Haemorrhagic septicaemia and treating ulcers on pond fish

Symptons: streaks of red in the skin and fins.

Fins are clamped and the fish is lethargic with a lack of appetite.

Treatment:- Manufacturers of some anti-ulcer treatments claim to be effective against Septicaemia.

Ulcers

From outside. If there are only one or two fish infected, then the ulcers are generally a secondary infection from smaller wounds from predators, handling or parasites. Bacteria settle in even small scratches in the mucous layer of fish. Once the bacteria become established and an ulcer develops then the ulcer will release further bacteria into the environment putting the rest of the fish population at risk of infection.

Ulcers from within: Bacteria can grow in the blood stream of the fish and produce raised areas, which will suddenly burst out into open sores. These are very infectious.

Treatment:- Early stages : bactericides are effective or specific anti-ulcer treatments.

For severe infections: combine bactericide treatment with a salt bath. Isolate severely infected fish to good conditions.

Sometimes a colony of parasitic protozoan or trematode worms feed on the edge of the wound making it difficult to heal. Therefore a treatment containing anti-parasite and anti-fungal agents is necessary.

Pond salt is a very beneficial tonic for fish with ulcer problems as it slows down the loss of body fluids through any lesions, which may eventually lead to kidney failure - 3grms per litre if possible.

In emergency cases, isolate the victim and treat in a bath at 9grms per litre for 15 minutes. This concentration will be the equivalent to that of the salts of its own bodily fluids.