Like any aquatic creatures, African catfish are susceptible to a number of ailments that may harm their health and general well-being.
The following are a few of the most prevalent ailments affecting African catfish:
Infections brought on by bacteria: These illnesses are brought on by bacteria that can enter a fish’s body through its mouth, gills, or skin.
Columnaris: Symptoms include greyish-white lesions on the skin, gills, and fins, as well as difficulty breathing and lethargy.
Antibiotics including oxytetracycline and amoxicillin are frequently utilized in the treatment of columnaris.
Isolating sick fish and cleaning the pond or tank is essential to halt the disease’s spread.
Maintaining good water quality and hygiene standards is necessary to stop further outbreaks.The recommended dosage for oxytetracycline for 1kg catfish is 25-50mg/kg body weight. Amoxicillin for catfish is 10-20 mg/kg body weight This dosage can be administered via oral, intramuscular, or intravenous routes.
Fin rot: Symptoms include frayed or missing fins, redness or swelling around the fins, and white or grey patches on the fins. This disease can be identified through visual inspection.
Veterinary treatment for fin rot typically involves the use of antibiotics. Some common drugs used to treat fin rot in African catfish include:
Oxytetracycline: This is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is effective against a wide range of bacterial infections. It is usually administered through water or via injection. It is generally recommended to use a dosage of 20-50 mg/kg of body weight for a period of 3-5 days
Sulfadimethoxine: This is another broad-spectrum antibiotic that is effective against a variety of bacterial infections. It is usually administered through water or via injection. The recommended dosage for Sulfadimethoxine in the treatment of fin rot in catfish is 20-40 mg/kg body weight.
Kanamycin: This is a more targeted antibiotic that is specifically effective against gram-negative bacteria, which are a common cause of fin rot. It is usually administered through water or via injection. This drug is currently not approved by the FDA for the treatment of Fin Rot in aquatic animals, although it works pretty well, you might want to stay away from it in the mean time.
Infections caused by viruses: Viruses can target the immune system of fish, causing a variety of symptoms including edema, inflammation, lethargy, and even death.
Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis (IHN): Symptoms include loss of appetite, lethargy, and abdominal swelling.
Lymphocystis: Symptoms include small, white cysts on the skin, gills, and fins, it can be identified through visual inspection.
Viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS): VHS is a viral infection that affects the blood vessels of catfish. Symptoms include internal bleeding, swelling, and ulcers on the body. There is no cure for VHS, and infected fish should be euthanized to prevent the spread of the disease.
Although these types of infections are rare, it doesn’t mean they can not occur. Protect your ponds from easy access by humans, and limit access to only staff to prevent some of these infections.
Parasitic infections:
These illnesses are brought on by parasites that can infest the fish’s body and cause lethargy, lack of appetite, and weight loss.
Ichthyophthiriasis: Symptoms include small white spots on the skin, gills, and fins, as well as scratching and rubbing against surfaces. This disease can be identified through visual inspection.
Use of a medicinal bath or dipping solution is the most typical veterinary treatment for Ichthyophthiriasis, often known as Ich or white spot illness.
Use acriflavine, and change the water within 24 hours to treat itching in catfish
Gyrodactylosis: Symptoms include rubbing and scratching against surfaces, as well as white or grey spots on the skin, gills, and fins. This disease can be identified through visual inspection.
Gyrodactylus is a flatworm parasite that clings to fish’s skin and gills, and it is the source of the parasitic ailment known as gyrodactylosis.
Small white or gray spots on the skin and gills of the infected fish, as well as an increase in mucus production, lethargy, and odd behavior, are characteristics of the infection.
Antiparasitic drugs like praziquantel or metronidazole are frequently used to treat gyrodactylosis.
The veterinary dosage of praziquantel for the treatment of gyrodactylus in African catfish is typically 20-40 mg/kg body weight, administered orally or by injection.