| Description: | The fungal family Saprolegnia, and related families are responsible for a whole range of afflictions. I will refer to fungal infections here inclusively, because despite the many possible fungal infections at large, from the diagnosis and treatment point of view there are so many similarities that many can be treated even if regarded collectively. Fungal infections take many shapes , symptoms include white fluff and fur on the body and any part of the eternal anatomy, to slimy patches and cloudy eyes.Fins will begin to recede in many cases, gills also , are extremely vulnerable. Patches of skin in serious infections may fall way exposing reddish wounds and bare flesh. Fungal infections can promote colour changes in most fish, from patches through to complete blanching of colour on the entire body. Saprolegnia strains are basically omnipresent in freshwater environments and can spring up in fish kept in less than adequete water conditions, often making a beeline for ammonia damaged gill tissue and dead slime layers on fish. Any fish with a reduced immune system or injury may contract a fungal infection, and fish eggs are susceptible. Corpses in the tank and uneaten foods will be a magnet for saprolegnia strains, and will radically increase the chances of fish in the same aquaria being infected. Many fungal infections are resistant to treatment, and likely to remerge if rigorous hygeine is not taken seriously. Many fungi may necessitate the fishkeeper trying a number of medications before finding one an effective treatment.Fungal infection vary widely in their potential to cause damage. Some fish live with peripheral infections all their lives while other can succumb within days, suffering all the effects of necrosis and septacaemia , as the fungus may aid the invasion of various bacterial strains into the body. Flexibacter Columnaris is often associated with fungal infections, and it may in some cases be prudent to treat the fish for both conditions. It is very difficult for the inexperienced fishkeeper to differentiate between saprolegnia and columnaris infections. |
