Goldfish Bacterial Gill Disease
Bacterial gill disease (BGD) is described as the presence of a filamentous bacteria on the gills accompanied by fusing of gill filaments. In most cases, bacterial gill disease is brought on by poor water quality. The two largest environmental factors that cause bacterial gill disease is low dissolved oxygen levels and overstocking. Overstocking creates poor water quality by lowering oxygen levels while increasing the bioload and raising ammonia, nitrate and nitrite levels. Many symptoms described bellow are caused by the flukes parasire in combination with bacterial gill disease.
Symptoms of Bacterial Gill Disease
- Rapid gill movement
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Clamped fins
- Decomposing gill arches
- White streaks of gills
- Gills look like “hamburger meat”
- White gill edges (pH)
- Hanging out at surface (Low oxygen)
- Gills swollen open (flukes parasite)
- Mucus Hanging off Gills (flukes or pH)
- Holes in Gill Covers (fish tb or flukes)
- Pale Gill Covers (flukes or IHN virus)
Treat Bacterial Gill Disease
If flukes parasites are present, treat for flukes first (as described in Cure Flukes in Goldfish) then bypass your biological filter to avoid killing nitrifying bacteria and treat for bacterial gill disease. Treat with potassium permanganate, Chloramine-T, Copper sulphate or BGDX. Feed with Anti-Bacteria Medicated Fish Food. Cured goldfish will have scarred gills and require special care including optimal aeration.
Prevent Bacterial Gill Disease
Goldfish care to prevent bacterial gill disease
- Preform regular water changes
- Don’t overstock with goldfish
- Provide plenty of aeration
- Minimize stress of goldfish
