Fish Pox in Tropical Fish

When dealing with tropical fish illness and disease, it's always a good idea to have a good guidebook at your side. We recommend this book as a handy desktop reference.

Like tumors, which are primarily benign, fish pox is also a disorder that is seldom fatal, but can be disfiguring. Fortunately, it's not an illness that is often found in most aquariums that have tropical fish. The majority of cases are seen in cold water tanks and ponds.

Fish pox is a condition caused by a virus, which results in eruptions on the skin or fins of the fish, which are pink, white or gray in color, and have a distinctive, waxy appearance. While unsightly, the growths are not dangerous, and may subside in time. In fact, the incidence of fish pox in an environment tends to be almost cyclic in nature, with a run of fish that develop it, followed by a long period in which it appears to have died off, only to return again.

Being a virus, there is no reliable treatment or cure for the condition, although if it is seen in an aquarium, raising the tank temperature 9-18F can suppress the outbreak.

While there is no precise proof that it is fish specific, fish pox appears mainly on fish of that belong to the carp family, including common goldfish and the koi that people keep in their pond or tanks. If you are attempting to treat outdoor fish, it's possible to bring them inside to a large aquarium, so they are not stressed by the reduction in territory, and gradually raising the water temperature, as that would mimic the normal conditions that exist in warm weather. When all symptoms have disappeared, you can then lower the tank temperature gradually and return them to the pond. However, since the virus is present in their environment, it's unlikely that this temporary measure would have any lasting effects.

Recommended! A-Z of Tropical Fish Diseases and Health Problems: The aim of this book is to help aquarists recognize signs of illness so they can identify and resolve problems. Divided into three sections, the first focuses on health and husbandry, describing the signs of a healthy fish, anatomy and general care; the second provides signs of diseases and health problems and is cross-referenced to section three, which covers the treatment of diseases and health problems. Illustrated throughout with top-quality color photos, the book is an invaluable reference for novice to experienced fishkeepers. Click here for your copy.

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