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 should be destroyed. Remedies for Constipation and 

 Bladder trouble should be tried. 



Injuries. 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. 



Handling Diseased Fishes. Fishes may be handled out of the 

 water by keeping the head enveloped in a wet cloth to keep 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 miscroscope examination of scrapings from the diseased parts is 

 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. 



Larger Enemies of the Goldfish. 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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