Common Fish Diseases in Ponds and Their Prevention: Bacterial Diseases and Their Management

Common Fish Diseases in Ponds and Their Prevention: Bacterial Diseases and Their Management

Common bacterial diseases in fish include bacterial septicemia, bacterial gill disease, bacterial enteritis, red spot disease, bacterial fin rot, white nodules disease, and white patch disease.

1. Bacterial Septicemia is mainly caused by Renibacterium salmoninarum, Aeromonas, and Vibrio spp. Prevention and treatment methods include:

(1) Cleaning the pond thoroughly to reduce oxygen consumption by excess sludge.

(2) Regularly replacing and adding clean water, applying lime to improve water quality and pond environment, and providing essential calcium elements.

(3) Choosing high-quality fish species and nutritionally balanced feed.

(4) Regular disinfection of fish, feed, tools, and facilities, especially using medication for prevention during peak disease seasons, and early diagnosis and treatment.

(5) Using bromine-based disinfectants for water disinfection or administering iodine-based preparations to the fish.

2. Bacterial Gill Disease is caused by columnaris bacteria. Prevention measures include soaking fish fry in saltwater during pond segregation to minimize bacterial transmission. In case of outbreak, use of lime or chlorine agents such as TCCA or chlorine dioxide for whole pond disinfection is recommended.

3. Bacterial Enteritis is caused by enteric Aeromonas. It often occurs with deteriorating water quality, sediment accumulation, and high organic matter content. Control involves whole pond disinfection with chlorine-based agents, combined with feeding a diet supplemented with florfenicol.

4. Red Spot Disease is caused by Flavobacterium columnare and often occurs after stocking or harvesting, commonly concurrent with gill disease. Control measures include thorough pond cleaning, preventing fish injuries during handling, and using bleach baths during stocking. Regular whole pond disinfection based on water quality conditions is also advised.

5. Bacterial Fin Rot is caused by columnaris bacteria and is prevalent in spring, summer, and autumn. Control involves preventive disinfection of water using chlorine-based agents.

6. White Nodules Disease is caused by myxobacteria. Disease control requires enhanced feeding management to ensure adequate feed and a good environment, along with periodic whole pond disinfection using chlorine-based agents or lime.

7. White Patch Disease is caused by Flexibacter and Cytophaga spp. Prevention involves maintaining clean water and providing ample natural feed, along with periodic whole pond disinfection using trichloroisocyanuric acid, bleach, or Terminalia chebula extracts.

These measures help effectively manage bacterial diseases in aquaculture ponds, ensuring healthier fish populations and improved pond environments.