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Goldfish Goldfish Care Goldfish Diseases Ich Fish Treatment Ich White Spot Disease

Goldfish Disease- White Spot Disease- Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)

Goldfish disease are very common in goldfish and one of the most common goldfish diseases is white spot disease or Ich as a short version of the scientific name Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. Ich is very common and usually occurs from either due to stressful situations like poor water conditions or a sudden chill. You can usually tell when goldfish diseases occurs as they become ill or sick by symptoms like either rapid breathing or scratching on the gravel in the aquarium can indicate signs of white spot disease or ich.

When you notice this behaviour in goldfish, look at your goldfish closely and you will probably see white spots or like small grains of salt on your goldfish. These white spots, goldfish disease, are the parasites which are feeding on the goldfish’s body fluid. White spot disease or Ich can spread quite rapidly on the goldfish if left untreated.

Here is a picture of blue catfish which is covered with ich. These look like grains of salt which are the ick parasite. You can see all the white spots or cysts that are all over their body in this photo. The blue catfish is also showing signs of stress as you can see by the clamped fins.

Blue Catfish Heavily Infested with Ich Commonly Known As White Spot Disease - Ick
Blue catfish heavily infested with ich commonly known as white spot disease, ick.

The first thing you need to understand is how the parasites life cycle operates when attacking the goldfish itself. Each cyst or white spot is the parasite which is feeding off of the goldfish. It has attached itself to them by swimming as a small microorganism. These parasites need to find a host or they die. Once the parasite finds the host (goldfish) it hooks onto the skin and begins feeding. When they first attach themselves they are too small to be seen by the eye. As these parasites feed you will then see them as small white spots usually within a day or two covered over the body of the goldfish. Once this happens these cysts or parasites break free from the goldfish and begins to reproduce very rapidly. This goldfish disease spreads quickly and proper goldfish care needs to be done right away.

 

The reproduction phase of these parasites is when it infects goldfish very quickly. As mentioned above each cysts or parasite breaks free from the goldfish, when this happens each cyst that breaks open contains about 500 new parasites for ever cyst. The numbers can become quite significant and can literally take over the goldfish’s body if left untreated. When these 500 new small microorganisms become free swimming they need to find a host. When they do the whole process begins all over again.

Controlling the population of these parasites can only be done when the life cycle of these parasites are in the free swimming stage. They can only be killed during this stage with proper chemical or ich medications. The best thing to do when treating your goldfish aquarium for ich diseases is to treat it for at least 10 days. By doing this it will ensure you totally destroy all parasites as each parasite may be in a different stage at the time of treatment. Remember ich can only be killed during the free swimming stage so make sure you treat minimum 10 days. Each cysts must break open to be exposed to the medication to eliminate these parasites.

Treating ich or white spot disease in goldfish needs to be taking care of right away as it’s a very aggressive disease that attacks goldfish. Begin treatment right away for excellent results.

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Goldfish Goldfish Care Goldfish Diseases Goldfish Parasites

Goldfish Care – Types of Goldfish Diseases

Goldfish are susceptible to diseases and here I will discuss the different types of goldfish diseases that fish can develop. Goldfish usually develop diseases or sickness largely due to lack of maintenance on the aquarium. They sometimes can develop them due to injury they suffered by scraping off the protective slime coating that goldfish have on their skin.

Here are the different types of goldfish diseases and illness.

1. White spot disease or ich (Ichtyopthirius)
2. Velvet disease
3. Anchor Worm
4. Argulus
5. Fin and Tail Rot
6. Ulcers
7. Cloudy Eye
8. Mouth Rot
9. KHV Virus

Learn All You Can About Goldfish and How You Can Treat Common Goldfish Diseases & ParasitesThe good thing about all these common fish diseases that happen in goldfish is that they are easily cured with the proper medication and care. Next I will talk about each individual disease and how to properly cure them step by step. Proper goldfish care and action is essential in getting these goldfish back to health and getting the goldfish disease under control.

For more information on what types of medications you should use to treat goldfish diseases and where you can buy effective fish medication please visit Goldfish Medication Treatments For Illnesses and Diseases .

Sincerely,

Jamie Boyle
The Goldfish Guy
“Helping Goldfish Owners With Advice, Fish Care and Fish Medication Treatments for Goldfish Diseases, Illnesses and Parasites”

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Garden Ponds Goldfish Ponds How To Pond Volume Calculator

How To Calculate Water Volume In Goldfish Pond? Pond Volume Calculator

You should know how to calculate your pond water volume for your water garden. You should know how much water is in your pond not just for the purpose of knowing how big of a pond pump you should buy but you should know in case your goldfish in your pond ever get sick. Sooner or later it’s inevitable that you will come across goldfish diseases and parasites that you will need to treat with fish medication.
Here’s how you figure out your pond volume simply by taking three measurements:

Always Know How To Calculate Pond Water Volume For Water Treatments or For Treating Goldfish Diseases

Length x Width x Average Depth x 7.49 US Gallons

1 foot x 1 foot x 1 foot = 1 cubic foot

1 cubic foot of water is equal to 7.49 US Gallons

To give you an example of calculating the pond water volume of my pond I’ll show you.

65 feet (length) x 22 feet (width) x 4 feet (average depth) = 5720 cubic feet
5720 cubic feet x 7.49 US Gallons = 42,842.8 gallons

The pond in the photo below is one of my parents, I’ll calculate their pond water volume as I forget now how much water their water garden holds.

10 feet (length) x 15 feet (width) x 3 feet (average depth) x 7.49 US Gallons =
3370.5 Gallons

Koi Fish & Goldfish Pond - My Parents Water Garden
You should always know how to calculate your pond water volume for your goldfish or koi pond. Sometimes you will need to treat your pond for diseases or to do water treatments. I hope that your goldfish stay healthy and live free of fish diseases but in case they get sick now you have your own pond water volume calculator formula here for you.

Sincerely,

Jamie Boyle
The Goldfish Guy
“Helping Goldfish Owners With Advice, Fish Care and Fish Medication Treatments for Goldfish Diseases, Illnesses and Parasites”

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Goldfish Goldfish Care Goldfish Diseases How To

How To Tell If Your Goldfish Is Sick? Signs and Symptoms of Illness and Disease

You take care of your goldfish on a daily basis but do you really know how to tell if your goldfish is sick or what are the signs of illness and disease? Knowing the signs of sickness in goldfish is your first step in saving the life of your pet fish. Through careful observation is when you can properly diagnose the illness to be able to treat the illness or disease effectively.

Here are some signs of sickness of illness among goldfish you should look for:

Shubunkin - Know The Signs and Symptoms of Illness or Fish Diseases1. Your goldfish has white spots covering it’s body. This goldfish disease is known as ich ( Ichthyophthirius multifiliis ) white spot disease and you will need to begin treatment right away.

2. Your goldfish are usually active but now are sluggish. This could be due to a fish disease or poor water quality. Test your water quality right away such as pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.

3. Your goldfish has bloody spots on the body. This could be caused by anchor worms which has now created a bacterial infection. It also could be ulcers forming. Observe goldfish, check for anchor worms and check water quality.

4. Your goldfish has bloody streaks on fins and tail. Check water quality immediately.

5. Your goldfish has ragged damaged fins. This could be caused by other fish nibbling at its tail and a bacterial infection has set it. Fin and tail rot is common among fish and you will need to begin treatment.

6. Your goldfish are seen gasping at the surface of the water. This can be either two things, lack of oxygen in the water or there could be parasites in the gills causing rapid breathing. Increase aeration in pond or aquarium and if this does not help seek fish medication for gill parasites. If left untreated your goldfish can die due to gill parasites.

7. Your goldfish has clamped fins. Clamped fins is a sign of stress in goldfish and other types of fish. Find out why your goldfish is stressed out. Is there bigger goldfish in the aquarium that is being aggressive? Have you tested your water quality to see if that may be the issue? Is your goldfish always fighting the current in your fish tank, does it have a spot to rest? By simply asking yourself some questions will help you discover the problem.

8. Your goldfish is scratching themselves on the aquarium gravel. This indicates the presence of parasites. Begin treatment right away.

9. You notice that your goldfish has one side of its stomach that is swollen. This may be goldfish dropsy a deadly bacterial infection and unfortunately it’s most likely that your goldfish will die from this.

10. Your goldfish has a white film on its eyes also known as cloudy eye. You will need to buy Melafix to treat cloudy eye in fish.

I hope these signs of sickness, illness or disease will help you in properly diagnosing goldfish that are sick. If you observe your goldfish while feeding them is when you can most of the time catch the early signs of sickness. Take this moment each day to see if your goldfish is acting normal, normal behaviour or any signs or symptoms of disease or parasites. Your goldfish can’t tell you that they are not feeling well so it rests on us through observation to properly care for them.

Sincerely,

Jamie Boyle
The Goldfish Guy
“Helping Goldfish Owners With Advice, Fish Care and Fish Medication Treatments for Goldfish Diseases, Illnesses and Parasites”

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Garden Ponds Goldfish Goldfish Care

How To Put A Goldfish To Sleep Using Clove Oil To Treat Them?

Sometimes there will come a time where you will need to put your goldfish to sleep to treat them. For this you can use clove oil which will put your fish to sleep so you will be able to treat any goldfish diseases or bacterial infections they may have. Myself, on larger fish such as koi I like to put them to sleep so I can treat the infected area directly. For most people, especially if your worried in doing this procedure I would stick with the normal fish medications that you can buy for treatment.

The reason that you put the goldfish to sleep is so they won’t feel anything during the treatment and so they will be easier to handle. For people who have large goldfish or koi that have ulcers I strongly suggest putting your fish to sleep to treat it. By doing so you can get a greater handle on the issue by applying treatment directly to the area.

How To Put A Goldfish To Sleep With Clove Oil:

1. Get a bucket and fill it with some water from your aquarium or pond.

2. Catch your fish and place them in the container.

3. Introduce your fish to the container and add in your clove oil. For this procedure you should add 10 drops per 1 gallon of water. Within 5 minutes or less you should see your goldfish starting to lye on its side. Wait till he is fully asleep before your pick them up.

After your fish is put to sleep using clove oil, now you can begin treatment on your fish. After your done treating your goldfish you will need to revive the fish and wake him up. To do so you will need to pick up your fish and place them by a heavily aerated section in your aquarium or pond. In your aquarium you can place his head right over the bubbles of an air stone and gently rock the fish’s head back and forth so it’s gills open. This will allow oxygen to enter and slowly start to revive your fish. This can take up to 10 minutes for your goldfish to be completely revived. During this stage don’t worry, you will see its gills open and shut so it’s still alive.

Putting a fish to sleep is highly recommended in cases where fish has ulcers and is needed during surgical removal of tumours. I know it’s always scary the first time trying new things but I’ve done this many times and I have yet to lose a fish from putting them to sleep (knock on wood)with clove oil. So whenever your fish get sick you might just have the right stuff in your home to put them to sleep. Give it a try! Just make sure you don’t accidentally overdose on clove oil, as this can kill your fish with larger amounts.

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Goldfish Goldfish Care Goldfish Medications

Debride Medicated Fish Food For Internal Parasites and Diseases

Debride Medicated Food is a treatment medication for both koi and goldfish. Koi and goldfish can become infected with internal worms and parasites causing bacterial infections to occur. Debride Medicated Fish Food will eliminate all internal worms as it contains the active ingredient Praziquantel, a deworming agent. People should treat their fish once a year for internal worms. Left untreated can cause severe damage to internal tissue and organs which is one of the causes of dropsy, which is an internal bacterial infection. Using Debride Medicated Fish Food will help ensure your goldfish and koi stay healthy and disease free.

Tip: Buy Debride Medicated Fish Food Online as it’s cheaper then buying it at your local pet stores. In fact most dealers don’t carry Debride DW Medicated Fish Food 2lb

Debride Medicated Food - Deworming Food For Koi and Goldfish

Debride Medicated Food and is mostly available online. See above link if you wish to purchase some to treat your fish.

Sincerely,

Jamie Boyle
The Goldfish Guy
“Helping Goldfish Owners With Advice, Fish Care and Fish Medication Treatments for Goldfish Diseases, Illnesses and Parasites”

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Goldfish Goldfish Care Goldfish Diseases Goldfish Medications How To Ich Fish Treatment Ich White Spot Disease

Prevent Ich Fish Disease – How To Prevent Ich ( White Spot Disease)

By Jamie Boyle

Many people often wonder ” How Do I Prevent Ich ” from reaching my aquarium and infecting my fish. There are ways in which you can prevent ich from reaching your tank. Here are some simple ich preventative measures you can do to keep ich away and how to prevent white spot disease from reaching your fish:

1. Never buy fish from an aquarium that contain sick fish at a pet store. Look for signs of ich, other external parasites or fish diseases before you make a fish purchase. You may be bringing home more then fish, some hitch hikers as well.

Sarassa Comets2. Before adding new fish to your aquarium or pond you need to quarantine new arrivals for minimum 2-4 weeks to make sure fish are okay and healthy. If not, you may be introducing ich, other external parasites or fish diseases to already healthy fish.

3. When buying aquarium plants or pond plants be sure to disinfect them before placing them in your tank or pond. To do so you can use Potassium Permanganate solution and dip the water plants in it. By doing so you can reduce the chance of introducing ich and other parasites to your aquarium.

4. Never add water to your aquarium or pond from the pet store where you may have bought fish or water plants. Fish should be netted out and water discarded. Water may contain parasites like ich (white spot disease) or other external parasites.

5. Never use the same netting and equipment from other tanks if you have more then one. By using the same net from one tank to another you risk introducing ich and other parasites from a tank that may have been sick. Have a seperate net for each tank.

6. Use an ultraviolet steriliser to help kill ich parasites. As the free swimming ich parasites known as tomites gets killed as they pass through. This may be away to help prevent ich or white spot disease in a way but there is no sure way that all tomites have been killed or destroyed. May help prevent ich but not a 100% sure way to do so.

7. Use CopperSafe From Mardel Labs fish medication to help prevent ich from occuring. One treatment last over a month. It not only helps prevent against ich but velvet and other external parasites as well.

These are just some simple ways you can help reduce the risk, and prevent ich disease from infecting your fish. Preventative measures are the best way to prevent against ich or white spot disease. In case your fish have developed ich or white spots seek ich medication and begin treatment right away.

Sincerely,

Jamie Boyle
The Goldfish Guy
“Helping Goldfish Owners With Advice, Fish Care and Fish Medication Treatments for Goldfish Diseases, Illnesses and Parasites”

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Goldfish Goldfish Care Goldfish Medications Ich Fish Treatment

CopperSafe From Mardel Labs- Fish Medication For Ich, Velvet and Other External Parasites

By Jamie Boyle

Mardel CopperSafe safely medicates fish suffering from ich (small white spots), velvet (yellow-white spots, loss of color), and other external parasites (visible spots, worms, rapid breathing, extra mucous). For salt and freshwater. Unique non-staining liquid. One treatment is effective for over a month. Very effective ich medication treatment. Ingredients: Chelated Copper Sulfate. Instructions: Use 5mL for 4 gallons of water. Treats water for 1 month.

Shop at PetSmart.com for CopperSafe From Mardel Labs, fish medications, fish supplies and other pet products including dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and more.

CopperSafe from Mardel Labs

CopperSafe From Mardel Labs- Fish Medication For Ich, Velvet and Other External Parasites

Sincerely,

Jamie Boyle
The Goldfish Guy
“Helping Goldfish Owners With Advice, Fish Care and Fish Medication Treatments for Goldfish Diseases, Illnesses and Parasites”

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Goldfish Medication Treatments For Illnesses, Diseases and Parasites

By Jamie Boyle

In todays market there are literally tons of goldfish medications available for the consumer to choose from to treat their fish for illnesses and disease. The question is where do we look, on the internet, at a pet store and overall which type of fish treatment medication do we buy.

As we all know, you can find cheaper prices on a variety of different products that you are looking for right on the Internet. The Internet would be your best spot to go when shopping for fish medications which will save you money at the same time.

Fantail Goldfish Sick With UlcerHere’s a list of fish medications on the market to treat your goldfish for illnesses, diseases and parasites:

Kordon Aquarium Rid Ich Preventative Fish MedicationKordon Aquarium Rid Ich Preventative

Kordon Aquarium Rid Ich Disease Treatment helps treat fish for many external parasites including ich and fungus on fish. A very effective fish medication for treatment of diseases.

Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Mela FixAquarium Pharmaceuticals Mela Fix

Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Melafix is an antibacterial remedy that promotes healing and regrowth for damaged fins and tissue. Melafix treats fin and tail rot, ulcers and cloudy eye.

Aquarium Pharmaceuticals PimaFix Treats Fungal Infection and Both Internal and External Bacterial InfectionsAquarium Pharmaceuticals PimaFix

Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Pimafix used in combination with Melafix is very effective against fish diseases and known to enhance treatment and results. Pimafix is effective against internal and external bacterial infections.

CopperSafe From Mardel Labs - Fish MedicationCopperSafe from Mardel Labs

Copper safe is used for treatment of ich (white spot disease), velvet ( yellow-white spots, loss of color) and other external parasites. When treating with Cooper Safe use 5ml (1 teaspoon) for every 4 gallons of water. Treatment lasts for one month.

Lifeguard Freshwater Fish MedicationLifeguard Freshwater

Lifeguard Freshwater All-In-One Treatment treats a variety of fish diseases including bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic. Liguard is also an effective treatment against fungus and ick. Each 1/4 tablet treats 2.5 US gallons. Manufactured by Jungle Laboratories Corporation.

Maroxy From Mardel Labs - Fish MedicationMarOxy from Mardel Labs

MarOxy from Mardel Labs is an effective treatment against fungal and bacterial infections. Also helps in controlling fungus from attacking fish eggs.

Maracide From Mardel Labs - Fish MedicationMaracide from Mardel Labs

Liquid fish medication used effectively to get rid of ick, trichodina, chilodinella and related parasites. When treating fish with Maracide From Mardel Labs make sure to shake bottle well before use. Can be used without taking plants out of your aquarium. Use 2 capfuls per 10 gallons of water.

Mardel Maracyn - Fish MedicationMardel Maracyn

Used to treat against fungal diseases on fish. Maracyn also treats body fungus (Columnaris), fin and tail rot, popeye, gill disease and secondary infections. This fish medication does not discolour the water and does not disturb the biological filter. Use 1 tablet per every 10 gallons of water.

Maracyn Plus Biospheres Antibacteria Therapy From Mardel - Fish MedicationMardel Maracyn Two - Fish MedicationMardel Maracyn-Two is an antibiotic used effectively against internal and external bacterial infections. This fish medication treats the following: Popeye, gill disease, fin and tail rot, dropsy, septicemia, secondary and internal infections. Maracyn-Two comes in both tablet and powder form. Very effective treatment against fish diseases as well as Maracyn Plus&reg Biospheres AntiBacteria Therapy from Mardel.

Methylene Blue Fungal Infection Fish MedicationMethylene Blue is manufactured by Kordon which which helps control and prevent goldfish diseases from occuring. Methylene Blue treats fungal infections found on fish as well as prevents fungus from forming on fish eggs after breeding.

These above fish medications are sure to help get your fish health back to normal. The only other suggestion is to make sure you properly diagnose your fish illness or disease correctly. If you don’t and you begin treating your fish for the wrong sickness, disease or parasites your treatment will be ineffective. So first diagnose then begin treatment and your fish will recover soon with proper medication.

Here are a variety of places that you can go to purchase fish medications, fish supplies and other pet supplies at discount prices:

PetSmart

Petsmart is an online pet store that carry a wide variety of fish medications for all your fish health care needs. They carry medications for treatment of ich, parasites, bacterial infections, fungus and much more.

1-800-PetMeds

1-800 Pet Meds is another great source for all kinds of pet supplies. They offer a wide variety of prescription and non-prescription pet medications

Lets just hope that you don’t need to come to these measures and your fish stay healthy and disease free. We can hope, but sooner or later your fish will become sick or ill and you will need to know how to treat your fish and what goldfish medications should you use to treat various diseases and parasites. Maintenance and proper care is the best way to prevent your fish from becoming sick. Make sure you keep up with it or your fish may suffer because of it.

Sincerely,

Jamie Boyle
The Goldfish Guy

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Uncategorized

Goldfish Dropsy – Deadly Bacterial Infection

By Jamie Boyle

Just yesterday I recieved an email from one of my readers whose goldfish is suffering from dropsy (also known as pine cone disease) that I thought I should share with everyone. Brian sent me this email along with pictures looking for some advice on how to treat his goldfish which is really sick:

Hi Jamie

I’m looking for some advice, I have a really sick goldfish, I have tried everything over the last few weeks & nothing seems to be working (Inc salt, medicine, peas etc..) he is very bloated & stays at the bottom of the tank mostly, when he does swim it is very slowly and lethargic & over the past 2-3 days he has become very black in color all over his body & fins. Goldfish Suffering From DropsyI have been changing the water approx 1-2 times a week in the hope this will help? But I am afraid I am no expert. I have attached a few photos for you to have a look, I hope you can help, I have had him for years & would hate to lose him.

Many Thanks

Brian

Photos courtesy of Brian

Goldfish With Dropsy and Cloudy EyeDropsy

I would like to thank Brian for sending me these photos of his goldfish. The only thing is I wish I would be able to help him in this situation more. You see dropsy is a bacterial infection affecting the fish organs causing the body to swell and also the eyes to bulge. There is no real way to treat dropsy. The best thing one can do is make sure you maintain excellent water quality and try treating your fish with aquarium salt. Aquarium salt is known to help treat a wide variety of diseases and can help kill parasites as well. Maintaining water quality with proper maintenance is the best way to try and prevent dropsy from occuring.

Another suggestion that Brian should do is stop performing 1-2 water changes a week. You see by doing too many water changes can mess up your nitrogen cycle causing further stress on your goldfish. Dropsy is usually caused by poor water quality in which I suspect that has caused dropsy to occur on his goldfish. After doing the water changes Brian should add beneficial bacteria after every water change and keep testing his water quality to make sure there are no ammonia spikes. Water quality is something people need to always make sure is kept up and tested to prevent goldfish diseases and parasites from occuring.

Treating goldfish for dropsy using salt and feeding them Internal Medicated Food for bacterial infections is about the only thing you can do. The prognosis for dropsy isn’t good at all. Dropsy is usually fatal and one can only try and treat their fish in hopes that he recovers. Hoping and praying is the last thing we can do just waiting to see if our attempts to treat dropsy works. Dropsy is a deadly bacterial infection and people should plan for the worse when they see symptoms on their fish.

I wish Brian best of luck and hope that his goldfish is able to recover from this deadly bacterial infection called dropsy.

Sincerely,

Jamie Boyle
The Goldfish Guy

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Goldfish Medication Treatments For Illnesses, Diseases and Parasites