Detect a Tropical Fish Disease in Time

Like any other animal, tropical fish can become ill and suffer from a disease. If you want to find out whether or not a fish is healthy you should look out for signs of diseases. Not only should you check your own fish, but also a fish you might want to buy from a friend or in a store. Buying a sick fish will most likely cause the disease to spread in your fish tank.

Here's a short list of 5 of the most common signs you should look out for:

Sign 1: Excessive mucus or white spots on the scales are an indicator for a tropical fish disease. But be aware that some species have mucus on their scales in order to protect themselves against bacteria.

Sign 2: The eyes of your fish are supposed to be bright. You might have heard of this in another context: When you want to buy a fish for dinner, you take a look at the eyes to check its freshness. It's the same for living fish. If the eyes of your fish become nontransparent, you should investigate it immediately.

Sign 3: Fungus on your tropical fish is probably a sign for a tropical fish disease. You should also check the dorsal fin. A healthy fish will not fold it down while a sick fish might do.

Sign 4: Your tropical fish should swim around in your fish tank. A fish which isn't moving at all is probably dead, but a fish that is rarely swimming and lacks activity is a sign for a tropical fish disease. Your fish also shouldn't be swimming only at the top of the aquarium or only the bottom. This one is best detected when you feed your fish. Are all of them heading for the food?

Sign 5: If the aquarium is already dirty and the water is cloudy, there is a high probability for a tropical fish disease to spread among your fish. Provide a clean, healthy aquarium to prevent them from becoming sick in the first place.

These 5 signs are great indicators to check if your fish suffers from a tropical fish disease. However, to be completely sure you should separate the fish in question and visit a professional vet. Don't jump to conclusions after taking a single look at your tropical fish - closely observe your fish over a short period of time and don't wait too long - most tropical fish are very delicate. Always be on the safe side - one sickly fish can bring disaster to the rest.

Learn special techniques and tips from a real professional. Check out my review of a complete guide to tropical fish care on my blog. Here's the link: http://best-tropical-fish-guide.blogspot.com/