mouth fungus
Mouth fungus (mouth rot or columnariosis) despite the name, the disease is caused not by a fungus, but by bacteria. The name arose because of outwardly similar manifestations with fungal diseases.
Bacteria in the process of life produce toxins, poisoning the body of the fish, which can lead to death.
Symptoms:
White or gray lines are visible around the lips of the fish, which later grow into fluffy tufts resembling cotton wool. In the acute form, the tufts extend to the body of the fish.
Causes of the disease:
Infection occurs due to a combination of several factors, such as injury, injury to the mouth and oral cavity, unsuitable water composition (pH level, gas content), lack of vitamins.
Disease Prevention:
The probability of the appearance of the disease becomes minimal if you keep the fish in suitable conditions for it and feed it with high-quality feed, which contains the necessary vitamins and minerals.
Treatment:
The disease is easily diagnosed, so you need to purchase a specialized medicine and strictly follow the instructions on the package. An additional tank may be required to dilute the water-medicated baths, where sick fish are placed.
Often manufacturers include phenoxyethanol in the composition of the drug, which also suppresses fungal infection, which is especially true if the aquarist confuses a bacterial infection with a similar fungal infection.
