Taking care of our Flowerhorns aka Luo Han

[Aroboy II]

Every hobbyist would want their fishes healthy and looking vibrant. So I would like to share some pointers here to prevent diseases on keeping flowerhorns aka luo han as known here.
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Although we feed our flowerhorns on daily basis, try to pay some attention during this time to look out for typical sign of disease outbreak.
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Some basic water condition for our flowerhorns are :
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1.) pH is between 6.5 to 7.6 Here constant pH is encouraged here.
2.) Ammonia reading should be zero.
3.) Nitrite reading should be zero.
4.) Ideal Temperature should be 27to 30degress Celsius.
5.) Best do a water change weekly at least around 10 to 20%.
This purely depends on the staple diet feeding to our flowerhorns.

[Aroboy II]

Preventions:
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Filteration system:
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Make sure there is a basic filter system that contains the bio-media to do the nurification from the pees and poos from our fowerhorns which is basically ammonia to be converted to nitrite and then to nitrate.
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Water change:
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Regular water changes are a must in all fish keeping. Keeping flowerhorns are no exceptions here. I do recommend a 20-30% water change weekly. Also, check your water parameters every other week to ensure that there is no harmful fluctuations in our water. Adding aquarium salt with water conditioners are also beneficial.
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Feeding:
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Only feed the amount of food your flowerhorn can consume within 3-5minutes. 2-3 times feeding a day also can be done but just be sure to pick up all uneaten food. If the uneaten food are not remove, it could pollute the water and also stress your flowerhorns. Do not overfeed.<o></o>

[Aroboy II]

Diseases:
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Fin and Tail Rot:
Highly contagious caused by various species of aquatic fungi.
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Symptoms:
Fish would be lethargic and stop eating. Fins and /or tail seem to be getting shorter or falling apart and dissolving. Fins may be clamped and looks pale. Gray, brown or white cotton-wool-like growth on the skin also can be seen.
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Treatment:
Quarantine the sick fish. Do a large water change (50%).
Methylene Blue and Acriflavine can be used. No feeding during this time.
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Flukes:
Highly contagious external parasites. To name a few like Cestoda and Trematoda.
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Symptoms:
Fishes show extreme gill irritability/skim irritation and continued scratching and scarping on something inside the tank (like driftwoods, pipings, etc.) Gills plates are clamped or close tight when breathing. In some cases, flicking the pelvic and dorsal fins against the side of the body also can be seen.
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Treatment:
Quarantine the sick fish. Do a major water change (75% or more)
Formalin can be used. If you want, feed sparingly.

[Aroboy II]

ICH, white spot disease:
Highly contagious. Caused by frozen live food and also from infected fishes/tank mates.
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Symptoms:
Well, clearly-defined pure small white spots.It spread all over the body and head. Sometimes even the eyes also. The fish may have stopped eating, fins may be clamped.
Fish also less active or even look restless. Some times scratching against foreign matter can be seen.
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Treatment:
Quarantine the sick fish. Do a major water change (75% or more)
Malachite green, methylene blue, quinine hydrochloride, and mepracrine hydrochloride are all effective, and are available under several brand names.
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Mouth Fungus:
Caused by mouth fungus like Flexibacter bacterium.
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Symptoms:
Cotton-wool-like growths appear in the mouth area. Appetite of the fish are lose.
Overstocking or a sudden change in water conditions also can induce this to happen.
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Treatment:
Quarantine the sick fish. Do a water change.
Add more aquarium salt and primafix can be used. Also raise temp to 29-30degree celsius.

[Aroboy II]

Mouth Disease:
Caused by external injuries. May also infected by parasites like Saprolegnia.
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Symptoms:
The mouth is swollen or thread-like material are attached to the mouth.
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Treatment:
Quarantine the sick fish. Do a water change.
Methylene blue or Malachite green can be used.
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Gill Disease:
Caused by bad/poor water condition.
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Symptoms:
Fins are clamped, swollen gills and rapid gills movements are seen. Excess mucus may also excreted.
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Treatment:
Quarantine the sick fish. Do a water change.
Formalin or Furaltadone can be used here.

[Aroboy II]

HITH, hole in the head:
Highly contagious. Caused by Hexamita Protozoa parasites.
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Symptoms:
Fish not eating, dark colouration, white feces string-like occurred. Fins clamp, restlessness are seen here.
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Treatment:
Quarantine the sick fish. Do a water change (75% or more).
Metronidazole can be used here.
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Intestinal Infection
Caused by unhygienic food or improper feeding, parasite infection in the intestines.
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Symptoms:
The fish’s anus may excrete a slimy and some times stick to the anus. Appetite of the fish also gradually drops and in some serious cases, blood are discharge from the anus.
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Treatment:
Stop all live food if any. No feeding for the fish for a few days.
Feed the fish with antibiotics.