What are ulcers on fish?
Ulcers on fish are most commonly described as having a “punched out” appearance. This is more accurately described as having a popped blister with rough, course edges and visibly sore looking flesh underneath the centre of the crater/ulcer.
It is unappealing to see. It is very unsightly and looks as though it would cause indescribable pain to the fish.
These ulcers can spread across the fish and can eventually merge covering more of the surface of the fish as it progresses.
Ulcers can be fatal to your livestock even without a significant outbreak of visible ulcers or any external symptoms. Ulcers can be accompanied by the loss of scales and also growths of fungus.
The ulcers may appear suddenly, or they can manifest themselves and then progressively get worse and appear more aggressive as the illness advances and the health of the fish deteriorates.
Identifying ulcers!
the visible appearance of the ulcers is usually a large tell-tale sign of the ulcers especially when they are large and quite advanced in development. However, the ulcers may at first appear small and only change the behaviour of the fish. If your fish is exhibiting any abnormal behaviour, then please always seek professional help.
Ulcers can appear all of a sudden and progress at an alarming rate if they are also accompanied by either a bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infection. Treating all of the illnesses is vital to ensuring that your pond and the livestock within it are returned to a happy healthy status quo.
If you are in doubt, then please give us a call and arrange a call out as soon as possible. During the call out a scrape will be performed and analysed under the microscope, along with a water quality test that will be performed to check for any unhealthy and potentially dangerous levels. Both measures will be undertaken to ensure that you receive the most accurate diagnosis.
Tel: 07737 674417
Causes
The primary causes of ulcers within the pond:
Without seeking professional help, the underlying cause may not be found, and they ulcers may return or continue to be aggressive in their attack upon the surface of your fish’s skin. Call pond medic today!
How contagious are ulcers?
Highly Contagious
This is dependent upon the cause of the ulcers, if the cause is fungal or parasitic then the ulcers could affect all the livestock within your pond.
Treatment
To effectively treat ulcers, the following steps should be taken as soon as possible:
