AILMENTS AND DISEASES 



If the fungus has extended and the fins and tail become ragged, it is 

 necessary to cut off the affected parts, painting the cut edges with Phenol- 

 sodique, tincture of aloes and myrrh or with the peroxide of hydrogen 

 solution. If the spots are extensive on the body they should be cleansed 

 with a table salt or peroxide solution and also painted with the tincture of 

 aloes and myrrh. Immediate attention is necessary as soon as the disease is 

 detected, then a cure is almost always possible. 



If the fish improves, the white appearance disappears and a dark edge 

 shows on the fins and tail. It may then be transferred to the hospital 

 tank to acquire strength on a light mixed diet, sparingly but frequently 

 fed, but if it becomes weaker, the fungus extending over the sides and 

 into the gills, unless it is very valuable, it is best to destroy it, because 

 little more can be done for its benefit. A final recourse is to place it in 

 the greenest water procurable and leave it there. Sometimes it recovers, 

 .but it may be subject to a recurrence of the disease, or may present only a 

 wreck of its former appearance and beauty. 



A recently introduced and approved remedy is the Turlington's 

 Balsam. It is applied as follows: — The affected parts should be dried and 

 cleaned and the balsam applied generously with a small brush or a pledget 

 of cotton and permitted to dry from three to five minutes. During this 

 time the head and gills of the fish should be wrapped in a wet cloth to 

 keep the gills moist and to prevent movement. If this is properly done 

 no fear of endangering the life of the fish need be entertained. The 

 Balsam coats the affected edges with an insoluble surface and protects 

 them from the further ravages of the fungus. Also apply the parasiticides 

 mentioned hereafter. Prompt measures have saved many valuable 

 aquarium fishes. 



Black Fungus. This serious 

 evil attacks the goldfish in a similar 

 manner to the White Fungus, but 

 is only conveyed by contagion and 

 does not so much depend upon the 

 water and other conditions. It is 

 manifested on the body and fins. These 

 first assume a mottled dark grey ap- 

 pearance in spots and streaks; later they . 

 become black and form a thick layer 

 which scales off, leaving raw spots and 

 ulcers on the body and destroy the fins 

 and tail. The indirect causes are the 

 same as those which induce the White 



FIG. 77 



Head of a Goldfish affected with the 

 so-called Black Fungus. 

 Usually Gyrodactylus and Myxidium. 



136 



