
AILMENTS AND DISEASES 

two years upon a mature “blue-ribbon” Japanese Fringetail goldfish which 
is in good condition at the present writing, but which will soon require 
another puncture. If the affected fish is immature and not otherwise 
strong, robust and of very fine appearance, it is not worth the labor and 
attention and shouldbe destroyed. Remedies for Constipation and 
Bladder trouble should be tried. 
Inyuries. Careless handling, rough nets, bruises, loss of scales and 
the injurious effects incident to transportation cause injuries to the scales 
and skin which should have immediate attention, as they form culture 
surfaces for fungi and lodging places for parasites. 
Treatment. A thorough cleansing of the injured parts with salt 
water, followed by diluted phenol-sodique or peroxide of hydrogen should 
be first applied and then the abraded spots treated with a coating of Tur- 
lington’s Balsam, to keep the water from coming into contact with the 
wound. This is almost always an effective remedy. 
HanpuiinG Diseased Fisues. Fishes may be handled out of the 
water by keeping the head enveloped in a wet cloth tokeep the gills moist. 
Several minutes out of their element will not be injurious when this method 
is employed. 
The cleanest cut in operations on fins and tail can be made by spread- 
ing them on a smooth board and making a straight pressing cut with a 
knife. Scissors produce uncertain results. 
A migcroscopé examination of scrapings from the diseased parts 1s 
advisable. It nearly always reveals the cause of illness and prompts in 
the use of proper remedies. 
It is a wise precaution to employ a separate net and all other appliances 
in the handling of sick fishes, as there is constant danger of spreading 
the contagion. These should be sterilized by boiling water or with 
anticeptics. 
The best mild disinfectants for aquaria are Monsell’s salt solution and 
permanganate of potassium; while for radical disinfection bichloride of 
mercury, chlorate of potassium or formalin are most certain of result. 
Bichloride of mercury is to be used in the proportion of one tablet to the 
gallon of water and formalin in a 4 to 6 per cent. solution, both in water. 
Care must be taken to remove all traces of these antiseptics. 
Larcer Enemies oF THE GotprisH. These are limited by the 
conditions and surroundings in which the fishes are kept; but all preda- 
tory animals are active enemies when they can obtain access to the young 
and mature fishes. ‘These may be the common rat, cat, mink, muskrat, 
mole, starnosed mole, kingfisher, sandpiper, great horned owl, heron, crane, 
crayfish, frog, water snake, larger fishes, and all the predaceous aquatic 
insects. Most of these can be excluded by wire netting covers over the tanks. 
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