Fungus Diseases on Fish

Fish often infect by fungus diseases that sometimes cause dead. Usually this fungi can grow in a fish because the water is dirt and make fungi grow on every place even on animals body like fish.

Fish that infect by fungi have certain visual strange, there is a fine white thread known as hyphae that pass through organic material. This hyphae look like thread like cotton wool. Fish that live in aquarium often infect by mouth fungus (columnaris) that sometime confused with true fungal infection. Mouth fungus filaments are columnare and needs to treated with an appropriate antibacterial or antibiotic medication.

The kind of fungi that can cause infect include of Achyla and Saprolegia, that is often referred to collectively as water molds. These kind of fungi usually present in most aquaria, breaking down of organic material such as fish feces, leaf litter and fish food.

This fungi do not harm healthy of aquarium fish because the mucus layer on the skin of a fish prevent the spores from infecting its living tissues. However, if the skin fish damaged, fungi can quickly develop, particularly if the fish living in dirty environment. Other diseases that can causes open wound like itch, ulcers and hole in the head disease, that can lead the fungus diseases infection.

Other causes of fungus disease associated with stress condition to the fish, fish exhibit a weaker immune response when they are not take care properly. Chilling, poor water quality and inappropriate water can cause aquarium develop fungi.

Fungi growth can easily prevented, avoid injury among fish is essential by minimize handling and take care not to mix specimens that might damage on another. Water quality should be maintained, with particular regards to specific needs of livebearers and brackish species. Removing organic matter from tank, like uneaten food and dead animals. Water regularly change for example once a week.