The above are prevention and treatment methods for common pufferfish diseases. We hope this can help you. If you want to learn more about pufferfish farming knowledge, please stay tuned to us.