Slime Disease

What is Slime Disease?

This parasitic disease is characterised by an over production of mucus coating.

The symptoms include a grey / white to blue looking mucus coat and rapid breathing (gilling).  Irritation of the skin causes aquarium fish to scratch themselves against solid objects. Lethargy and loss of appetite are also common as the aquarium fish become increasingly stressed. In extreme cases, obvious physical damage to the skin occurs, and secondary infections such as fungus and fin rot can develop.

What causes Slime Disease?

Like most fish diseases, this occurs when fish become stressed. Stress can be exacerbated by poor water conditions, over-crowding, malnutrition or sudden changes in temperature.

If the mucus coat covers the fish’s gills they can suffocate to death. So quick treatment is essential.

How to treat Slime Disease:

- Check your water conditions. Chemistry and water temperature.

- Complete a 30% water change before treating the tank.

- Remove any filter carbon before adding in any medications.

- Separate the affected fish if possible or treat the entire tank.

- Remove the damaged fish to a quarantine tank until healed.

- Feed a high-quality food and a vitamin supplement such as Nourish.

- Treat with an anti-bacterial agent such as Furan 2 or Melafix or Formalin.

- Add StressGuard, AquaPlus or StressCoat to improve the slime coating and aid in healing.

- Treat for the recommended amount of time even if you feel the infection has passed and after the treatment, another 50% water change must be made to help clear the medicine.