84 FISH DISEASES 



Strength of Salt Solution. Common practice among the unin- 

 formed is to throw a sick fish into a strong brine solution, leaving it 

 there a few minutes until it shows signs of expiring. This treatment is 

 perhaps better than none at all, but is unnecessarily severe and is not 

 so successful as the milder solutions. In fact, the strong salt takes the 

 protective slime off the fish and leaves it in a condition where it is liable 

 to be quickly re-infected, and in a weakened condition where treatment 

 is not likely to again be effectual. The usual practice of the author is 

 to make a solution in which salt is just discernible to the taste. As 

 the sense of taste varies in individuals, this is not a very accurate rule 

 to give others. A suitable proportion is one ounce of salt (approximately 

 two heaping teaspoonfuls) to each gallon of water. If sea water is used, 

 mix one part to five parts of fresh water. This solution is excellent. 



Methods of Treatment. Nearly all sick fishes do best in shallow 

 water and out of bright light. A shallow enamel tray is very good, or a 

 well-seasoned tub is suitable. In placing the patient in the medicated 

 water, see that there is no considerable change in temperature. In warm 

 weather a change to very slightly cooler water is stimulating and prob- 

 ably does no harm. In winter, when goldfishes may be run down, the 

 temperature during treatment should be gradually brought up to about 

 68 degrees. Except for the air-breathing species (Paradise fish, etc.), a 

 sudden change to several degrees warmer water is liable to produce 

 suffocation, warm water holding less free oxygen than cool. Aquarium 

 fishes can live indefinitely in the solution described, but in two days a 

 salt solution begins to smell stale and needs to be changed. A daily 

 change is better. Should the patient not show signs of improvement 

 in four days, gradually increase the strength of salt solution for two 

 or three days until it is up to two ounces (four heaping teaspoonfuls) 

 to each gallon of water. After remaining in this for two days the salt 

 proportion is slowly weakened down again to the first formula. 



Ammonia Treatment. A popular treatment among European fish 

 culturists for fungoid diseases is the ammonia method. This has not 

 been generally accepted in the United States, but has been tried with 

 remarkable success in some instances where other treatments have failed. 

 We feel, however, that it should only be tried as a last resort. To one 

 gallon of clean water add ten drops of ordinary household ammonia. 

 (Unfortunately, this varies somewhat in strength.) Place the fish in this 

 for five minutes, but take out sooner, should it turn over. Remove to 

 plain water and then back to its tank. 



Special Attention. All fish should, if possible, be placed, after any 

 chemical treatment, in a healthy tank containing green water. Some- 

 times this is, indeed, the only treatment required. 



