Jungle Tropical Fish Problem Solver Chart
| PROBLEM | APPEARANCE | CAUSE | PROPER ACTION | NOTES |
| ACID WATER | Water may turn yellowish. Fish dart and gasp, livebearers do poorly. | Acid from fish wastes of decayed food. | Use ALKARIGHT. Check ph with test kit. | To reduce acid buildup, change 90% of water by siphoning from the bottom of the tank, once a week. Use START RIGHT in all new water. |
| ADDING NEW WATER | Fish may act distressed. | Chlorine,copper or ammonia in the water. | Use START RIGHT | START RIGHT neutralizes chlorine,copper,heavy metals and harmful gases instantly. Guards against nitrite poisoning. Stimulates natural slime coat on fish. |
| ALGAE OUTDOORS | Green mat on bottom or the water is green. | Too strong a light. Too alkaline water. | Use POND BLOCK add AQUALIZER. | Shade pool if possible. Keep ph 7 or better. ph 6.5 with AQUALIZER. Use ph kit to test. |
| ALKALI WATER | White water lines. Plants de, fish have frayed fins. | Seashells or limestones in tank or hard water supply. | Use AQUALIZER or NATURAL COLORS. Use a JUNGLE WATER SOFTENER. | A JUNGLE WATER SOFTENER will discourage green slime and keep white waterline from forming on the glass. |
| AMMONIA IN WATER | Fish die. Water may be cloudy. | Product of decaying wastes | Use AMMONIA SORB or AMMONIA SORBER. | Recommend partial water change for chloramine use 1 STEP CHLORAMINE REMOVER. |
| ANCHOR WORM | Half inch threadlike worm hanging from fish. | A parasitic crustacean (Lemaea) | Use PARASITE GUARD (Formerly FLOUSE) | Use heavy airation as dead parasites may otherwise cause water to become cloudy. |
| ARGULLAS | Quarter inch bubble like lumps slowly moving on the skin and fins. | A parasitic crustacean. Sometimes Ergaslius also. | Use PARASITE GUARD (Formerly FLOUSE) | Use heavy airation as dead parasites may otherwise cause water to become cloudy. |
| BETTA PINCH FIN | Fish floats with fin closed. | Gill parasites. | Use PARASITE GUARD (Formerly FLOUSE) | Use heavy airation as dead parasites may otherwise cause water to become cloudy. |
| BLACK SPOT | Small black specks on skin. | Small fish worms (Diplosomulum) | Use PARASITE GUARD (Formerly FLOUSE) | Use heavy airation as dead parasites may otherwise cause water to become cloudy. |
| BLOODY FINS | Red streaks on fins, especially goldfish. | Small fish worms (Diplostomulum) | Use PARASITE GUARD (Formerly FLOUSE) | Use heavy airation as dead parasites may otherwise cause water to become cloudy. |
| CHLORAMINE IN CITY WATER | Fish dying due to chloramine poisoning. (Chloramine added to water supply as a substitution for chlorine.) | Water company adding chloramine. | Use 1-STEP CHLORAMINE REMOVER. | No chlorine remover will remove chloramine by itself. |
| CHLORINE IN WATER SUPPLY | Fish dart about. Gills pump furiously. | Chlorine added to water supply to kill bacteria. | Use START RIGHT. | START RIGHT neutralizes chlorine, copper, heavy, metals and harmful gases instantly. Guards against nitrite poisoning. Stimulates natural slime coat. |
| CLAMPED FINS | Fins held close to body, especially on livebearing fish. | Gill or body parasites | Use PARASITE GUARD. (Formerly FLOUSE). | Use heavy airation as dead parasites may otherwise cause water to become cloudy. |
| CLOUDY WATER INDOORS | Water not crystal clear in established tank. | Wastes, small animal and plant life. Possibly overfeeding. | Use CLEARWATER. | Good filtration improves clarity.Check for overfeeding or overlighting.Install UNDERGRAVEL FILTER. |
| CLOUDY WATER IN NEW TANK | Small particles suspended in water causing a cloudy look. | Floating silts from gravel especially newly set up tank. | Use MAGI CLEAR. | Use CLEARWATER in old established tanks to clear odors due to overfeeding. |
| CLOUDY WATER OUTDOORS | Water not crystal clear. | Wastes, small animal and plant life. | Use POND BLOCK. | Direct sunlight should be avoided if possible. Shade pools with plantings or awnings. |
| COLUMNARIS | White cotton sprouting from fins or body. | A bacteria, Flexobacter (Chondrococcus). | Use FUNGUS GUARD or FURALOID. | Can enter other aquariums by splashing water or using nets from infected aquarium. Clean nets with NET SOAK. |
| COSTIOSUS | Grey film or all or part of body. | External protozoan parasite (Costia necatrix). | Use ZEEMAX, FURALOID, BINOX or GOLD FIX on goldfish. | Can enter other aquariums by splashing water or using nets from infected aquarium. Clean nets with NET SOAK. |
| DACTYLOGYRUS | Gills hang partly open at times. | Small gill parasites (monogenetic trematodes*). | Use ZEEMAX,PARASITE GUARD (Formerly FLOUSE) or GOLD FIX on goldfish. | Can enter other aquariums by using nets from infected aquarium. Clean nets with NET SOAK. |
| DIRTY AQUARIUM SAND | Fish stir up waster from bottom and tank looks untidy. | Overcrowded tank or overfeeding. | Use CLEARWATER. Clean aquarium when convenient. | Use SERI CLEAN to clean tanks for less work and a better job. Use LIME OFF on lime deposits. |
| DISCUS HEAD WORM | Fish darts about wildly and may smash into glass. | Parasitic protozoa in sinus canals of head. | Use ZEEMAX at fives times normal strength as a dip. Use normal strength in aquarium. | Watch fish closely during dip and remove when distressed, usually after a few minutes. |
| DROPSY | Fish bloated with scales standing out edgewise. | Kidney damage. | Use FURALOID. | Kidney damage is usually the result of disease or too strong drug use. |
| FIN FUNGUS | Fine ragged with jelly at edge of ragged part. | Water change. This is not a disease. | Use FUNGUS GUARD. | Fin fungus is ver rare when START RIGHT has been added in setting up the aquarium. |
| FIN ROT | Fins eaten away with redness at base of bad area. | Saprolegnia fungus with Psuedomonas or Aeromonas bacteria. | Use FURALOID or BINOX. | Can enter other aquariums by splashing water or using nets from infected aquarium. Clean nets with NET SOAK. |
| FLAVO BACTERIA | Fish swim aimlessly. May have spasms. | Internal bacteria. | Use ZEEMAX or BINOX with PEPSO FOOD. | Can enter other aquariums by splashing water or using nets from infected aquarium. Clean nets with NET SOAK. |
| FLESH WORMS | Small lumps under skin or on fins. | Parasitic worms. | Use ZEEMAX, BINOX, FURALOID or GOLD FIX on goldfish. | Will not spread indoors. |
| FUNGUS (white) | A white cottony growth on any part of the fish. | A bacteria, Flexobacter (Chondrococcus) Columnaris. | Use FUNGUS GUARD, ZEEMAX or GOLD FIX on goldfish. | Can enter other aquariums by splashing water or using nets from infected aquarium. Clean nets with NET SOAK. |
| FUNGUS (grey) | A light grey cottony growth on any part of the fish. | A parasitic fungus, Saprolegnia. | Use FUNGUS GUARD with ICK GUARD. (Formerly LIFE GUARD). | Can enter other aquariums by splashing water or using nets from infected aquarium. Clean nets with NET SOAK. |
| FURUNCULOSIS | Open sores on Gouramies or other anabantids.* | Aeromonas salmonicida bacteria. | Use FURALOID. | Seldom spreads to other anabantids* and the only on direct contact. |
| GLASS DIRTY ON OUTSIDE | Fingerprints or dripmarks. | Finger grease. | Use SERI CLEAN. | Use f ull strength and wipe dry with paper towel for lasting resistance to stains or marks of any type. |
| GILL FLUKES | Gills hang partly open and may pump fast. | Small gill parasites (Gyrodactylus) monogenetic trematodes.* | Use PARASITE GUARD. (Formerly FLOUSE). | Use heavy aeration as dead parasites may otherwise cause water to become cloudy. |
| GOURAMIE DISEASE | Fish rok back and forth while staying in place. | Dactylogyrus parasites (Monogenetic treamtodes*). | Use PARASITE GUARD. (Formerly FLOUSE). | Use heavy aeration as dead parasites may otherwise cause water to become cloudy. |
| GREY SKIN | Skin looks grey in patches. | Cosita necatrix parasites. | Use ZEEMAX, BINOX, FURALOID or GOLD FIX on goldfish. | Can enter other aquariums by using nets in infected tank and using them in other tanks.Clean nets with NET SOAK. |
| GYRODACTYLUS | Fish scrape on objects in tank. | Gyrodactylus parasites (monogenetic tramatodes*). | Use PARASITE GUARD. (Formerly FLOUSE). | Use heavy aeration as dead parasites may otherwise cause water to become cloudy. |
| HEMORRHAGIC SEPTICEMIA | Red streaks on fins usually near body. | A bacteria, Aeromonas (liquefaciens) hydrophylia. | Use FURALOID or GOLD FIX on Goldfish. | Common on goldish and livebearing tropicals.Scales may sometimes protrude. |
| HYDRA | Tiny tree-like animals attached to objects in tank. | Carnivorous microanimal. | Use SHIMMY BLOCKS or MOLLYBRIGHT. | Harmless to all fish except newly hatched fry which may be eaten by hydra. |
| ICK (also spelled as ICH) | White sugar-like crystals on fins or body of fish. | Ichthyopthirius multifilius, a parasitic protozoan. | Use ICK GUARD. Use ICK GUARD II FOR SCALELESS FISH on weak, small or scaleless fish. | Can be spread to other tanks by splashing water or using nets from infected aquarium. Clean nets with NET SOAK. |
| INTERNAL PARASITES | Fish are thin and act listless | Tiny internal parasites. | Feed PEPSO FOOD and use ZEEMAX. | Seldom spreads indoors. |
| INTRODUCING NEW FISH | Fish may go to top or bottom or dash about. | Change in water from which fish are acclimated. | Use START RIGHT. | START RIGHT neutralizes harmful chlorine and copper. Stimulates a natural slime coat. Guards against nitrite poisoning. |
| IRON IN WATER SUPPLY | Stains on glass or ornaments. | Dissolved iron in water supply. | Use CLEARWATER. Use WATER SOFTENER. | CLEAR WATER neutralizes iron and WATER SOFTENER removes iron up to 1½ parts per million. |
| ICTHING (also called FLASHING) | Fish scratches on objects in tanks. | Skin irritation caused by skin parasites. | Use PARASITE GUARD (Formerly FLOUSE), ZEEMAX or ICK GUARD (Formerly LIFE GUARD). | Can be spread to other tanks by using nets from infected aquarium. Clean nets with NET SOAK. |
| LIME DEPOSITS ON GLASS | Insoluble white deposit or water line. | Caused by lime, a mineral found in water supplies or from salt buildup. | Use LIME OFF. | Use JUNGLE ALGAE REMOVER or AQUARIUM CLEANING KIT for glass aquariums. Use SOFTIE ALGAE REMOVER for acrylic or plastic aquariums. |
| LIVEBEARER DISEASE or MOLLY DISEASE | Fish stay in one place but wiggle, wag or shimmy. | Water lacks electrobytes needed for natural metabolism. | Use START RIGHT with either MOLLY BRIGHT or SHIMMY BLOCKS. | Not a disease at all but a reaction to water lacking needed electrobytes. |
| MOUTH FUNGUS | White cotton sprouting from mouth sides. | A bacteria, Flexobacter (Chondrococcus). | Use FUNGUS GUARD or FURALOID. | Can be spread to other tanks by splashing water or using nets from infected aquarium. Clean nets with NET SOAK. |
| MOUTH ROT | Fish eaten away around mouth. | Saprolegnia fungus with Psuedomonas or Aeromonas bacteria. | Use FURALOID or BINOX. | Can be spread to other tanks by splashing water or using netd from infected aquarium. Clean nets with NET SOAK. |
| NEON AND CARDINAL DISEASE | Color fades from red line. Line may turn yellow. | A parasitic protozoan, Pilistophora hyphessobryconis. | Use CLEARWATER or ZEEMAX with NATURAL COLORS. | Can be spread to other tanks by splashing water or using netd from infected aquarium. Clean nets with NET SOAK. |
| NETS NEED CLEANING | Nets used in multiple aquariums need to be cleaned between use. | Problems can be spread from tank to tank. | Use NET SOAK to take the guesswork out of cleaning nets. | NET SOAK is also effective to clean JUNGLE ALGAE REMOVER SPONGES. |
| NEW AQUARIUMS | Dusty or oily. | Manufacturing residues. | Use SERI CLEAN or JUNGLE AQUARIUM CLEANING KIT (SERI CLEAN WITH ALGAE REMOVER). Use SOFTIE ALGAE REMOVER for acrylic or plastic aquariums. | SERI CLEAN washes much cleaner and wasier than plain water. Install a new UNDERGRAVEL FILTER. |
| NEW FISH | Act uncomfortable or nervous. | Different water than the fish is accustomed to living in. | Use START RIGHT. | Electrobytes vary in water supplies. Add START RIGHT to lessen shock and add beneficial electrobytes. |
| NEW WATER | Fish dart about. Gills pump furiously. | Dissolved gases or metals in the water. | Use START RIGHT. | Chlorine, copper and other heavy metals mat often be found in city water. START RIGHT removes or neutralizes these chemicals at once. |
| OODINIUM (also called VELVET or RUST) | Body skin of fish appears dusty in yellowish or grey patches. | A parasitic algae. Oodinium limneticum. | Use MOLLY BRIGHT or SHIMMY BLOCKS with VELVEX. | Spreads easily. Keep aquarium as dark as possible as Oodinium needs light to spread. Clean nets with NET SOAK. |
| ODOR FROM WATER | Water may be cloudy. | Decaying food or plants. | Use CLEARWATER. Use AMMONIA SORB. | Reduce amount fed per feeding. Partial water change should be done as soon as convenient. Install UNDERGRAVEL FILTER. Ammonia may be present. |
| PLANTS DIE | Leaves shed, stem rots, roots die. | Water unsuited for plants. | Use PLANT SAVER. | Plants as well as fish require conditions similar to their natural environment. Needed electrobytes are supplied by PLANT SAVER. |
| POP EYES | Eyes stand out from sockets. | Infection from fighting. | Use FUNGUS GUARD or FURALOID. Reuce light. | Fish often fight when ready to mate. Remove the pairs seeming to fight and place them in a special spawning aquarium. |
| RASBORA DISEASE | Rasboras die off in the aquarium. | Water unsuitable for fish. | Use NATURAL COLORS. | Rasboras and many tetras need the humic acids supplied by NATURAL COLORS. This is not a disease but a water deficiency. |
| ROT | Flesh decays at the mouth or tail | Saprolegnia fungus with Psuedomonas or Aeromonas bacteria. | Use FURALOID or BINOX. | Extremely easy to spread. Be very careful with nets and splashing to avoid spreadingthis to other aquariums. Clean nets with NET SOAK. |
| SAPROLEGNIA | Frayed looking fins and moldy looking slime on body. | A parasitic fungus. | Use FUNGUS GUARD with ICK GUARD. (Formerly LIFE GUARD). | Spreads easily. Keep tank as dark as possible during treatment as Saprolegnia needs light. Clean nets with NET SOAK. |
| SHAKES AND SHIMMIES | Fish wags and shakes while standing still. | Water lacks electrobytes. | Use MOLLYBRIGHT or SHIMMY BLOCKS. | This is not a disease but a warning something is lacking in the water used. MOLLYBRIGHT and SHIMMY BLOCKS supply the needed electrobytes. |
| SHIPPING FISH LOSSES | Fish act stunned or gasp at top of water. | Ammonia and carbon dioxide suffocating fish in container. | Use START RIGHT and AMMONIA SORB. | Ammonia from fish water and carbon dioxide from fish breathing are combined and neutralized. |
| SMALL FISH DEATHS | Small fish, especially neons, angels and guppies die without visible symptoms. | A true fungus named Saprolegnia invades the gills causing suffocation. | Use SMALL FISH SAVER. | SMALL FISH SAVER will also protect fish eggs from fungus. |
| SMALL TETRA LOSSES | Fish won't eat. Heavy loss of thin specimens. | Water unsuitable as many of these fish are caught wild. | Use CLEARWATER and NATURAL COLORS. | Fish raised in the wild need the humic acid supplied by NATURAL COLORS. |
| SORE EYES | White film on eyes. | Eye injury. From handling or breeder fighting. | Use FURALOID or BINOX. | Check for breeding pairs if there are older fish. Seperate these and place in spawning aquarium. |
| SOUR WATER | Water cloudy and may smell bad. | Rotten food or imbalance caused by strong drugs. | Use CLEARWATER Install UNDERGRAVEL FILTER. | Reduce feeding amounts if overfeeding. If from strong drugs the smell comes from losing the useful bacteria the water. |
| STARTING NEW AQUARIUMS | Fish act very uncomfortable. | Chlorine, copper or manufacturing oils in the water. | Use START RIGHT. See NEW AQUARIUMS, above. | START RIGHT neutralizes chlorine, copper, heavy metals and harmful gases instantly. Guards against nitrite poisoning. Stimulates a natural slime coat. |
| STARTING NEW POOLS | Fish show blood on fins or die. | Strong alkali from cement. | Use AQUALIZER with START RIGHT. | Two ounces of AQUALIZER will neutralize the cement alkali of each 200 gallon capacity. Test by adding one fish. |
| SWIM BLADDER DISEASE | Fish swimming with head down (not level). | Bladder infection. | Use FURALOID. | Does not spread to other fish. |
| TAIL ROT | Tail eaten away with red area next to body. | Saprolegnia fungus with Psuedomonas or Aeromons bacteria. | Use FURALOID or BINOX. | Spreads very easily. Use caution to avoid splashing or using nets from infected aquarium. Clean net with NET SOAK. |
| THIN FISH | Fish thin and weak. | Internal or external parasites. See GYRODACTYLUS. | Use ZEEMAX. | Use care to avoid spreading to other aquariums. Clean nets with NET SOAK. |
| VELVET | Body skin of fish appears dusty in grey or yellowish patches. | A parasitic algae. Oodinium limneticum. | Use MOLLYBRIGHT or SHIMMY BLOCKS with VELVEX. | Spreads easily. Keep aquarium as dark as possible as Oodinium needs light to spread. Clean nets with NET SOAK. |
| WHITE SKIN | Grey or white film on body. | External protozon parasite, Costia necatrix. | Use ZEEMAX, FURALOID, BINOX or GOLD FIX on goldfish. | Spreads easily. Use care with nets and splashing to avoid infecting other tanks. Clean nets with NET SOAK. |
| WHITE SPOT (ICK) | White sugar-like spots. Spots on fins or body. | Ichthyopthirius multifilius, a parasitic protozoan. | Use ICK GUARD. (Formerly LIFE GUARD). | Spreads very easily. Use care with nets and splashing to avoid infecting other aquariums, Clean nets with NET SOAK. |