AILMENTS AND DISEASES 



Fungus, but the direct causes are animal parasites usually Gyrodactylida or 

 Myxida, Figs. 77 and 78, of the order Protozoa, the most general of the 

 fish parasites, and others, all more fully described hereafter. 



Treatment. If these parasites get into the gills, the best and only 

 thing to do is to destroy the fish, to prevent further infection, thoroughly 

 clean the aquarium or tank with antiseptics and burn the plants and the 

 fish. If, however, only the fins and part of the 

 body are affected, it is well, if the fish is of value, 

 to attempt a cure. These being animal parasites 

 and usually deeply seated in the tissues, severe 

 treatment is required, which is often as nearly 

 fatal as the disease itself The parasiticides should 

 be first tried, which sometimes effect a cure, but if 

 not of benefit, the fins and tail should be cut off 

 some distance beyond the affected parts, the spots Zl ^o^^T^r^^:^ ' 

 on the body scraped, all the affected parts painted Goldfishes aflFected with BiackFungus, 

 with a solution of Monsell's salts, and the fish 



kept in a jar containing salt water to which 10 or 12 drops of Phenol- 

 sodique per gallon have been added, and the affected parts also penciled 

 with a 50 per cent, solution of peroxide of hydrogen. If the fish survives 

 a day or two, then the affected parts should be daily painted with coal oil 

 after cleaning with salt water, or with peroxide of hydrogen, always plac- 

 ing the fish into a receptacle for a few minutes before returning it to the 

 jar. Turlington's Balsam will be greatly beneficial should the fish survive 

 to the healing stage. Nourishing food of animal origin should be gener- 

 ously fed, such as the yolk of a boiled egg, ant larvas, earthworms, etc. 

 Everything with which the fish has come in contact should be cleaned and 

 sterilized and its companions quarantined in water containing salt to the 

 amount of imparting a brackish taste. Upon the microscope slide the 

 parasites which produce the disease are killed by salt, but this remedy does 

 not always reach and destroy them when they have burrowed into the 

 tissues, under the scales and skin, and in the gills of the fish. The same 

 trials of remedies as for White Fungus should also be made. Also apply 

 the parasiticides hereafter mentioned. Cures are frequent if prompt atten- 

 tion is given. Severe attacks seldom occur in well-established aquaria. 



Twitters or Itch. This quite common affection of the goldfish is 

 produced by minute Infusoria, Ichthyophthirius and Chromatophagus, the 

 leech-like Trichodina, and other fish parasites, which develop under unsan- 

 itary conditions or are principally troublesome in the presence of decom- 

 posing food and decaying vegetation. They are frequently introduced into 

 established aquaria by newly received fishes, on plants or with the water. 



'37 



