Beaphar

health

In every aquarium or pond there are naturally occurring disease organisms (bacteria, fungus, parasites, etc) which, when fish are healthy, their immune system is able to keep at bay. When fish are exposed to stressful situations, such as poor water quality or handling, their immune system is weakened, leaving them vulnerable to infection. Stress is the biggest threat to fish health and can be caused by a number of things:-

1. Poor water quality
Fish live in a completely closed environment which means that any waste they produce stays inside the aquarium or pond. If this waste is not removed it will make your fish ill. Fish produce solid waste and also excrete ammonia through their gills and kidneys, as a by-product of respiration. Uneaten food and plant debris also decompose, releasing ammonia, which is toxic to fish. Ammonia may be converted to nitrite, which is also toxic and may kill fish if left untreated.

The most important factor in preventing stress is the maintenance of good water quality. Poor water quality can result from the following:-
a. Over feeding – feeding too much (or feeding a poor quality diet) will result in increased levels of solid waste (faeces) being produced, which decompose, releasing ammonia and nitrite into the water. Always remove any uneaten food.
b. Neglecting to clean / maintain the aquarium or pond and filter system. The filter is the most important piece of equipment in the aquarium or pond. It not only filters out lumps of fish waste and uneaten food, it is also home to nitrifying bacteria. Nitrifying bacteria are responsible for removing harmful ammonia and nitrite, converting them to nitrate, which is relatively harmless to fish and can be removed through water changes and live plants, which use them as a food source.
c. Unconditioned tap water - chlorine and chloramines are added to tap water to make it safe for human consumption. However chlorine and chloramines are harmful to fish. Ensure tap water is treated with a suitable dechlorinator such as King British Safe Guard to remove chlorine and chloramines when topping up the aquarium or pond and when carrying out water changes.
d. Failure to refresh the water -It is good practice to carry out partial water changes on a regular basis. This will ensure the filter works efficiently, helps remove nitrates as well as replacing some of the essential elements used up by various natural processes. Regular testing of aquarium or pond water will help identify any imbalances in levels of pH, ammonia, nitrite, etc.

2. Over stocking or adding too many new fish at a time
If there are too many fish it will be harder for the filter to maintain good water quality. There may not be enough oxygen, in which case an air pump should be added. In an over stocked aquarium or pond physical damage to fish is also more likely which can result in wounds becoming infected. As well as affecting the quality of the water overstocking can also lead to an increase in the number of parasites present.

3. Transportation / handling / netting
These activities can cause physical damage to fish, leaving them vulnerable to infection.

4. Poor diet
Feeding a high quality diet is essential for keeping your fish healthy. Not only does it directly affect the health of your fish, it also affects the quality of the aquarium or pond water. Feeding a high quality diet will ensure your fish receive all the essential nutrients such as fatty acids, vitamins and trace elements that they require to maintain a healthy immune system. In addition, feeding a high quality food will mean that more of the food is digested by the fish and less is excreted into the water as waste therefore helping to maintain good water quality. Poor quality foods not only lack essential nutrients but also lead to more waste, causing poor water quality.

Disease Prevention

It is far better to prevent your fish from becoming ill in the first place than trying to cure them. To help prevent your fish from becoming ill follow the steps below:-

1. Maintain excellent water quality and ensure the environment is as stress-free as possible:
- ensure the aquarium or pond is fitted with a correctly sized filter and check regularly that it is working correctly
- carry out partial water changes regularly to keep the water refreshed.
- remember to treat tap water with a suitable dechlorinator such as King British Safe Guard to remove harmful chlorine and chloramines.
- using a suitable treatment such as King British Safe Water, treat aquarium water on a weekly basis to remove harmful ammonia and nitrite.

2. Feed a high quality diet. Do not overfeed & always remove any uneaten food

3. Ensure appropriate decoration and hiding places to prevent bullying.

4. Monitor your fish regularly. Abnormal behaviour and symptoms of disease can then be promptly diagnosed and treated.

5. Do not overstock your aquarium or pond

6. Take care when handling your fish or netting them out of the aquarium or pond.

7. Test your aquarium or pond water regularly for ammonia & nitrite

8. Quarantine any new fish before adding them to your aquarium or pond as there is a risk they could introduce infectious diseases or parasites. In quarantine they should be observed for signs of disease and treated if required.