A very common word in the fish hobby is the term “dropsy.” What does this term mean? Well, to start off, “dropsy” is NOT a disease. “Dropsy” describes a condition where a fish’s body balloons outward and their scales start to stick out, looking like a pinecone. This syndrome is caused by excess water in […]
Continue reading "“Dropsy” in Freshwater Fish"Alright, we’ve cleared up the internet’s favorite fish diagnoses: swim bladder, dropsy, constipation and mystical green peas, but what about that “white stringy poop?” Somehow, many internet diagnoses involve this mysterious phenomenon in fish and have linked it to internal parasites. Well, let us set the record straight… White stringy poop is a fecal cast […]
Continue reading "White Stringy Poop in Fish"How can you tell if your fish is sick? Here are the physical signs you should keep an eye out for if you owner fish. Behavioral signs of disease will be addressed in the next post. Trauma Most trauma events in fish present as open wounds. The fish above was in an outdoor pond that […]
Continue reading "Physical Signs of Disease in Fish"What is “constipation?” It is the inability to pass fecal material usually due to dehydration or lack of fiber in the diet. Well, goldfish are physiologically built to never be constipated. Imagine, if you will, a goldfish swimming in their tank. Remember, goldfish are freshwater fish. Now, the next part might require you to pull […]
Continue reading "Your Goldfish is NOT Constipated"Salt is a normal component of many fish systems. Saltwater and brackish systems require salt on a continual basis. But what about freshwater systems? Some internet pages recommend keeping salt in koi/goldfish ponds/tanks at all times. Others say don’t bother. What are the effects of salt on an all-freshwater species? In a freshwater environment, a […]
Continue reading "Salt in Fish Tanks and Ponds"We’ve already established that fish get sick, so how can you recognize when something is wrong? Signs of illness can be broken down into two categories: physical and behavioral. Physical These indicators of illness can be very easy to spot. Physical signs of disease include: Changes in coloration Bumps/lumps Asymmetrical body shape Misshapen fins Wounds […]
Continue reading "How do you know if a fish is sick?"The #3 Mistake – Relying Too Much on Internet Searches The internet is a wonderful, magical place. Because if it’s published on the internet, it must be true, right? Sorry to tell you, but Dr. Google does not have any sort of medical degree. Have you read all about the magic of tiny green peas […]
Continue reading "Top 10 Mistakes New Fish Owners Make – #3"Goldfish are the most common pet fish we see at aquatic veterinary services. Be they comets or fancy, they have their own sets of unique issues. Does your goldfish live in a bowl? If your goldfish currently resides in a fish bowl, an upgrade to a tank with a filter is the best thing you […]
Continue reading "Goldfish"One of the most common questions our veterinary gets asked is, “what does the typical day of the aquatic veterinarian look like?” Even in the traditional small animal practice, cases and patients vary daily, but for a traveling all-fish veterinarian, the variety increases exponentially. Our chief veterinarian’s day varies widely, taking into account different species, […]
Continue reading "A “Typical” Day in the Life of a Fish Vet"Over the last few months, our office has seen several cases of mycobacteria. Never heard of it before? Well, here’s everything you need to know: Mycobacteria in Fish Depending on your fish experience, you may have heard a lot or very little about the potential dangers of mycobacterial infections. This disease can be very hard […]
Continue reading "Mycobacteria in Fish"
