How To Keep Your Fish Healthy And Safe From Flukes (And Other Fish

Flukes are microscopic parasites that can infect the skin and gills. Symptoms vary but often include red spots, excess mucus, and difficulty breathing. Stress makes fish especially vulnerable to contracting parasites. An aquatic veterinary doctor will diagnose flukes by looking at your fish under a microscope. Fluke symptoms can be present in a variety of ways. You may notice your fish have redness or inflammation on its skin. Your fish may scratch itself by rubbing against surfaces in its tank. Poor water quality is often associated with the introduction of parasites. Fish that eat expired or unhygienic food are at risk of contracting flukes. A proper diet bolsters a fish's immune system. It's essential to ensure your fish is well fed to fight off flukes . Treatment for flukes will vary. It depends on the water type (Freshwater or Saltwater) and the number of fish affected. Egg-laying flukes that live in cold water require longer treatment periods. Gill flukes are more challenging to treat than skin flukes and are not contagious to humans or other animals. To prevent fluke infestations, provide your fish with a low-stress environment. Use an isolated aquarium with separate equipment and filtration systems. Fluk can't be seen by the eye and can only be identified under the microscope. Anybody that could transport a parasite into a tank should be quarantined. The best way to keep your fish's stress low is to keep the water high quality in the tank. . . .