Why does my fish look fluffy?

Skin Patches. The most common clinical sign of cotton wool disease is a pale, raised patch on your fish's skin. It can be anywhere on the body, including the face, mouth, and fins. These lesions typically have a fluffy appearance similar to a fungal growth.
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How do you treat white fuzz on fish?

What should I do?
  1. Treat with Fungus and Finrot treatment - Increase aeration.
  2. Support fish with Aquilibrium first aid salt to help their immune system.
  3. Test water for irregularities and treat accordingly.
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How do you fix bloat in fish?

Supplement the use of antibiotics with the addition of Epsom salt at a dose of 1 teaspoon per 5 to 10 gallons and by raising the temperature to 82 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Malawi bloat is usually treated with metronidazole. If the fish is still feeding, metronidazole-dosed foods can be used.
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How do you cure cotton wool in fish?

Treatment for cotton wool disease in freshwater fish includes salt baths using Freshwater Aquarium Salt or commercially available antifungal treatments for aquarium use. In some instances, the entire tank is treated, but if individual infections are present, treating the fish in a separate hospital tank is preferable.
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What does cotton wool disease in fish look like?

Skin Patches

The most common clinical sign of cotton wool disease is a pale, raised patch on your fish's skin. It can be anywhere on the body, including the face, mouth, and fins. These lesions typically have a fluffy appearance similar to a fungal growth.
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5 Common Fish Diseases And How To Spot And Treat Them



What does fish fungus look like?

True fungal infections in fish are less common than parasites or bacteria. They typically appear as white cottony or "furry" growths on fish but can also be internal. They can be induced by substandard water quality, infected food or open wounds, but there are many other causes.
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Why does my fish look fat?

Overfeeding - Sometimes a fish may become fat or swollen as a result of his diet. Often, overfeeding or the wrong types of food can cause constipation and other digestive issues. You can try to feed your fish less or healthier types of food, which varies depending on the species of fish.
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What does fish bloat look like?

A fish with dropsy will appear like it is ballooning and about to explode, or it has a pot-bellied appearance that makes it seem like it's suddenly getting very fat. This happens as fluid accumulates in the tissues and cavities of the abdomen to create swelling of the area.
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Why does my fish look pregnant?

As your female fish becomes pregnant, she will grow a bulge at the back of her abdomen. This typically appears over the course of 20-40 days. Does your fish have a red or black spot? Sometimes, when a female fish is pregnant, she will develop a “gravid spot” on the abdomen.
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Will fish fungus go away by itself?

Fungus needs to be treated promptly because it spreads rapidly, making the fish more vulnerable to secondary infections, such as fin rot. Even by itself, fungus will kill a fish if not remedied.
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Why is my fish covered in white stuff?

Ich, also known as white spot disease, is caused by the parasite, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. Ich is usually visible as a small, white spot on your fish's skin. The ich parasite penetrates the skin or gills, burrows under the surface, and eats at the fish's flesh.
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Can salt cure fish fungus?

This is the reason that body fungus infections are not seen on saltwater fish. Adding 1 tablespoon of noniodized rock salt to each gallon of water is helpful in effecting a cure. In fact, salt might be all that is needed in early cases. Salt can also be used in combination with malachite green.
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Is my fish dying or pregnant?

Check for a pregnancy bulge.

Some species such as balloon mollies have a natural bulge further forward, just below the gills. Overweight males may develop a bulge in the front chest. If you skip feedings for two or three days, an overweight bulge may shrink, while a female's pregnancy bulge will not.
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How do you know if a fish is dying?

Loss of appetite. Weakness or listlessness. Loss of balance or buoyancy control, floating upside down, or 'sitting' on the tank floor (most fish are normally only slightly negatively-buoyant and it takes little effort to maintain position in the water column) Erratic/spiral swimming or shimmying.
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How do I know when my fish is going to give birth?

Look for the gravid spot on the fish's abdomen near the rear tail. The spot should appear large and dark when her eggs are fertilized. You will know your fish is close to giving birth when the spot becomes nearly black. Some fish may show white spots instead of black.
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Is fish bloat contagious?

First, dropsy is not contagious. However, if one fish does become affected, other fish in the same fish aquarium — particularly those of the same species — could also be at risk. In such cases, the fish become affected one by one, until there's no more of that species left (or the causative issue gets resolved).
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What are the symptoms of dropsy?

Symptoms
  • Swelling of the abdomen.
  • Eyes that are beginning to swell and bulge.
  • Scales that starting to point outward instead of lying flush with their body giving a "pinecone" appearance.
  • A loss of color in their gills.
  • Clamping of the fins.
  • A curve developing in their spine.
  • Pale feces.
  • Swelling near their anus.
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How long are fish pregnant for?

Roughly 28 days. Keep reading to find out how do fish give birth in a tank.
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Can goldfish explode?

If you notice your goldfish looking fat, swollen or “about to explode” then the problem is probably dropsy.
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How often should I feed my fish?

For the most part, feeding your fish once or twice a day is sufficient. Some hobbyists even fast their fish one or two days a week to allow them to clear their digestive systems. Larger, more sedentary fish can go longer between meals than smaller, more active fish.
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What's wrong with my fish?

Obvious physical signs, such as spots, lumps, missing scales or frayed fins are the easiest signs of sick fish. More subtle behavioral signs, such as incorrect buoyancy, listing, decreased appetite or increased respiratory effort take more experience to spot.
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How do I know if my fish has parasites?

Look to see if your fish has cloudy eyes, white patches or is gasping for air, rubbing on objects and is listless. Fish lice could cause these symptoms. Internal parasites will cause loss of appetite, listlessness and erratic swimming. Note redness, irritation and/or threadlike worms coming from the fish's tail area.
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How do I know if my fish has ammonia poisoning?

Symptoms include:
  1. Purple, red or bleeding gills.
  2. Fish may clamp, may appear darker in color.
  3. Red streaking on the fins or body.
  4. Fish may gasp for air at the surface of the tank water.
  5. Torn & jagged fins.
  6. Fish may appear weak and lay at the bottom of the tank.
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Can a fish get fat?

The short answer is yes. Depending on diet, fish can have varying levels of fat deposits and some fish can be chubbier than others. In nature, overweight fish are uncommon because fish generally live in food limited environments.
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