external symptoms
- White or slightly brownish threads stand out from the body.
- Cotton-like structures on the body of fish
- Eyes, fins, skin and gills can be affected.
photos
Photos: Jenni Daus
Armored catfish with fungus
Photos: Henry Buchman
Catfish with fungus
Photos: Alexander Gangel
Catfish with fungus
Photo: Thomas Waberzeck
Catfish with fungus
Photo: Steve Kas
Schlieren catfish with fungus and bacterial infection on the feeler. The sensor turned white. The transition between the white-colored and normal-colored part was inflamed red. A ball of mushrooms formed around the feeler. The discolored part of the probe fell off shortly after the photo was taken.
Photo: Manuel Heiss
Platy with a fungal infection as a result of an injury. The platy has fully recovered.
Photo: Sabine Schulz
Shubunkin with a strong fungal infection
Photos: Lars Slowak
Tetraodon pustulatus (blowfish) with ichthyo and fungal eye
Photo: Heinrich Eynck
Badly infected Koi
Photo: David Schoenke
Otocinclus with fungal infection and bacterial infection.
Photo: Holger
Female dwarf cichlid with fungal eye infection.
Photos: Christina (Forum)
Metal armored catfish with fungal infection. After the help of tea baths, alder cones in the aquarium and the use of a UV clarifier, the visible fungal threads disappeared and skin damage remained that looked like a pigment disorder.
Photo: Sabine Herrmann
Corydoras sterbai with fungal infection on head.
Scalar with fungal infection
© Lilly Rollman
Causes of fungal infections
Fungal infections are always secondary diseases of physical damage. Healthy fish are not affected. Fungal infections are also called water mold or fish mold. Molds from the genera Saprolegnia, Achlya and Dictyuchus cause the infection. Normally these fungi live in the aquarium on dead organic material, e.g. B. uneaten food, fish droppings and dead eggs. The fungi release spores that float in the water looking for suitable opportunities to settle. They cannot attach themselves to the healthy mucous membrane of the fish.
However, if the mucous membrane is damaged by injuries or other diseases, the spores floating in the water penetrate the wounds and germinate there to form new fungi. Since the pH value of the mucous membrane is changed by the previous damage, the fungi find ideal living conditions there. As the fungal infection progresses, the fungal threads penetrate the inside of the infected fish and cause serious damage to the muscles and organs. In addition, the fungi give off toxic metabolic products to the fish. Severely infested fish usually cannot be cured.
Before treating a fungal disease, the root cause of the disease must be determined. Successful treatment of the fungal infection is only possible after the actual cause has been eliminated. A fungal infection can e.g. B. be triggered by the following causes:
treatment suggestions
Depending on the severity of the infection, fungal diseases can be combated by increasing the temperature to 26 – 27° C, salt baths or commercially available remedies.
Mushrooms grow faster at temperatures below 26-27°C. However, treatment can only be successful if the underlying causes are eliminated.
Further information