Q: One or several of my fish have a slimy covering on their skin in certain spots.
IN FRESHWATER KOI PONDS, USING TOO MUCH SALT WILL CAUSE THE FISH TO PRODUCE MORE SLIME! KEEP SALT LEVELS AT 0.1% OR LOWER.
A: In Freshwater Fish: This is a Protozoan infestation called Chilodonella. This is common in Discus and Angelfish.
Treatment: Treat the fish with Quinine Sulfate or Forma-Green
A: In Saltwater Fish: This is Brooklynella Hostilis
Treatment: Treat the fish with Quinine Sulfate or Forma-Green in a hospital tank for 5-7 days.
Q: The fish's skin has a hazy white covering over it in patches. It looks like a fungus, but anti-fungal treatments do not work.
A: This is a called Columnaris Disease and is caused by gram-negative bacteria.
Treatment: Use TMP-Sulfa -or- Sulfa 4 TMP -or- Triple Sulfa Powder.
Q: My fish looks like it is covered with a fine white sandy coating.
A: In Freshwater Fish: This is known as Ich (Ichthyophthirius)
Treatment: Use Forma-Green -or- Acriflavine Neutral. If you have tried one of these treatments and it did not work, you have a resistant strain of Ich and need to treat with Quinine Sulfate for 5-7 days.
A: In Saltwater Fish: This is known as Cryptocaryon Irritans (Saltwater Ich).
Treatment: Copper Sulfate is the old stand by treatment. Forma-Green may also be used. For stubborn strains, try some Quinine Sulfate.
Q: My fish has white thread-like or cottony puffs on the skin.
A: This sounds like a Saprolegnia Fungus.
Treatment: Treat the fish with Forma-Green for 5-7 days.
Q: My fish has small off-white to yellowish dots on the skin and scale edges.
A: Your fish are affected by Oodinium.
Treatment: Use Acriflavine Neutral -or- Forma-Green -or- Copper Sulfate.
Q: The fish has bloody patches on the skin as if it were sanded or scraped off.
A: Your fish are affected by a Costia infestation. (Ichthyobodo).
Treatment: Treat the fish with Forma-Green -or- Acriflavine Neutral.
Q: My fish has pimples on it's skin with something white sticking out.
A: This is a parasitic worm (Lernea), or Anchorworm. Common in Goldfish.
Treatment: Treat the fish with De-Los.
Q: The scales on my fish are falling off.
A: Sounds like the fish has Bacterial Hemorrhagic Septicemia.
Treatment: Treat the fish with Oxytetracycline Hydrochloride Powder, for ten days.
Q: My fish had a pimple on the skin, and now it is a large sore. Other fish are covered with large sores and dying in droves.
A: This sounds like a bacterial disorder, either Aeromonas bacteria or Pseudomonas bacteria. This disorder is common in Koi ponds.
Treatment: Use Koi Fix®, or you can use a combination of Oxytetracycline Hydrochloride + Oxolinic Acid Powder on the fish for a two week treatment. These medications can also be used in the feed (suggested). If used in the feed, add Forma-Green to the water. Bumping up the temperature to 80 degrees fahrenheit has shown to speed up this treatment.