GOLDFISH 453 



water of the same temperature as that from which they were taken. 

 This treatment may be profitably repeated daily for two or three 

 days. 



TREATMENT WITH DILUTE SALT SOLUTION 



In this case the fish are placed in a 3 per cent solution of common 

 table salt, one-fourth pound to a gallon of water, and allowed to 

 remain in the bath with aeration of the solution for 30 minutes. The 

 fish may then be placed in another vessel containing well-aerated 

 water. If the fish show signs of distress during the half hour — by 

 turning on one side — they should be removed to fresh water. The 

 treatment may be repeated on the following two or three days. 



On cloudy days, even in well-conditioned aquaria, fishes will come 

 to the surface of the water to breathe, but if they do this in clear 

 weather it is a sign that something is wrong. The trouble may be 

 from one of the following causes : Too few plants, too high tempera- 

 ture, infected gills, or decomposition of unconsumed food. The 

 cause should be found and removed as quickly as possible. 



Goldfish are subject to many diseases not described in this publica- 

 tion, among them being inflammation of the eyes, an affection of the 

 swimming bladder, ancl the infestations of numerous parasites, both 

 internal and external. The former are beyond treatment, but for 

 many of the latter the salt treatment is efficacious. 



ICHTHYOPHTHIRIUS 



One of the most serious diseases, which is common in fish in their 

 natural environment as well as fish in aquaria and ponds, is that 

 caused by the parasitic protozoan, Ichthyophthirius. 



The first symptoms of the presence of Ichthyophthirius are the 

 queer actions of the fish and the appearance of small wliitish-gray, 

 sharply defined pimples sticking out over the surface of the body. 

 When the fish are first infected they rub themselves continually 

 against the bottom and sides of the tank in an attempt to brush off 

 the yoimg parasite. In a short time they will be seen to hang list- 

 lessly in the water, with drooping fins, or gasping at the surface, 

 due to the impaired condition of the gills. All parts of the body, 

 head, sides, fins, and especially the mouth and gills, may be heavily 

 infected by these organisms. 



As the parasite grows it becomes visible as a raised light-colored 

 spot on the fish, and if these are numerous the adjacent ones may 

 touch each other and unite to form a large spot, giving the skin a 

 mottled appearance. As the disease spreads the raised spots often 

 occur by the hundreds and thousands, covering the entire external 

 surface of the fish. Fish that become heavily infected soon stop eat- 

 ing, and in the last stages of the disease they are covered with a 

 heavy slime and red blotches or "scalded" areas. Fungus soon 

 develops on the raw parts of the fins and body, and the fish live 

 but a short time. 



The most practical method of treating the disease consists in 

 removing or destroying the large adult parasites after they have 

 dropped off the fish. This may be accomplished by placing the fish 

 in swiftly running water, which carries away the parasites before 

 they have time to multiply and reinfect the fish. Long troughs or 



