One thing that any fish owner needs to be aware of and effective at identifying is disease, or at least an ability to identify potential issues and seek help accordingly. Should ones fish become ill, it is unfortunately very likely that further fish will shortly be suffering also.

Following the old adage of ‘prevention is better than cure’ many threats can be spotted early on and this should quite probably lead to seeking expert help. The obvious signs to look out for are any changes in behaviour, but particularly lethargic fish always near the surface or rooted to the bottom, or fish that appear to be struggling to swim. These are all obvious indicators of possible problems.

Other slightly less obvious, but still visible indicators of issues are to be found by inspection of your fish. Damage to the skin of the fish such as cuts and abrasions, obvious blemishes such as sores or lumps are again clear evidence of something being wrong. Again, it is important to respond promptly to these indicators of problems. There can be no substitute for expanding you own knowledge, and the importance of reading about and understanding the possible causes of these problems should never be underestimated. It is, however, imperative that you seek expert veterinary help when needed.