Neptun
Aquarium fish shock – the reasons why aquarium fish can experience it vary widely. Therefore, the symptoms of shock are also quite different. For example, the fish may fade coloration, the movement of gill covers accelerates or slows down. Sometimes in shock, fish simply lie down on the bottom or seek solitude in secluded corners of the home pond.
Sometimes fish experience panic attacks, which manifests itself in rapid and disorderly movement in the aquarium space. It seems that the individual is trying to escape, but sees no way out. Sooner or later, panic is replaced by complete lethargy, when the fish simply falls to the bottom, turning upside down. Visually, the fish appears to be dead.
The physiology of shock
From a physiological point of view, shock is a response of fish to various stress factors. The most susceptible to this condition are sensitive individuals. Sometimes a sudden change in the physicochemical parameters of water is enough for lethal outcome.
Veterinarians distinguish between several types of shock. The classification is based on the factors that cause this condition in fish. For example, shock can be osmotic, nitrate, temperature, chemical and toxic. In the aquarium, fish rarely have any one type of shock. Much more often you can observe a combination of them.
Shock in fish, as mentioned above, occurs with sudden changes in the habitat. For example, novice aquarists can often observe shock in newly acquired fish, which were released into the general aquarium without prior adaptation. In this case, the mismatch of water parameters in the transportation bag with fish and water in the general aquarium provokes shock. However, this is not always the case, as shock tolerance can vary over a very wide range in different fish species.
Unfortunately, even a proper adaptation of newly acquired fish to the physical and chemical parameters of the water of a new aquarium cannot guarantee that they will not go into shock. It should be known that even the transportation itself is a strong stress factor for fish, which can provoke shock. In addition to this should be added the ambiguous reaction of the new inhabitants of the aquarium to an unfamiliar environment.
Aquarium fish shock referred by an aquarist
Sometimes the aquarist can induce shock in fish with good intentions. This occurs during treatment when the fish are exposed to drugs that cause toxic shock. For this reason, during treatment, especially when using high doses of drugs, fish should be under constant observation. At the slightest suspicion of shock in the inhabitants of the aquarium, the procedures should be stopped.
An important role in the treatment of shock in fish is the rapid identification of the factor that provoked it. Only by determining the cause, you can quickly remedy the situation. If the fish in the aquarium experiencing shock from the change of water in excessive amounts, it should be as soon as possible to restore the usual physical and chemical parameters of the aquatic environment. If the shock developed in new fish due to stress from transportation, then it is necessary to create conditions in the aquarium, which will help newcomers to adapt faster in a new place. You can, for example, create for some time darkness, because such an effect is beneficial to the psyche of most fish.
