Commonly known as “Angelfish Aids,” this disease seems to afflict mainly angelfish in particular while most other tropical fish species seem to go unaffected. A fine pale film (not fungus) is a main indicator which is also accompanied by the fish floating at the top of the tank gasping for air in its final hours of life. The disease seems to resist all medications and the fish soon dies. Since this disease is so difficult to treat with antibiotics, many believe to be a virus. However, 90% of bacterium that afflict freshwater fish are gram-negative (bacteria are either classified as gram-positive which afflicts mostly saltwater fish or gram-negative which afflicts mostly freshwater fish) which is why the typical freshwater treatment does not work. Make sure that the treatment is aimed at attacking gram-positive bacterium for this disease. I have never experienced such a disease but I hear of it happening very often to pet shops. The disease is very contagious and is usually caused by pet shops introducing fish that carry the disease but otherwise appear healthy. A treatment is to use a drug manufactured by Aquatronics called Chloramphenicol. Other drugs which have been suggested for use in combating this disease include Oxytetracycline, Tetracycline, or Gentamicin.

BLOATED BELLY DISEASE

FUNGUS