Can Fish Be Anemic?

Can fish be anemic? It's definitely possible!

Believe it or not your pet fish can actually have anemia due to various reasons. This article will discuss causes and treatments of anemia in fish so you can notice the symptoms and help your fish get healthy again.

A symptom of anemia in fish is gills that are abnormally pale in color. This should be noticeable for someone that observes their fish. It is important to pay attention to fish and all pets because changes can often mean they are ill.

It is important to understand what cause fish anemia so you can try to prevent it or properly treat your fish if they have already become anemic. One cause is folic acid deficiency which is actually quite common in catfish. Another cause is infections. There are various types of infections that fish can get, they may be fungal, bacterial, or viral. Prolonged exposure to high level of nitrites is another cause. The last thing that can cause anemia in fish is parasites. Parasites can cause infections and various health issues in fish.

Parasites can be quite common in fish. They are typically introduced by infected plants or food. Parasites can include anchor worms and leeches. These parasites can usually be seen. They feed on the blood of fish and cause sores, infections, and anemia. If you notice your fish has pale gills and appears to have strings, worms, or leeches on its body, it's probably a parasite.

There are various treatments that you can put in your aquarium to kill parasites. Once the parasites are entirely gone, your fish should start to recover. If you have multiple fish together and only one fish appears to have parasites you should treat the whole aquarium. Some parasites start out in microscopic forms, so your tank may be infested, but you just can't see them all yet.

If you're not sure why your fish is anemic you may want to test your water for nitrites. Testing regularly for this doesn't hurt. Always keeping water clean also helps avoid fish from getting infections. If your fish appears anemic, but the water is always clean, nitrite levels are fine, and there appears to be no parasites you may way to try changing your fish's diet to include more folic acid.

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.