What are the common mistakes in the use of fish medication?

In aquaculture, improper use of fish medication commonly causes losses. Fishermen and farmers should pay attention to this.

1. Treating without matching the disease. Some fishermen and farmers use bleaching powder, trichlorfon or copper sulfate for prevention and treatment no matter what fish disease occurs. Failing to prescribe the right medicine for the disease not only fails to prevent and treat the fish disease, but sometimes even has the opposite effect.

2. Using the same medication regardless of fish size. Some fishermen and farmers, upon seeing an outbreak of fish lice disease, spray 2.5% trichlorfon over the whole pond, yet do not realize that this disease is more harmful to small fish and less harmful to large fish. The correct method should be to use medication differently according to the situation.

3. Using one medication year-round to prevent and treat fish diseases. For example, for ringworm disease, they only know to spray 90% crystal trichlorfon over the whole pond, but in fact a mixed solution of copper sulfate and ferrous sulfate can also be sprayed over the whole pond. Alternating the use of the two types of medication will give better results.

4. Doubling the dose of expired medication. Because of the price of fish medication, or because fish medication is not supplied in a timely manner, some fishermen and farmers increase the dose of expired fish medication. This move is extremely unwise and is bound to cause trouble.

5. Using medication at noon during hot seasons. When the air temperature exceeds 38°C, fish stop feeding, and the liquid medication volatilizes faster. If medication is used at noon during hot seasons, it not only fails to prevent and treat the fish disease, but instead causes fish poisoning. At this time, it is safer to use medication in the early morning or evening when the temperature is lower.