Mouth
rot is a patch of white stuff on a fish’s lips. As the disease advances
it produces toxins that erode the lips of the fish. Advanced cases get
very ugly and the fish can’t eat. Names for this disease include
cotton-mouth, mouth fungus, and flexibacter. Fin
rot is one of the most common diseases in aquarium fish, but it is also
one of the most preventable. Technically, fin rot is caused by several
different species of bacteria, but the root cause is usually
environmental in nature and is often related to stress, which can weaken
a fish's immune system. When fish are moved, kept in a tank with poor
water conditions, subjected to overcrowding, or coupled with aggressive
fish that chase them and nip at their fins, they are more susceptible to
fin rot. You
must address the causes of the stress that led to the mouth, tail or
fin rot before your fish can heal. Start by testing the aquarium water.
Check the pH and temperature of the water, and make sure they are
appropriate for your fish species. Be sure there isn't excessive
chlorine, ammonia, or nitrite in the water, and that the nitrate is
under 40 ppm (mg/L). A water change of up to 25 percent can be helpful
in restoring healthy water balance, as can vacuuming the gravel
substrate to remove food and waste debris. Take care to avoid
overfeeding in the future. Acriflavin treats fin, tail & mouth rot and ulcers. This 100 ml bottle will treat 3640 litres
of water. Leave biological filtration running. This treatment contains
colour dye, avoid contact with clothes and furnishings. Dosage: 1 ml per
36.4 litres of water. Mix the appropriate dosage in a clean container
of aquarium water, pour evenly over the surface of the aquarium and
leave for 7 days. Switch off UV filtration until the colour has gone
from the water. Aerate the aquarium well during treatment. Do not use
simultaneously with other medications. Allow at least 48 hours to elapse
when changing treatment. Perform partial water changes on the days
between medication dosages. Always treat when you have time to observe
fish and take appropriate action in the unlikely event of a bad
reaction. Carefully observe your fish to be sure that rot and ulcers do
not recur after treatment. In
order to improve your fish's overall health and wellbeing, be sure to
maintain good water quality at all times and feed an appropriate diet.
Keep up with a regular maintenance schedule. Check in on all your fish
on a regular basis and understand their normal appetites and behaviors
so you can quickly judge when something is wrong. If you suspect
something is wrong with your fish, contact your aquatic veterinarian as
soon as possible. |