When it comes to fish, people usually think of them as a delicious and nutritious food. But you may not know that the Zhanggong fish is also a kind of traditional Chinese medicine that can prevent and treat various diseases. However, just like humans, fish can also get sick. Here are several common diseases and their prevention methods:
Prevention Methods for Common Diseases of Zhanggong Fish
1. Dizziness Disease
The symptoms of this disease include loss of appetite, darkening of body color, and clustering in the corner of the tank. In severe cases, the fish will swim rapidly in the water, struggle or spin wildly, and finally sink to the bottom of the tank and die. The cause of this disease is still unclear.
This disease is most commonly seen in fish fry less than 4 centimeters long and it is more prevalent from March to July, with a peak in April and May. The disease spreads rapidly and the mortality rate is over 90%. It is the most harmful epidemic fish disease during the fry and seedling stage of Zhanggong fish.
Prevention methods: There is no specific treatment for this disease. The following preventive measures are mainly used:
This disease spreads rapidly, and if not treated in time, the mortality rate is over 50%. Therefore, it is also known as the "red plague."
The disease is easily triggered by conditions such as fish injuries, high stocking density, deteriorating water quality, or large fluctuations in water temperature.
2. Rotting Flesh Disease
The symptoms of this disease include reddening and peeling of scales, followed by ulceration of the dermis, which initially appears red and then turns white as it becomes necrotic. In severe cases, the rotting can reach the muscles or bones, and the tail can rot and decay. It can occur all year round in fish species over 4 centimeters long.
Prevention methods: A. Sprinkle the entire tank with 5 to 10 PPM chlorine dioxide or 0.3 PPM malachite green after treating the water. If the condition is severe, repeat the treatment every other day.
When the water quality deteriorates, increase the dosage of water purifier to 10 PPM. After onset, the disease has a strong self-infectivity and cross-infection is also severe.
B. Sprinkle the entire tank with furazolidone to achieve a concentration of 0.5 to 1 PPM.
3. Wheel Parasite Disease
The symptoms of this disease include a large number of wheel parasites parasitizing on the fish, loss of appetite, darkening and emaciation of the body color, increased mucus, and the formation of a white film on the body surface. The fish swims alone in the tank and often rotates. Eventually, it dies due to exhaustion. This disease is particularly harmful to Zhanggong fish.
The pathogen of this disease is not visible to the naked eye but is very obvious under a microscope.
Prevention methods: A. Sprinkle the entire tank with 0.7 PPM copper sulfate.
B. Sprinkle the entire tank with a mixture of 0.5 PPM copper sulfate and 0.2 PPM ferrous sulfate.
C. Boil the juice of mahogany leaves and sprinkle it into the tank, making the concentration of the tank water 30-45 PPA.
4. Edwardsiellosis
The symptoms of this disease include blackening of the fish body, abdominal distention, and sometimes redness and swelling of the anus without any wounds on the body surface. Upon dissection, congested, enlarged, and ulcerated kidneys can be observed, and a foul-smelling liquid will flow out when the abdomen is squeezed. Fish in the affected tank tend to cluster in the corner of the tank.
This disease usually occurs from May to September, with a water temperature range of 15-40°C and an optimum water temperature of 25-30°C. It is most commonly seen during the fry and seedling stage. The mortality rate of affected fish is between 30% and 60%. This disease is more likely to occur in fish ponds that have been fed with earthworms for a long time.
Prevention methods: A. Sprinkle the entire tank with 0.3 PPM malachite green, 2-5 PPM streptomycin, 10-20 PPM chloramphenicol, or 0.2-0.5 PPM furazolidone. If the condition is severe, repeat the treatment for two days.
B. Add 30-50 grams of chloramphenicol per kilogram of fish to the feed and feed for 5 days.
C. Add 2-3 grams of florfenicol and 20 grams of photosynthetic bacteria per kilogram of feed and feed for 5-7 days.
