Are Your Fish at Risk for Fungal Infections?

Are your fish at risk for fungal infections? Did you know that fungal spores can be found in all fish tanks. This is why it's so important to keep your home aquarium clean. Dirty water increases the likelihood of healthy fish getting fungal infections. If water is kept clean only injured, sick, or stressed fish usually develop fungal infections.

Most fungal infections are external and fish owners usually notice them. However, there are a few internal fungal infections which unfortunately go unnoticed until a fish dies. Knowing what causes fungal infections in fish and the symptoms, can help save the lives of your fish.

With fungal spores in aquariums it is important to not do anything that will allow the fungus to spread. Dirty tanks and water are a huge reason for many fungal infections. However, if a fish is already injured, ill or old, they are much more likely to get an infection.

If your tank is clean, the water is clean, you have a filtration system, and your tank isn't overcrowded with fish, your fish probably won't ever experience fungal infections.

External fungal infections attack the fish's body and their eggs. They can usually appear as a fungus on a fish's body. They tend to look like cotton or a fluffy growth on a fish's body, fins, or mouth. Fungal infections are typically white, however if they get worse the color can become gray or almost red.

Some fungal infections include cotton wool disease, egg fungus, gill rot, and other infections that affect tropical fish.

If you think that your fish have a fungal infection there are some treatments. Giving the fish a clean aquarium is an okay start. Water should also be treated with aquarium salt and there are some antifungal treatments too. If only individual fish are infected, separate them and you can do topical anti-fungal treatments. Sometimes it's good to treat the water of even uninfected fish, just to be safe.

Fungal infections can sometimes be confused with bacterial infections which may require different treatments. Talk to a vet or fish expert if you have any questions.

The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your veterinarian or other health care professional. You should not use the information on this site for diagnosis or treatment of any health problem or for prescription of any medication or other treatment.