Marine Discussion: Understanding fish diseases and how to prevent them from happening
- Thread starter OrionGirl
- Start date
Great article, I like the way that it is organised and the topic is about as relavant as it can get.
I do have a couple of comments:
1) Disinfecting solution: 10% bleach solution followed by rinsing and dechlorination. You don't want any disinfectant to get into your tank, by its nature a disinfectant is a kill-all, so bad for everyone. Chlorine (i.e. bleach) is one of the easiest to remove post-use.
2) Algae, while symptomatic of a nutrient excess/imbalance, are not harmful to fish. While unsightly, algae are still plants and still absorb ammonia and give off O2.
3) Bacteria are nature's way of dealing with all the crap that higher lifeforms either excrete, discard or cannot use. They are not all bad and this point should be made very clear. The heterotrophic bacteria that consume uneaten food, dead plant matter, old fish scales and so forth are not related to disease and provide a beneficial service to an aquarium's ecosystem. Indeed their presence helps to prevent the virulent forms of bacteria (and fungae) from gaining a foothold. While thorough tank cleaning and a proper maintenance routine is necessary, it is critical that the reader not mistake the presence of bacteria with possibility for infection.
IMO, infections come from bacteria normally present in small amounts in the water, that the fishs' immune systems can easily deal with. However, poor maintenance allowing organics (such as fish hormones and breakdown products of food) and sulfur compounds to build up weakens the immune system allowing the baddies to gain foothold and multiply.
I don't mean to suggest that this wasn't your intent in your article (and I know that it's just the intro), but in our bacteriophobic society, I think that it's of uttmost importance to be perfectly clear that bacteria are not bad per se, [just like people] some are and some aren't.
On a nitpicky grammatical note, an infection by bacteria or fungae = "bacterial" and "fungal" infection
I do have a couple of comments:
1) Disinfecting solution: 10% bleach solution followed by rinsing and dechlorination. You don't want any disinfectant to get into your tank, by its nature a disinfectant is a kill-all, so bad for everyone. Chlorine (i.e. bleach) is one of the easiest to remove post-use.
2) Algae, while symptomatic of a nutrient excess/imbalance, are not harmful to fish. While unsightly, algae are still plants and still absorb ammonia and give off O2.
3) Bacteria are nature's way of dealing with all the crap that higher lifeforms either excrete, discard or cannot use. They are not all bad and this point should be made very clear. The heterotrophic bacteria that consume uneaten food, dead plant matter, old fish scales and so forth are not related to disease and provide a beneficial service to an aquarium's ecosystem. Indeed their presence helps to prevent the virulent forms of bacteria (and fungae) from gaining a foothold. While thorough tank cleaning and a proper maintenance routine is necessary, it is critical that the reader not mistake the presence of bacteria with possibility for infection.
IMO, infections come from bacteria normally present in small amounts in the water, that the fishs' immune systems can easily deal with. However, poor maintenance allowing organics (such as fish hormones and breakdown products of food) and sulfur compounds to build up weakens the immune system allowing the baddies to gain foothold and multiply.
I don't mean to suggest that this wasn't your intent in your article (and I know that it's just the intro), but in our bacteriophobic society, I think that it's of uttmost importance to be perfectly clear that bacteria are not bad per se, [just like people] some are and some aren't.
On a nitpicky grammatical note, an infection by bacteria or fungae = "bacterial" and "fungal" infection
Great idea for an article! I think more detail should be given to each "section". Much of what is written could be gleaned from a quick look into the forums. Also, IMO, there are several vague addresses such as...
Preventing Disease - Any course in aquaculture is going to teach you that there are three components of fish health. They are fish, pathogen, environment. Obviously this lesson relies on the fact that the pathogen is present, which for many bacteria and fungi, it is, often parasites too but not necessarily. When the fish and environment are healthy/favorable, the pathogen has less of a chance to infect the fish. As the fish's health deteriorates and/or the environment deteriorates, the pathogen has a greater chance of causing ill-effect on the fish. It is a dynamic interaction and to say it is just the quality of the environment seems to make the assumption that the fish is healthy and there are no pathogens present. I think a section could be devoted to "stresses of fish", "What causes the environment to degrade", and "Pathogens of fish"...o.k., books could be devoted
.
I didn't understand this... "Prevent poisons from predators from entering your tank."?
I understand this..."Last thing to do is make sure that the water quality is fresh, clean, and balanced for your fish. Also, if you have a planted aquarium don't forget to care for them as well." But think it could be clarified for newbies. Another section on what "good water quality is"?
"Stress is a major factor in preventing disease." Should read "Stress is a major factor in causing disease and should be prevented."
"External infections are easily seen and treated." Usually to experienced aquarists, not so to newbies.
"Bacteria and fungae:
Basically this is caused by poor tank conditions. Dead plant matter, feces, and/or uneaten food encourage bacteria or fungae to grow." Bacteria and fungi are caused...? Explosion in population may be caused by the listed criteria but they are most always present.
"Wasting:
Weight loss resulting in an uneven appearance. This is caused by harassment of an individual fish preventing access to food, or a disease such as tuberculosis, which is more common." What about parasites?
Kudos for taking on such an expansive (is that a word )topic!
Preventing Disease - Any course in aquaculture is going to teach you that there are three components of fish health. They are fish, pathogen, environment. Obviously this lesson relies on the fact that the pathogen is present, which for many bacteria and fungi, it is, often parasites too but not necessarily. When the fish and environment are healthy/favorable, the pathogen has less of a chance to infect the fish. As the fish's health deteriorates and/or the environment deteriorates, the pathogen has a greater chance of causing ill-effect on the fish. It is a dynamic interaction and to say it is just the quality of the environment seems to make the assumption that the fish is healthy and there are no pathogens present. I think a section could be devoted to "stresses of fish", "What causes the environment to degrade", and "Pathogens of fish"...o.k., books could be devoted
.I didn't understand this... "Prevent poisons from predators from entering your tank."?
I understand this..."Last thing to do is make sure that the water quality is fresh, clean, and balanced for your fish. Also, if you have a planted aquarium don't forget to care for them as well." But think it could be clarified for newbies. Another section on what "good water quality is"?
"Stress is a major factor in preventing disease." Should read "Stress is a major factor in causing disease and should be prevented."
"External infections are easily seen and treated." Usually to experienced aquarists, not so to newbies.
"Bacteria and fungae:
Basically this is caused by poor tank conditions. Dead plant matter, feces, and/or uneaten food encourage bacteria or fungae to grow." Bacteria and fungi are caused...? Explosion in population may be caused by the listed criteria but they are most always present.
"Wasting:
Weight loss resulting in an uneven appearance. This is caused by harassment of an individual fish preventing access to food, or a disease such as tuberculosis, which is more common." What about parasites?
Kudos for taking on such an expansive (is that a word
)topic!"Prevent poisons from predators from entering your tank."
Sorry, typo, it should have stated : Prevent poisons or predators from entering you tank.
Thank you for pointing this out. Yes, expansive is a word.
I wrote this article just to give people precautions on how to handle and take better care of their fish and their envirmonet.
I do appreciate the feedback and all of you did make some sound points in your comments.
Once again, I thank you for your replies.
Sorry, typo, it should have stated : Prevent poisons or predators from entering you tank.
Thank you for pointing this out. Yes, expansive is a word.
I wrote this article just to give people precautions on how to handle and take better care of their fish and their envirmonet.
I do appreciate the feedback and all of you did make some sound points in your comments.
Once again, I thank you for your replies.
