Fish Scale Infection

Fish scale infections are very common among aquarium fish. The conditions of the tank and whether the fish are sick, stressed or injured can play a major role in the chances of your fish getting an infection.

  1. Dropsy

    • A fish infected with dropsy will have raised scales or scales that are falling off. The body of the fish will start to lose its coloration.

    Ich

    • Ich is one of the most common scale infections of fish. It usually attacks fish that are stressed or sick. Ich displays itself as white spots on the body and fins of the fish. If caught early, it can be treated.

    Velvet

    • Velvet is often confused with ich but, on a closer look, velvet looks much like a fine powder on the fish's body. It is very contagious, spreading quickly through your aquarium from one fish to another.

    Skin and Gill Flukes

    • Flukes attack the skin as well as the gills of the fish and spread very quickly if the conditions of the tank are bad. They are usually harmless to fish in small numbers but can cause death.

    Body Fungus

    • Body fungus causes ulcers on the skin of the fish and can cause death if it is not treated. It's caused from conditions of the tank not being clean. Fish display grayish-looking patches, much like small cotton balls, on their bodies and fins.