Diseases in fish Apistogramma cacatuoides are swim bladder, white spots, whirling disease, dropsy, exophthalmia or pop eye, and clamped fins.
Apistogramma cacatuoides, also widely known as cockatoo dwarf cichlid, dwarf cichlids, or apistos, are among the sturdiest fish to be kept in a tank. That is why keeping them for a beginner is a great choice. Maintaining the perfect water temperature, pH level, and hardness is the most principal. However, there are some diseases in fish Apistogramma cacatuoides you should be careful of. Here are the diseases that may attack Apistogramma cacatuoides.
White Spots
The disease that most likely attacks your Apistogramma cacatuoides is white spots disease. This infection is caused by a contagious parasitic disease. The parasites called Ichyophthirius multifilis stick to the fish’s skins and generate white spots on their bodies. Why is it said contagious? Because once one fish suffers this disease, other fish in the same tank can be contaminated quickly.
Swim Bladder
The swim bladder is one of the most common diseases in fish Apistogramma cacatuoides. It is the condition where the fish floats upside down on the surface. Even though your fish are still active, they are losing their ability to float or sink. There are some reasons that lead to this condition. Some of the reasons are too much air on the belly, infections by bacteria, or wounds.
Whirling Disease
You should also be aware of this infection. This disease is caused by a microscopic parasite called Myxobolus cerebralis. The parasites commonly target fish’s cartilage tissue on the head and back. Just like its name, the symptom of this illness is your fish start to whirl or chase its tail. If left untreated, this parasite can cause death. Prevention is the best option because there is no exact treatment for this injury. Maintaining the tank water condition is important.
Dropsy
Another common disease in fish Apistogramma cacatuoides is dropsy. This disease is caused by bacterial infection due to poor water quality. Some of the symptoms are losing appetite, bulging abdomen, and slow moving. It mostly attacks stressed fish that is losing their immunity. The best treatment for this disease is by improving the water condition from the temperature, ammonia and pH level, and tank mates.
Exophthalmia or Pop Eye
Exophthalmia is the condition when the fish’s eyes bulge largely from the socket. When left untreated, the pop eye can cause blindness and even loss of an eye. Just like dropsy, this disease is also caused by a bacterial infection at the back of the eye. Since the symptom is very easy to identify, quickly treat your fish with this disease. The first important thing is, of course, quarantine.
Clamped Fin
The next disease in fish Apistogramma cacatuoides you should be aware of is clamped fins. The causes vary, from poor water quality to parasitic infection. The symptoms include folded fins against the body and sluggishness. To avoid more serious infections, early treatment is very much needed. You can give some salt to the tank.
Those are some diseases in fish Apistogramma cacatuoides. Apistogramma cacatuoides is a sturdy species as long as you maintain the quality of the aquarium water.