Trichodina Disease
What causes Trichodina?
Trichodina is one of the parasites that you can't see without a microscope. This parasite is usually found on the gills, skin or fins of the goldfish. It's important to know that Trichodina doesn't feed on the goldfish, it only uses them as home and transportation.
Usually, healthy fish can control the number of parasites, but in severe conditions and in large numbers, Trichodina can run down your goldfish's immunity system and open a door for other complications such as ulcers or other secondary bacterial infections.
Severe Trichodina infestations are caused by poor water quality and overcrowding. They feed of the bacteria on the fish's surface and cause rapidly multiply as they reproduce by binary fission(each cell splits into two).
What are the symptoms?
![]() | This parasite causes extreme stress as your goldfish wil rub against the surfaces and damage its
skin and gills. Click image to enlarge. |
This can lead to bacterial and ulcer infections. Goldfish symptoms can include:
- scratching and flashing
- ulcers
- stop feeding
- fish may isolate themselves
- lay at the bottom with clamped fins
- lethargic
- irritated skin
- greyish, white film over the body of the fish in severe cases
A mucus scraping on the suspected fish and using a microscope you will see something round moving like a merry-go-round, it's Trichodina.
How to cure Trichodina?
The best treatment is using the same medications as you use to kill Ich. You can use the salt treatment or medicated treatments like potassium permanganate(works almost every time) or Malachite Green with Formalin or use Proform C(colder water temperature) or QuickCure(in warm water temperature).
How to prevent Trichodina?
Quarantining and treating any new goldfish is the key to preventing any infestation of any parasite. Also remember to keep a high quality water, do not overcrowd your tank and feed your fish healthy, tasty, fresh food.
Recommended Medicine
Here you can find the medicine listed above. Click the image to find how you can purchase the desired medicine.
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Love to you,
Flo
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