Fish Parasites – How to tell if your fish has a fish parasite and how to treat it.
April 4th, 2007 | 
Author: Ectoparasites are the types of fish parasites that are found on the fish’s skin. These are the most clearly visible and diagnosable and if you have noticed any strange new marks on your fish lately then perhaps you need to check for these.
You can diagnose your fish for external parasites by yourself. Most ectoparasites are visible with the naked eye and are easy for anyone, even you, to treat with just a simple over the counter fish medicine that I will recommend later.
However, to diagnose it you need to learn the symptoms of most common fish parasites and how to observe your fish to safeguard its health.
If your fish has learned the habit of rubbing against things frequently then this is a sign of skin aggravation or irritation and needs to be monitored. In itself it is not serious unless it gets out of control or is noted with eh other symptoms to follow.
Spots of redness or inflammation on the body are a very clear sign. These are often found at the bottom of the dorsal fin which is the one on the fish’s back.
Other signs are if its operculum (the flap that covers the gills that marks the end of the head and the beginning of the body) is open or flared. This is meant to open and close as the fish breathes and if it is not then there is a problem.
If your fish seems to be having difficulty breathing (respiratory problems) or appears to be overly lethargic this may also be a symptom of a parasite. However, this is just as easily a symptom of mineral deficiency, lack of oxygen from clean and filtered water or lack of food.
If you see any of these symptoms then first try changing the fish’s water and ensuring that it is pure the next time. If the symptoms persist then you are likely to be dealing with a parasite.
If you see white spots then you are probably dealing with a particularly nasty type of parasite like Chilodonella or Costia and so you may need to pay a vet.
However, the vast majority of parasites can be treated with a general fish parasite treatment. You can purchase these at any decent fish supply store online or offline. I personally recommend http://www.desertcoralaquatics.com for these types this product. You will find a high quality anti-parasite medicine under the “medications” section.
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