**Post contains affiliate links.** Your fish tank is its own, unique, dynamic ecosystem. Your fish make up only a small part of its biological profile. Microscopic bacteria thrive in fish tanks and supply plenty of food for small invertebrates, including commensal worms. Worms in fish tanks are nothing to worry about and usually only mean …
Velvet fish disease can occur in both marine and freshwater systems. Although the marine form is much more common, fish owners should be aware of the clinical signs associated with this disease and what to do if you suspect velvet fish disease is in your system. Clinical Signs of Velvet in Fish For both freshwater …
What does a fish veterinarian do to check the health of your pond? Join our chief veterinarian, Dr. Jessie Sanders, as she checks the health of a koi pond with an ongoing ulcer issue. What is included in one of your “pond packages?” All of our pond packages include water quality testing and fish physicals …
Watch our aquatic veterinarian perform a fish eyeball removal on a koi with a problematic chromatophoroma on his eye. This fish was unique in the fact that the other eye had been removed by our staff the previous year! Fish do just fine with one or no eyeballs, relying on their other senses, including their …
One of our most beloved patients, Lemon, suffered from a fancy goldfish buoyancy disorder. After correcting her congenital oral deformity, Lemon was not able to take in enough air to swim correctly. In order to improve her quality of life, she was fitted with a temporary float. Are goldfish buoyancy disorders common? Our office sees …
No, it’s not a fungus, it’s a bacteria that looks like a fungus! This bacteria has confused hobbyists for years, wondering why anti-fungal treatments don’t work on what is actually a bacterial infection. Columnaris in fish is a common problem that has an easy and straightforward solution. What is “Columnaris?” Columnaris, formally known as Flavobacterium …
Many of our clients have noted their fish jumping at various times and have wondered why they do it. But why do fish jump? Here are the most common causes of fish jumping: It’s feeding time and they’re excited. Just like your 2-year-old getting their favorite snack, some fish love feeding time above all else. …
Some fish are more prone to eye issues than others. Fancy goldfish with giant bulbous eyes are the first to come to mind, followed by bettas and koi. What is the cause of “cloudy” eyes and how can you prevent your fish from having permanent issues? Trauma – The #1 Cause of Fish Cloudy Eyes …
No, not a cartoon character, but rather a physical descriptor. Fish popeye is another common problem we run into at our practice. What is “popeye” and how can it be treated? Is there a way to prevent it in your fish? Common Causes of Fish Popeye The #1 cause of fish popeye is trauma. Usually, …
There are many fanciful varieties of guppies, with “proprietary” strains being offered at almost every online site. Guppies are prolific and colorful fish, but beware when you search out these rare and unique strains. Like overbred goldfish, guppy inbreeding is rampant among these extra special varietals, so owners please be forewarned. Why is guppy inbreeding …
One of the most common calls we get from our clients is for fish with “fin rot.” Fin rot in pet fish is easily confused with trauma and general illness, especially in fish with ornate tails, such as bettas and fancy goldfish. So what exactly is “fin rot,” and how can you differentiate between this …
Many people will say that some fish, goldfish in particular, will “grow to the size of their container.” Unfortunately, most fish stunting occurs without the owner even noticing. If given lots of room and food, carp species, including goldfish and koi, have the potential for ridiculous growth, up to 16-20″! Many of the largest goldfish …
First, let’s get one thing straight: not all quarantine protocols are legitimate. You may have been told your fish has been “quarantined,” but what does that really mean? How long was the quarantine? Were they mixed with fish from other dealers? Were they prophylacticly treated with anything? The best way to protect your fish is …
Cryotherapy is being used more and more in aquatic veterinary medicine, but how does it work? DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME. Like cryotherapy in other species, the most beneficial treatments are for superficial skin issues. Our office commonly uses cryotherapy to treat external lumps and skin disease like hikui. It is critical that the …
** This post contains affiliate links that give us a small % of $$ for our recommendations. ** Sick at The Store It’s sad to say that many pet fish stores may be incubating serious diseases without any clinical signs. Many new pet fish that pass through wholesalers and distributors are not routinely tested for …
Top 3 Problems with New Pet Fish & How to Fix Them Read More »