Common Disease Prevention and Control Methods and Key Technical Points for Walking Catfish

I. Trichodiniasis: Large numbers of Trichodina (parasites difficult to see with the naked eye) attach to the gill filaments, damaging gill tissue, affecting respiration, and causing fry to suffocate and die. Prevention and control methods: (1) Per cubic meter of water, use 0.5 g copper sulfate and 0.2 g ferrous sulfate (or 0.7 g copper sulfate alone), dissolve in 40-50°C warm water, and splash over the entire pond. (2) Per cubic meter of water, use 0.5 g of 50% amobam, dissolve in water, and splash over the entire pond.

II. Gyrodactyliasis and Dactylogyriasis: These two parasites attach in large numbers to the gills and secrete large amounts of mucus, hindering the respiration of fry. The main symptoms are swollen gills, congestion appearing dark, and abundant mucus on the gills. This disease mostly occurs in high-temperature seasons. Prevention and control methods: (1) Per cubic meter of water, use 10 g potassium permanganate solution to soak the fry for 10-15 minutes (water temperature 25-30°C). After soaking, immediately add fresh water or replace more than half of the pond water. (2) Per cubic meter of water, use 0.2 g of 90% crystallized trichlorfon and 0.1 g baking soda, mix and dissolve, and splash over the entire pond. Apply once more after two days.

III. Saprolegniasis and Branchiomycosis: Diseases caused by fungi invading the fish body surface and gill tissue. Sick fish have white mouths and white tails; in severe cases, large areas of the body surface appear as "white fuzz," gill filaments are pale, and the fish swim weakly and scatteredly. This disease occurs in early spring and late autumn when water temperatures are relatively low, or when fry skin is injured during transport or screening. Prevention and control methods: Per cubic meter of water, use 0.2 g malachite green, 5 g baking soda, and 50 g table salt, dissolve, and splash over the entire pond, once daily for 2-3 consecutive days.

IV. Bacterial enteritis: Caused by bacterial infection from feeding unclean or spoiled feed. Sick fish have curled barbels, lose appetite, the body turns black, and they swim alone away from the group. In severe cases, the abdomen swells, and they may even die in large numbers within one or two days. Prevention and control methods: "Yubikang" can be mixed into feed and fed, using 200 g of medication per 50 kg of fish, once daily for three consecutive days. Alternatively, 1 g each of erythromycin, chloramphenicol, and furazolidone plus 20 g table salt can be mixed into sticky feed and fed, once daily for 3-4 consecutive days. If fish are found to lose appetite, per cubic meter of water, use 0.5 g each of erythromycin and furazolidone, dissolve in water, and splash over the entire pond, once daily for 2-3 consecutive days.