http://www.petmd.com/fish/health/rss Health Library en http://www.petmd.com/fish/conditions/respiratory/c_fi_environmental_gill_disorders  
Gills are special organs which allow fishes to breathe underwater. However, if a fish's environment is not well maintained, it can develop gill disorders. Of these, the three main disorders are gas bubble disease, carbon dioxide toxicity, and hydrogen sulfide toxicity.
 
1. Gas bubble disease usually occurs in cold water systems. When the water in the tank, aquarium or fishpond has an abnormal amount of dissolved gases (i.e., nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide), fishes can develop gas bubble disease. This occurs when the water ...read more]]> http://www.petmd.com/fish/conditions/respiratory/c_fi_environmental_gill_disorders#comments Respiratory Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:18:02 +0000 311 at http://www.petmd.com http://www.petmd.com/fish/conditions/cardiovascular/c_fi_gas_bubble_disease  
 Gas bubble disease refers to the development of gases in a fish's bloodstream. This can occur when its aquarium or pond water is supersaturated with gases.
 
Symptoms and Types
 
Gas bubble disease damages the fish's tissue, causing tiny gas bubbles to form in the gills, fins, and eyes of the animal. This tissue damage, if extensive, can even lead to the fish's death.
 
Causes
 
Fishes are cold-blooded creatures, meaning their body temperature depends on the temperature of their environment. The water they live in and t ...read more]]> http://www.petmd.com/fish/conditions/cardiovascular/c_fi_gas_bubble_disease#comments Cardiovascular Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:23:42 +0000 312 at http://www.petmd.com http://www.petmd.com/fish/conditions/urinary/c_fi_Kidney_and_Urinary_Tract_Disorders  
There are few major kidney and urinary tract disorders seen in fishes. Of these the main kidney and urinary tract disorders are Renal Dropsy, Carp-dropsy complex, and Proliferative kidney disease (PKD).
 
1. Renal dropsy in fishes is caused by the parasite, Sphaerospora auratus. Renal dropsy usually occurs in pond-raised goldfish. There is damage to the kidneys and swelling of the abdomen due to fluid accumulation is the most common sign of renal dropsy. There is no treatment for this kidney disorder and it usually causes death of the infected fis ...read more]]> http://www.petmd.com/fish/conditions/urinary/c_fi_Kidney_and_Urinary_Tract_Disorders#comments Urinary Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:07:17 +0000 134 at http://www.petmd.com http://www.petmd.com/fish/conditions/cardiovascular/c_fi_anemia Anemia is a heart and blood vessel condition which is recognized by the low number of red blood cells found in the animal. It can affect many types of fishes, so be observant of your pet and take your animal to the veterinarian if anemia is suspected.
 
Symptoms and Types
 
The most common symptom -- which is also quite visible -- is abnormally pale gills in your fish.
 
Causes
 
Fishes can have anemia due to many reasons; among them:
 

Bacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic infections
Folic acid deficiency (especially prev ...read more]]> http://www.petmd.com/fish/conditions/cardiovascular/c_fi_anemia#comments Cardiovascular Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:52:45 +0000 269 at http://www.petmd.com http://www.petmd.com/fish/conditions/musculoskeletal/c_fi_Bone_and_Muscle_Disorders  
Much like other animals, fishes can have bone and muscle disorders.
 
Symptoms and Types 
One such bone and muscle disorder is Broken Back Disease, which is typically due to a vitamin C deficiency. This disease will literally bend the fish's backbone. However, injuries are sometimes the cause of an abnormal backbone.
 
Another typical bone and muscle disorder is caused by the parasite Pleistophora hyphessobryconis. This parasite attacks the skeletal muscle – responsible for movement – of freshwater aquariu ...read more]]> http://www.petmd.com/fish/conditions/musculoskeletal/c_fi_Bone_and_Muscle_Disorders#comments Musculoskeletal Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:52:21 +0000 129 at http://www.petmd.com http://www.petmd.com/fish/conditions/skin/c_fi_Carp_Pox Carp Pox is a viral disease which is caused by the herpesvirus infection. It is one of the oldest diseases seen in fish. As the disease weakens the fish with infection and lesions, it leaves the fish susceptible to secondary infections by other microorganisms. The fish also become disfigured by the disease.
 
This disease usually affects carp and koi, but can also infect other types of fishes, and is therefore also named fish pox.
 
Symptoms and Types
 
Initially, the Carp pox shows up as milky skin lesions, which are smooth and raised in appearance. These lesions ...read more]]> http://www.petmd.com/fish/conditions/skin/c_fi_Carp_Pox#comments Skin Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:16:19 +0000 137 at http://www.petmd.com http://www.petmd.com/fish/conditions/eyes/c_fi_Eye_Disorders  
Eye disorders in fishes can be due to disease, infections, or injury.
 
Symptoms and Types 
 
These disorders can cause the eye(s) of the affected fish to display any of the following symptoms:
 

Swelling
Enlargement (giving an appearance of a popping eye)
Blood in the eye
Ulceration
Disfigurement
Parasites within the eye
Abnormality around the eye

 
A fish’s eye is usually examined with a penlight or a flashli ...read more]]> http://www.petmd.com/fish/conditions/eyes/c_fi_Eye_Disorders#comments Eyes Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:02:25 +0000 132 at http://www.petmd.com http://www.petmd.com/fish/conditions/digestive/c_fi_Nutritional_Disorders  
Many fishes suffer from nutritional disorders because of a poor diet. Nutritional disorders are the most common reason for sickness and death in aquarium, tank or fishpond fishes.
 
Reasons and Prevention 
1. Nutritional imbalance in commercial food: Fishes can be either plant eaters (herbivores), meat eaters (carnivores), or both (omnivores). And although commercial food is available for fishes, a nutritional disorder can still occur because each species of fish has a different nutritional requirement, which is not always fulfilled by the commercial ...read more]]> http://www.petmd.com/fish/conditions/digestive/c_fi_Nutritional_Disorders#comments Digestive Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:10:43 +0000 135 at http://www.petmd.com http://www.petmd.com/fish/conditions/digestive/c_fi_Digestive_Disorders  
Most digestive disorders in fishes are caused by parasite infections. However, not all parasites cause problems for fishes -- some live in a symbiotic relationship with the fishes.
 
Symptoms and Types
 
The symptoms can vary depending on the parasite causing the digestive disorders, but usually include weight loss, lethargy and loss of appetite. Young fishes are especially susceptible to digestive disorders and can die before any symptoms arise. Such parasites which cause these type digestive disorders include:
 

Protozoan paras ...read more]]> http://www.petmd.com/fish/conditions/digestive/c_fi_Digestive_Disorders#comments Digestive Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:58:14 +0000 131 at http://www.petmd.com http://www.petmd.com/fish/conditions/skin/c_fi_Gyrodactylus_and_dactylogyrus  
There are many types of parasites that can infect a fish's skin. Two such microscopic parasites are Dactylogyrus and Gyrodactylus. These are tiny flatworms, which infect goldfish, koi and other types of fish.
 
Symptoms and Types
 
Fishes infected with these parasites will display sores and ulcers on the skin and gills, have a pale skin color, and be covered with small hemorrhages. Dactylogyrus and Gyrodactylus infections should be diagnosed and treated quickly because they can become fatal for your fish.
 
[ pagebreak ]Treatment
...read more]]> http://www.petmd.com/fish/conditions/skin/c_fi_Gyrodactylus_and_dactylogyrus#comments Skin Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:05:19 +0000 133 at http://www.petmd.com http://www.petmd.com/fish/conditions/cancer/c_fi_Cancer_and_Tumors  
Fishes develop tumors and cancers, much like humans and other animals. However, sharks are a type of fish which never develops cancers.
 
Symptoms and Types 
 
Most tumors are seen as bumps or lumps under the fish's skin. But the location and signs of the tumor can be different for each fish, and depend greatly on the type of tumor. Unfortunately, internal tumors or cancers display symptoms once it has become to late to save the fish. Also, the fish’s ability to eat and swim will be affected, causing a rapid decline in its health.
&nb ...read more]]> http://www.petmd.com/fish/conditions/cancer/c_fi_Cancer_and_Tumors#comments Cancer Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:55:53 +0000 130 at http://www.petmd.com http://www.petmd.com/fish/conditions/skin/c_fi_Lymphocystis  
Lymphocystis disease is a common viral infection which affects the skin and fins of saltwater and freshwater fish. Although it is serious, it does not cause any health problems; the disease only disfigures the fish.
 
Fishes kept in aquariums or outside in ponds, are both susceptible to Lymphocystis disease. The painted glassfish is the most prone aquarium fish to contract this infection.
 
Symptoms and Types
The viral infection causes growths on the skin or fins, which look similar to cauliflowers.
 
The Lymphocystis disease does not pose an ...read more]]> http://www.petmd.com/fish/conditions/skin/c_fi_Lymphocystis#comments Skin Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:20:57 +0000 138 at http://www.petmd.com