Sick Pond Fish Symptoms | Understanding Pond Fish Behavior
Today I would like to talk about pond fish behavior and common sick pond fish symptoms. At first glance you may ask yourself "Are my pond fish sick?" but in actuality they are perfectly fine.
One such example is your pond fish remaining dormant or appearing not to move very much on the pond floor. They do this from time to time.
By understanding your pond fish behavior you will be much more able to spot the tell tale signs that something isn't right or your fish may be ill.
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Why Have My Pond Fish Got White Spots On Their Body?
This is probably a fungal disease and immediate expert advice should be sought. Fungal infections are often spread amongst the fish population at a rapid rate.
In the early stages it is often possible to cure using topical remedies or anti biotic courses. The infected individual will usually need to be quarantined and treated in isolation.
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Why Are My Pond Fish Rubbing Themselves Against The Pond Sides?
This is usually an indication of a parasitic infection of some kind. Unfortunately as they rub themselves in an attempt to itch themselves they also remove protective scales.
This makes the wounds prone to ulcers and seriously dangerous bacterial diseases. Fish fatalities are fairly common if early expert help is not sought.
Why Are My Pond Fish Gasping for Air at The Pond Surface
By observing your pond fish behavior you will notice, particularly behavioural patterns. One such example in ponds without adequate amounts of oxygen is fish gulping for air at the pond surface. This is particularly the case during summer time, when the pond water temperature is higher. Warm water is physically not able to hold as much oxygen as cold water.
It is also more difficult for atmospheric oxygen to dissolve into pond water in these conditions. When you see your fish gulping this is not a good sign and is a sure fire indicator that you need to introduce more oxygen into the pond.
The best way to do this is to add a Pond Air Pump, fountain or waterfall to your existing set up.
I'm Sure I Had More Pond Fish Yesterday Than Today!
Your pond has probably become a favorite haunt of a predator of some description, targeting an easy meal. Herons and other birds such as king fishers are the usual suspects but snakes and other animals have been known to take fish.
Watch early morning activity and late afternoon activity close to your pond. There are many predator scarers on the market, some better than and more effective than others.
Herons are a common pest and how to stop herons eating your fish? is a common question. The best solution is to use a fake heron, as heron's are territorial and will more than likely stay away from a competitors patch.
Click here to see Animal Deterrent Products including the blue heron deterrent on this site ...
My Pond Fish Are Chasing Each Other
This is nothing to worry about. It is more than likely pond fish courtship behavior. This is normal pond fish behavior in spring and can be quite aggressive looking. If it is very bad you may want to isolate the female, to prevent her from being hurt or impregnated.
Where Have all the Fish Eggs Gone?
Chances are the eggs have been eaten by other fish and by predators such as frogs or toads. This is normal. You can protect fish eggs by separating them into a floating chamber such as a Fine Net using a polystyrene ring as a floatation aid. This will also protect the newborn fish from being eaten by other pond inhabitants.
Why Are My Goldfish Black?
The majority of goldfish are born black and only develop their orange gold color after about 6 months or so. During their early days the black coloring helps to protect them from predators as they can easily hide in the shadows, away from bigger fish, their parents and birds etc.
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