Fish, Amphibian and Reptile Diseases & Parasites Standard: 5.00- Discuss the role of major systems of small animals. Objective: Discuss the ways that disease.

Fish, Amphibian and Reptile Diseases & Parasites

Standard:5.00- Discuss the role of major

systems of small animals.

Objective:Discuss the ways that disease

processes affect major body systems.

Fish Diseases

Signs and Symptoms of Disease

Fish are behaving unusual/strange

Fish are floating to surface, sinking to bottom, or leaning to the side of aquarium

Fish’s fins are unusually laying flat against the body

Fish have rolled or closed caudal fins

A fish is off by itself and not swimming with the school

Fish appears to be in slow motion and not keeping up with other fish

Disease Signs Fish’s breathing seem unusually

faster and deeper than normal Fish at the surface gasping for

air Fish are rubbing/scratching

against objects in the aquarium Not interested in eating Fish belly appears caved in or

unusually thin Fish belly appears bloated or

swollen Color of fish has changed or

unusual Fish fins appearance is frayed

Disease Signs The back and spinal

column appear distorted Eyes are not clear, appear

something is cloudy The fish’s scales are not

normally sticking out, they lay flat against body

White spots are covering body

Protruding eyes Anal discharge hanging

from fish

Parasites White spot (Ich)

Cause: organism Ichthyophthirius multifiliis

Symptoms: numerous white spots on the body and fins of stressed fish.

One of the most common diseases found in aquarium fish

Slime disease Cause: parasites attack skin

of fish Symptoms: large amount of

mucus on skin May cause death if it attacks

the gills.

Parasites Hole-in-the-head

Cause: organism Hexsamita live under skin in muscle tissue

Symptoms: tissue break down and skin opens to make fish appear to have holes

Velvet disease Cause: organism Oodinium

penetrates skin cells and feed on fish

Symptoms: dusty/slimy look, fish will sporadically dart from one side of tank to other

Parasites White fungus growth

Cause: Fungus Symptoms: white growth

around mouth, fins, eye, and gills.

A secondary infection is usually present already

Flukes Cause: worm-like parasite

that attaches to the gills and body of fish

Symptoms: Fish scratching/rubbing on rocks, lethargy, isolation at bottom of tank

Parasites Anchor worms

Cause: Parasitic worm that adheres and burrows under scales to attack the muscles

Symptoms: frequent rubbing, redness, tiny worms in wounds

Fish lice Cause: Mite that attachs to

body of fish and pierce skin to discharge a poison

Symptoms: inflammation (red spots), irritation, restlessness

Bacterial disease Fin rot

Cause: bacteria/fungus

Symptoms: edges of the fish’s fins start to appear frayed and ragged, lose their color and the tissue between the fins breaks down

Bacterial disease Neon disease

Cause: parasite Plistophora hyphessobryconis found in the fish’s body tissue where it causes the s: production of spores which are released when it dies

Symptoms: Restlessness, loss of coloration, cysts, difficulty swimming, curved spine

Mouth fungus Cause: bacteria Symptoms: white, fluffy material

appears around the mouth and white patches on the skin

Bacterial disease Tuberculosis

Cause: bacteria that invades the organs and tissues of the body

Symptoms: loss of scales, loss of color, lesions on the body, wasting, and skeletal deformities such as curved spines

Pseudomonas and Aeromonas Secondary bacterial

infections in fish that are already sick

Symptoms: swollen bellies, lesions or ulcers

Environmental Control of Disease Lack of oxygen/too much CO2

Observed when all fish are swimming near surface gulping for air

Incorrect water pH Respiratory problems &

excess mucus production Gravel Filtration Issues

Iron sulphite buildup = black color on gravel

Chemical Filtration Issues Increase in ammonia =

cloudy, merky waterEnvironmental control- problems in the tank

Amphibian & Reptile Diseases

Amphibians and ReptilesSalmonella

Bacterial disease that can be transmitted to humans.

Affects the digestive tract and causes watery, green, foul-smelling diarrhea

Amphibians and Reptiles Mouth Rot

fungal disease associated with sores or open wounds in the mouth.

Mites and ticks external parasites that attack

amphibians and reptiles. Mites usually go undetected

until there is a heavy infestation.

Symptoms include: anemia, anorexia, depression, stress, listlessness, lack of appetite, and possible death.

Amphibians & Reptiles

Metabolic Bone Diseaseabnormalities of

bones caused by a nutritional deficiencies in minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium or vitamin D 

Reversible

Treatment Thoroughly clean habitat Use appropriate chemicals

in the water/food Improve diet as needed Add appropriate lighting Some fish need to be

placed in a hospital tank and treated before returning to normal tank.

Most treatments can be found at the local pet store

THE END