Gill Disorders

Symptoms

  

Cause

  

Treatment and Links
A).   The gill filaments are light, having lost color Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Has the pH changed? 
Is chlorine in the water? 
Is ammonia in the water?		 Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Establish optimum water values.  Check pH, and Chlorine.  Use Aqua Gold.
If not, look down the chart further   If not, look down the chart further    
    The fish can be affected by a Kidney Disease Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Treat fish with TMP Sulfa -or- Erythromycin.
B).   Small white objects (1 to 1.5mm) are attached to the gill filaments.  They hold very tightly Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Gill Crustaceans Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Treat the fish with  De-Los and Methylene Blue.
If not, look down the chart further
C).   Blood-red worms are visible on the inside surface of the operculum (gill plate), but usually only in pond fish Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart The fish are affected with blood worms (Philometra spp) Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Treat the fish with De-Los
If not, look down the chart further
D).   Light flecks appear on the gills.  The gill filaments are necrotic at this spot Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Eggs of the blood fluke Sanguinicola spp are involved.  If fungal hyphae are seen in the slides, then gill rot is involved Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Treat with a bath in Acriflavine Neutral.
If not, look down the chart further
E).   Are the gills flecked with grey-white.  Do the filaments keep falling out? Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Branchiomyces fungal gill rot Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Treat with Forma-Green
If not, look down the chart further
F).   Cotton-like threads grow on the operculum (gill plate) or gill filaments Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Saproglenia fungal infection Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Treat with:   Forma-Green -or-  Acriflavine Neutral.
If not, look down the chart further
G).   Breathing is rapid, one or both opercula (gill plates) are open, and the fish rubs itself around the gills.  The fish hangs below the surface and gulps for air Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart The fish is affected with gill worms or gull flukes Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Treat with: Praziquantel for marine fish or  De-Los for freshwater fish
If not, look down the chart further
H).   The gill filaments appear slightly cloudy, even whitish on the surfaces Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Your fish are affected by a Protozoan Infection Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Treat with:   Metronidazole and Methylene Blue.
If not, look down the chart further
I).   White dots appear on the gill filaments.  The dots measure 0.5mm in freshwater fish and to 1mm in marine fish Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart An Ichthyophthirius or Cryptocaryon disease is beginning to spread Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Treat with:   Forma-Green -or- Copper Sulfate.  If marine cryptocaryon is resistant to the above treatments, use Quinine Sulfate
If not, look down the chart further
J).   Small, white modules appear on the gill filaments and cannot be removed Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Most likely, sporozoan cysts Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart No suitable treatment known.
If not, look down the chart further
K).   The gill filaments swell up, becoming slimy and stick together Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Chemical factors may be involved Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Change the water and filter over fresh, activated charcoal.
If not, look down the chart further   If not, look down the chart further    
    Are the fish affected with gill worms or flukes? Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Treat fish with Praziquantel in marine tanks -or- De-Los. in freshwater aquariums & ponds.
  If not, look down the chart further    
  The fill filaments break up from the tip on.  The cartilage remains a little longer.   Bacterial gill rot caused by Columnaris bacteria Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart Treat the fish with Acriflavine Neutral
L).   The gill filaments are very pale pink Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart The fish is anemic, which often occurs following severe kidney damage or infection by blood flagellates Fish Behavioral Disorders Flow Chart No suitable treatment known.
 

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