Common Saltwater Fish Diseases

This week’s blog, we’ll look at a variety of common saltwater fish ailments, how to steer clear of them, treat them, and when possible, how to cure them. Some of the most common diseases in saltwater aquariums are Marine Velvet and Marine White Spot Disease. Pathogen epidemics often result in fish death if they aren't dealt with quickly. 

Marine fish can also give refuge to internal and external parasites in the wild. In nature, parasites rarely overwhelm the immune system and cause its demise. Parasites depend on the fish as a source of nutrient at times and it would be detrimental for the parasite to kill its host. Aqariumcommunity.com and the fishchannel.com provide great details on these diseases and other parasites that can be harmful to your swimmers. This is information from their websites:

Fish with Marine Velvet

Marine Velvet

Marine Velvet is cause by a saltwater parasite; Amylodinium. Amylodinium will typically attach the gills of the fish, but can also infect the skin. If you suspect that your fish has been infected with Marine Velvet, you can use a strong flashlight and light up the top of the fish when the rest of the room is darkened. If the gills and the sides of the fish that receives indirect lighting look velvet or as if dusted with gold, you should treat the fish for Amylodinium. 

Fish with Ich Disease

Marine White Spot (Ich)

Marine White Spot Disease is also known as marine Ich and marine Ick. The symptoms are very similar to those displayed by fish infected with freshwater Ich, but marine Ich is not caused by the same parasite a freshwater White Spot Disease (Ichthyophthirius). Marine White Spot Disease is caused by Cryptocaryon, a saltwater parasite. A marine fish that successfully combats an attack from Cryptocaryon can develop immunity that lasts up to 6 months.

Brooklynella

Brooklynella Hostilis

Brooklynella hostilis is a ciliated protozoan that lives in saltwater. An infected fish can become sluggish and will often take food into its mouth and spit it out. If Brooklynella hostilis colonizes the gills, the fish will experience breathing problems. Smear test from the gills is used to diagnose a Brooklynella hostilis infestation. You can also notice signs of Brooklynella hostilis on the skin of the fish. In the beginning, small areas will look faded and listless. As the infestation becomes more severe, these areas will grow and spread outwardly. The skin will become more and more damaged. Brooklynella hostilis is sometimes called "Clownfish Disease", but the parasite can infect a wide range of marine fish species.

Uronema Marinum

Uronema Marinum

Uronema marinum is a saltwater parasite that can grow rapidly in aquariums where the water quality is poor due to large amounts of organic matter. Be extra careful with the levels of nitrate and phosphate if you are having problems with Uronema marinum. The Yellow Tang is especially prone to Uronema marinum infestations, but the parasite is capable of infecting a wide range of fish species, including all the other Tangs. Seahorses can also suffer from Uronema marinum attacks. An infected fish will begin to scrub itself against rough surfaces in the aquarium. Sooner or later, it will become extremely exhausted and rise to the surface where it can gasp for air. Its colors will usually fade and the skin will eventually begin to die. The skin will look slimy, hemorrhagic lesions will manifest, and the eyes of the fish will usually turn clouded. If the Uronema marinum infestation progresses, the fish can become completely blind. Deaths are also common and recent research have shown that Uronema marinum do not only infect the skin and gills of the fish, but the kidney and brain as well.

Disease-related fish fatalities are the top reason for leaving the marine aquarium hobby. Taking good care and keeping informed will make the experience more rewarding.

A healthy Blue Tang Fish

Until next time!

References:

www.aquaticcommunity.com

www.fishchannel.com