My pearl vest looks a little dull, its tail and fins are not spread out, and it doesn’t eat much! Is it sick? What should I do?

First check to see if there is any possible parasitic infection, and then look at other issues~! If there is no improvement, just observe it for two days. If there is no improvement, go to the pet hospital. Fish disease and treatment 1. Anchocephalus. (Anchor-headed eel) (1) Signs of infection. Female Anchocephalus, which are parasites, are easily recognized by the appearance of their wormholes when they stick to the body of a fish. They reach a maximum length of approximately 20 mm in spring when two egg sacs of approximately 3 mm form at the free end of the body. (2) Detailed description of infection. Despite their common name, anchorhead worms are not bugs at all but tiny crustaceans called copepods. Like most crustaceans, they mature through several larval stages. The first larvae that hatch from eggs in spring swim freely until they find a suitable host and attach themselves to the gills. Once attached, they enter a non-swimming period. The male larvae from an egg fertilizes the female and ceases parasitism. The mated male then attaches itself to the host fish and develops into a worm-like parasite. Females ovulate in the spring, after which they may die or continue to lay several more eggs. When the parasite dies, the holes left in the fish's skin and muscles can lead to a second infection from which the fish cannot recover. (3) Recommended treatment methods. After the anchorhead worm penetrates deeply into the fish's body tissue, it attaches itself firmly to the fish. One can remove the adult worms one by one, but this is a long process and potentially harmful to the fish. Using a 3% salt solution for a short period of time can also remove the bugs from individual fish. There are now aquarium treatments that kill adult insects. Also in ponds, repeated applications of anti-protozoal treatments can kill larvae. The use of trichlorfon can also kill adult insects. 2. Melasma. (New burrowing flukes are also considered to be burrowing flukes and other species) (1) Signs of infection. Small black or brown spots, up to 2 mm wide, appear on the body and fins, and sometimes on the eyes and mouth. (2) Detailed description of infection. The spots are cysts containing larval stages of intestinal flukes, such as C. pipiens, which are heavily pigmented. The larval stage is also known as the skin-dwelling fluke. The adult worms live in the intestines of waterbirds that are infested by eating fish harboring larvae. In the waterbird's gut, the membrane surrounding each larva unravels, and the worm matures over several weeks. The eggs laid by the adults are excreted in the bird's excrement. The eggs that fall into the water develop into free-swimming larvae, which are parasitic on the water snails. After a few weeks, the parasite leaves the snail and begins another cycle of finding a suitable fish host. When the parasites reach about 1 mm across, each bug develops a dark film on its body, forming distinctive spots under the skin. Mild black spot disease infection will not cause any harm to fish. Due to the complex life cycle and environmental conditions, black spot disease will not be transmitted from one fish to another fish. (3) Recommended treatment methods. New anti-parasitic treatments can kill parasites, but once the black spots form, they can leave a mark. The most effective preventive measure is to break the parasite's growth cycle by ensuring that waterbirds do not come near ponds or aquariums and that no parasite-infested snails are present. 3. Haemoflagellates - sleeping sickness (Cryptowhipsus, now also includes Trypanosoma and Trypanosoma) (1) Signs of infection. Fish infected with Cryptochuris are listless and swim abnormally. The fish become thin, have sunken eyes, and have white gills and pearly vests (indicating a lack of red blood cells). Severely infested fish die. Trypanosomatids appear to be relatively non-pathogenic and do not produce such severe symptoms. (2) Detailed description of infection. Cryptoflagellates and trypanosomatids are single-celled organisms (protozoa) with hairy flagella, hence the scientific name "flagellates". They live as parasites in the blood. The harmful cryptoflagellates have two flagella, while the completely harmless trypanosomatids have only one flagellum. To see the parasite on a blood smear requires a microscope at least 300 times magnification. Both parasites are transmitted by secondary hosts, leeches. Giardia live harmlessly in the intestines of leeches and are transferred to fish when the leech bites. (3) Recommended treatment methods. No chemical treatment has been found that can effectively control haemoflagellates on ornamental fish. Since only leech-infested fish are infected, only the infected fish need to be removed and the leeches removed. But while this is fairly easy to do in an aquarium, solving the problem in an infected pond is much more difficult. 4. Trichocystis sp. (1) Signs of infection. An injured fish rubs against a hard object and closes its fins. The skin is covered with whitish blue opaque bodies, especially between the joints and dorsal fin. If the gills are damaged, the frequency of breathing is significantly accelerated. In the late stages of the infection, the surface of the skin swells and then sloughs off. (2) Detailed description of infection. Schizophora is a ciliate, a single-celled, microscopic organism that is unevenly covered with hairs that propel the worm through the water. The tubeworm can be seen using a medium-power microscope, but specimens must be collected quickly because the tubeworm leaves the fish within two hours of death.

The parasite first attacks injured fish, but spreads to healthy fish in crowded environmental conditions. Chlorophyllosis makes fish very weak, and severe cases can cause long-lasting damage to the gills. Chlorophytum reproduces by cell division. Pearl Vest (3) Recommended treatment methods. If the fish are strong, the best treatment for freshwater fish is to soak them in 3% salt water, let the fish stay in it until they curl up, and then quickly return them to their own aquarium. As an alternative and less irritating treatment method, put the fish in 1% salt water for 10-15 minutes, and then put the fish back into clean water. The best temperature for treating tropical fish is 28-30 degrees. Or new antiparasitic treatments may be used. If the parasites are left in an aquarium without fish and at a temperature of 30 degrees for about 5 days, they will die. But the fish must also be treated for parasites. 5. Cloud Eyes (1) Signs of infection. One or both of the fish's eyes become cloudy and take on a whitish appearance. Fish may show signs of stress and have an unusual coloration, or they may behave like normal fish. (2) Detailed description of infection. There are many causes of cloudy eyes. Such as ovantinosis and cryptosporidiosis, as well as signs of tuberculosis in fish. However, non-specific bacterial infections are often the cause of cloudy eyes. (3) Recommended treatment methods. Identify the possible cause of the problem and treat it as soon as possible to prevent damage to the nervous system. If the infection is parasitic (e.g. ovatinosis), use appropriate treatment. If the source of the disease is bacteria, treat with a treatment containing an antibacterial complex such as phenoxyethanol or furanax. Maintaining a good environment, especially using clean water, can minimize the incidence of cloudy eyes, because dirty water can become a trigger, so adding a small amount of salt to the water can help prevent it. 6. Fish fungal diseases - Water mold (water mold and cotton mold) (1) Signs of infection. The telltale signs of infection are cotton-like growths, usually white but sometimes grayish black to green. The fungus usually begins on the trunk, but may originate from an injury and can spread to attack the fins, mouth, eyes and gills. (2) Detailed description of infection. Fungi are plants that grow on dead organic matter. The typical fungal body, or mycelium, consists of very fine filaments, or outer hyphae, that pierce dead or decaying tissue and climb through their cell walls to directly absorb nutrients. Therefore, although fungal spores are present in the water, healthy fish are resistant to infection. Spores are released from the swollen tips of some outer hyphae and swim freely on two flagella until they land on suitable tissue and begin to grow into another fungal mass. The fungus only attacks fish that have been injured, or are weak in some way. If an infestation appears to occur spontaneously, it may be a secondary infection of tissue that has been damaged for other reasons, such as by skin flukes. In these cases, both the fungus and the primary infection need to be treated, and the fungus can die if left untreated. Damaged or unfertilized eggs are particularly susceptible to fungal attack, while healthy eggs within the same clump may hatch normally. It is often wise to remove eggs with fungal growths to protect healthy eggs from being hampered in their development. (3) Recommended treatment methods. In the aquarium, possible infections can be prevented by checking that the water is in good condition, that it is at the right temperature, and that the water is not too alkaline (a pH of 7.2 is best for freshwater aquariums). Many treatments are recommended, but some have serious disadvantages. Salt water baths are a traditional treatment for freshwater fish diseases, but they can cause undue irritation, require frequent changes in method, and are not particularly effective when used alone. Methylene blue is effective in mild cases, but the prescribed dosage stains the water, making continued monitoring of the disease's progression difficult. Malachite green can also be applied to the infected area. There are several new specialty treatments that are often effective against fungi. In ponds, fungus usually appears in the spring, when fish are at their weakest, or become damaged after spawning. Before the onset of wet or cold weather, feed the fish a well-balanced and nutritious diet to "fatten" the fish, and ensure the pH of the water is between 6.5-7.8, which may reduce the chance of fungal infection. Special fungal treatments are available for use in ponds. However, depending on environmental conditions, it may be best to transfer infected fish to suitable containers that maintain more stable conditions for treatment; a disparity between hot and cold conditions can reduce the effectiveness of medical treatments and encourage further infection. For example, when doing an old-fashioned bath, the fish must be carefully transferred to a large container filled with dechlorinated or old water. Ideally, the water should be oxygenated. Undue stimulation of the fish should be avoided at all costs. When moving fish, use cotton wool to wipe off any fungal growths on the fish. Disease prevention and control 1. The aquarium should be large and there should be fewer fish, that is, the density of fish farming should be relatively small. Fish should be raised 1cm per liter of water. This breeding density is the experience summed up by many predecessors. Everyone must know it. You can lower the density a little more. 2. Arrangement of filters Some friends will only buy an air pump when they first start raising fish. If you think the water is lacking oxygen, pump it up; if the water is muddy, change the water. It doesn’t matter if you buy a filter or not. This kind of thinking is very dangerous.

As we mentioned in the colorful feeding equipment chapter, the filter device in the current sense refers to biochemical filtration. It is no longer just about removing impurities from water. Rather, it is a method to improve the hydrological environment by establishing a good circulation system that uses microorganisms to eliminate harmful substances in the water. It is a system that must be prepared. The drop of the filter channel should be larger and longer. The first step is to use coarse filter cotton to filter out impurities, and then filter through biochemical filter cotton, biochemical balls or ceramic rings and other nitrifying bacteria attachment bases, allowing the nitrifying bacteria attached to them to work. It is then filtered through activated carbon to remove harmful elements such as chlorine and cadmium. Finally, it is filtered through a cotton filter and returned to the aquarium. In order to save money, we generally do not use finished filters, but build our own filtration devices. 3. The speed of the water flow should be higher. This depends on the type of fish. If you raise fish from Wen Shui or even non-moving water, you can't flush them with flood water, right? This refers to increasing the circulating water flow as much as possible based on the water flow it can bear. to simulate natural water flow conditions. 4. Lazy people cannot keep fish. People who keep fish must develop good habits of daily monitoring and checking the water quality and the living conditions of the fish. The work is boring. But you have to do it. Carefully check the water's pH, nitrite content and other hydrological indicators. Observe the fish for any abnormalities on its body. Is there anything wrong with the fish's shape and movements? Detect if fish is infected at an early stage and prevent infection. Several of my friends who buy fish have said that only those who sit in front of the fish tank for 1 or 2 hours after returning home every day and stare at the fish without blinking are considered to be in the state. 5. Insist on changing part of the water every three to seven days. Old water is of course the key to raising good fish, but new water is also essential to stimulate the metabolism of fish and aquatic plants. 6. Control and disinfection of bait This is extremely important for those who feed natural live bait. Why can't silk earthworms be used to feed fish? But he didn't find anything wrong after using it. Regarding this point, please take a look at the origin of natural silk earthworms. In rural areas or sewage ditches next to factories, the mud under the water with a water depth of 3-5cm is the habitat of natural silk earthworms. Everyone should know that pesticide or industrial pollution is extremely serious in such places. Silkworms in particular are immune to the metal cadmium and deposits it in their bodies after their absorption. Do you think something like this is good for fish? Of course, it is not impossible to feed a small amount after disinfection and rinsing. But this disinfection and rinsing work must be done very well.