Get Fish Health and Wellness for Fish in Hardy

Do the fish in your fish tank look different? Do they have white patches, cloudy eyes, or rough fins? Is their behavior unusual? Even well cared for fish can get sick, and when they do, Barkley's Pet Market in Hardy, VA has the fish health and wellness products to bring them back to their normal, healthy selves. We also stock everything you need to keep your fish healthy.

The help prevent your fish from getting sick, feed them properly and don't congest the tank. Monitor temperature levels. Do your partial water replacements consistently. Occasionally, however, even with your best efforts, diseases find their way into an aquarium. Below are some common aquarium fish illnesses and the signs that your fish could be struggling with them:

Ich, short for Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, is the most common fish tank parasite. Signs of ich (pronounced "ick") are: raised white spots, quick breathing, rubbing against ornaments, or darting about the tank. There are medications and other treatments available for ich.

Other parasites include chilodonella, with symptoms similar to ich, and oodinium, aka rust, gold, or velvet dust disease, which causes an unusually tinted dusting on the fish's body. There are also fish lice, anchor worms, flukes, and nematodes. Different signs and symptoms include unpredictable swimming, loss of shade, extreme mucous, difficulty breathing, and bloating or wasting.

After parasites, the most common illnesses are bacterial infections, such as fin and tail rot. Symptoms of the bacterial disease are white film, cloudy eyes, ragged fins, and open sores. Bacterial infections are complicated to treat due to the fact that prescription antibiotics can disrupt the aquarium and filter.

Fungal infections are less frequent and commonly take the form of cotton-like growths.

Viral infections occur in goldfish and koi but are less common in other aquarium fish.

If you see or suspect any of these issues in your fish, it's a good idea to talk to an specialist regarding diagnosis and treatment. Pictures and videos can be helpful in communicating the symptoms you're seeing.

Barkley's Pet Market is your local pet store for all your fish requirements. You can find all you need at Barkley's Pet Market in Hardy, VA. Stop by our store or call (540) 346-2277 to talk to a member of our team today!