AILMENTS AND DISEASES 



unnatural surroundings and the too concentrated forms of food, which 

 bring about disorders of the digestive organs causing constipation. This 

 may be detected by the appearance of the excrement, which in good health 

 and with natural food is of a uniform brown or black color. In confinement 

 the excrement is largely influenced by the nature of the food; but it should 

 be of uniform color and usually pendant for quite a considerable length. 

 When its appearance is other than usual the fish may be either overfed or 

 constipated. The latter is usually the case when the excrement is of vary- 

 ing color, white, brown and black in sections or otherwise abnormal. In 

 overfeeding the excrement is always white. 



Treatment. A laxative is occasionally necessary, for which purpose 

 table salt, epsom and glauber salts and earthworms are to be recommended. 

 Many of the prepared foods contain these salts, but a little added to the water 

 from time to time is beneficial; the fishes take it greedily, as they have the 

 same craving for saline substances as other animals. Epsom salt is a mild 

 laxative and will prevent constipation and the concomitant evils produced 

 thereby. A fair-sized pinch should be dropped into the water every week 

 or fortnight, alternating with table or rock salt, to insure a proper and healthy 

 digestion. Aquarium water is also often deficient in mineral salts from 

 absorption by the plant life and the salts so added are beneficial correctives. 

 If a fish is excessively constipated, as may happen, a drop of castor oil 

 placed well down the throat is generally effective, and at all times is harm- 

 less to the fish. A second dose may have to be given. Fresh earthworms 

 are also an efficient laxative for aquarium fishes. What may appear to be 

 inflammation of the swimming bladder may only be constipation, for which 

 reason it is always well to apply these remedies in doubtful cases. 



Fin Congestion. The fins of goldfishes, especially the tail, often 

 become red and congested, which is manifested by inflamed and bloody 

 streaks, lines or spots which cannot be mistaken for the arteries and 

 capillaries. This may be produced by constant excitement, impure water, 

 insufficient aeration, overfeeding, partial suffiDcation, bladder trouble, the 

 dragging of the tail over the bottom, or from other not readily recognized 

 causes. 



Treatment. A successful remedy is to place the fish in water in 

 which sufficient table salt has been dissolved to give to it a brakish taste, 

 feeding sparingly or not at all for a few days, together with isolation in a 

 subdued light and complete rest. Some fanciers treat the fish by frequently 

 dipping the aflfected parts in a strong salt solution, though this should be 

 done with discretion as it niay have the effect of further irritating the already 

 congested membranes. The author does not recommend these harsher 

 methods and gives them only because they are often resorted to. Laxa- 



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