Tilapia Disease Symptoms

Breathing problems:

• gasping,
• chocking,
• breathing rapidly,
• breathing very slowly, or
• gathering at the surface

Skin, fins, mouth, or eye problems:

• Scale loss,
• dull color,
• frayed fins,
• cloudy eyes,
• lumps,
• open sores, or
• flashing.

Swelling or bleeding: Swollen abdomen, red coloration due to bleeding at the base of the fins, under the skin, eyes, or around the vent aka anus. (systemic bacterial infection. contact extension)

No or slow growth. (problem with the feed, either the quantity being fed in relationship to the biomass*  or standing crop* of fish or the nutritional quality of the feed may be marginal)

Reduced appetite

Thin and emaciated. (lack of nutrition, increase feed)

Unusual:

• orientation (head-up, head-down, or upside down), or
  swimming behavior (spiral or corkscrew swimming, shaking or shimmies),
  (this indicates a serious nurilogical disease, contact extension)
• position:
  • floating or (gas bubble disease. see water analysis section on gas supersaturation)
  • laying on the bottom randomly (dead, collect samples and check this page for symptoms)
  • laying on the bottom in groups (check skin for Caligus sp)

Spinal deformities (scoliosis, lordiosis contact extension)