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Water garden fish - ailments and treatments I
The lively movement and brilliant colours are some of the reasons of stocking your water garden pond with ornamental fish. When they are healthy they are normally lively and has an erect dorsal fin (the one on the back). However, when they are infected due to insufficient oxygen or foul water they move sluggishly and their brilliant colour often disappears.
If the problem is a result of insufficient oxygen, the water can easily be oxygenated and freshened up by the splash of a waterfall or fountain.
Also decayed vegetation like fallen leaves in the pond often releases toxic gases as by-products to the water. This turns the water toxic and thus makes it uncomfortable for the fish.
Sycamore, chestnut, laburnum and poplar leaves are poisonous and not good for your pond. Their flowers and seeds must be removed immediately and prevented as near as possible in future seasons.
Fouling of pond water can also be the result of spray-drift from insecticides used near the pool, from weed killer washed off the adjoining lawn, or sodium chlorate used on a nearby drive. If such pollution of the water is not immediately deadly to the fish, it will certainly lower their resistance and make them vulnerable to infection by organisms like fungus which is always present in the water.
Precaution and Treatment of infected fish
Since prevention is better than cure I will advice you always stick to preventive measures to avoid water contamination and eventual loss of fish to poor environment.
Avoid plants and seeds that are poisonous as much as possible. If there is any need to have them at all make sure that you remove their leaves often.
Avoid intoxicating the water yourself with insecticides. Apply with care if you must use insecticides and sprays.
If you notice any unusual behaviour in your fish possibly as a result of fungus infection remove it and put it in a shallow dish to which salt (preferably sea salt) has been added at the rate of two heaped teaspoonfuls per gallon of water.
Keep the fish in the container for three days, changing the water daily and (unless the fish shows sign of distress) increase the salt content by one teaspoonful each day. After three days hold the fish in a damp cloth and, using a soft brush dipped in weak iodine (solution 1 in 10), brush off the fungus, taking care to avoid touching areas of healthy skin. Return the fish to the pool; the treatment can be repeated after a week if the infection persists.
However it is advisable to ask the help of a water garden specialist in your area.
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