What Is Fish Disease?
October 6th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
What Is Fish Disease?
For the purposes of this article a fish is diseased when it is unwell. Disease can be caused by stress and by many lower life forms, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa. Some species of these organisms can be harmless or even beneficial, whilst others, known as pathogens, can cause considerable harm to the fish.
Where does fish disease come from?
Every pond may contain a population of various harmful organisms. When in good health, the natural immunity of the fish prevents them from being overcome by these organisms. If the fish become stressed, for instance, because of poor water conditions, then disease can break out. Sometimes, other diseased can be introduced. For example, leech eggs may be present on the leaves of new plants placed in the pond. Sometimes quite healthy fish which have developed immunity to some diseases may be attacked when moved to a new pond where different diseases are present.
When buying fish for your pond there are several key things to look out for. Ensure that the fish in the tank you are selecting your fish from are not showing any visible signs of disease. Using the symptom guide in “Goldfish Diseases – Symptoms and Treatment” will assist in identifying potentially diseased fish.
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