What is an ulcer?

Were used to dealing with ulcers in our own mouths, but ulcers can occur on the
skin too and if they appear on the skin of animals that live in water, they can be
hard to manage. An ulcer is a wound on the skin that penetrates all the way through
the layers to the muscle beneath.
Typically the ulcer will fail to heal and will feature an area of inflammation
surrounding a central area of erosion. An area of white, necrotic tissue will normally
surround the central wound and the inflamed area will usually extend into the
healthy tissue, and the scales surrounding the affected area may become swollen
and infected. In most cases the ulcer will not heal on its own and is typically caused
by bacteria present in the tank or pond.

How are they caused?

Ulcers are usually caused by damage to the skin inflicted by either parasites or
exposure to high levels of chemicals such as ammonia or extreme ph. levels.
Trauma caused by breeding or handling can also create damage to delicate skin
structures that can then become infected, leading to ulceration.
Stressed fish, such as those who have recently been introduced to a tank or pond
and whose immune system may be compromised may also be susceptible. Animals
living in environments containing high levels of organic materials can also be prone
to ulceration. If just one fish become ulcerated then its likely to be a problem with
that particular animal. However, if more than one fish develops ulcers, then the
cause is likely to be environmental.
If the pond or tank is thought to be the cause, it is worth investigating the root
cause of the problem and eradicate any bacteria or parasites. Simply adding antibacterial treatments to the water will only work for so long if the cause is not
addressed.
Its important to remember that parasites will not grow in a tank. They can only be
introduced. Bacteria and viruses can exist in a tank as they can live quite happily on
the fish that live there. If the equilibrium of the tank remains the same, the fish will
remain healthy, however if the environment is disturbed either by a change in the
maintenance routine or the introduction of new fish, then these pathogens can
develop and grow, causing disease.

Treating ulcers

If only one fish is affected, and providing the infection is caught early enough,
topical treatment may be enough. If more than one animal is ulcerated then all fish
must be examined thoroughly to properly determine the spread of the infection.
Many experts believe that debriding any wounds and applying a good quality topical
treatment will be sufficient, but if you are inexperienced treatment should be
carried out in conjunction with a vet.
Often when a fish develops an obvious ulcer the infection has already been present
for some time. This could mean that many more fish are affected than just one with
an obvious injury. Its vital that all affected fish are treated simultaneously. Any
untreated animals will continue to harbour bacteria and will continue to deteriorate.
Many cases of bacterial infection can continue for months if only the most obviously
affected animals are treated. It may seem like fresh outbreaks, but in actual fact
you may be dealing with a chronic problem.
Treatment can consist of many things and your vet or local aquatic expert may
suggest a programme of treatment made up of many elements. Any course of
treatment of course depends on the severity of the infection, and if youre not sure,
you must consult a veterinarian or a fish expert.
Treatment options include topical medication that can be applied directly to the
affected area of individual fish. Bathing treatments can also be used over the short
or long-term and in extreme cases antibiotic injections can be administered.
Whichever course of treatment is chosen, the aim should be for the problem to be
resolved in two or three weeks. If the problems persist then a different treatment
plan should be considered and an investigation into the cause of the infection
should be carried out again.
Dirty pond or tank water can certainly cause bacterial infections, particularly if one
or more fish have existing injuries. Attention should be paid to water quality and the
filtration system to ensure this is working efficiently. Overcrowding can also
contribute to disease as it can stress the animals and may even cause fights, and
regular maintenance of the tank should also be thorough.
Cases of ulceration should be addressed in a systematic way as they can persist if
treatment is not exhaustive. Trying different treatments in succession is unlikely to
be effective and may even make the problem worse. A 90% survival rate should be
the aim and anything less than this is likely to be down to ineffective treatment,
rather than the infection itself.
Fish-eye disease is a genetic disorder involving a deficiency in lecithin
cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) metabolism.[1] While LCAT metabolism in familial
LCAT deficiency is fully inactive, patients with fish-eye disease only have a partial
deficiency of LCAT.[1] Carlson and Philipson found that the disease was named so

because the cornea of the eye was so opaque or cloudy with dots of cholesterol that
it resembled a boiled fish.[2]
The disorder is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner.[3] Therefore both copies
of the gene in each cell must have a mutation; if an individual only carry one copy
of the mutated gene, they typically do not show symptoms. [4]
Fish-eye disease is characterized by abnormalities like visual impairment, plaques of
fatty material, and dense opacification.[2][3] It is uncertain if LCAT deficiencies are
linked to coronary artery disease.
Synonyms. Saprolegniosis, Ulcerative mycosis, Oomycetes, Cotton mouth disease.
The most common presentation of water mold infection as as a relatively superficial,
cottony growth on the skin or gills. Such lesions usually begin as small, focal
infections that can rapidly spread over the surface of the body. It is not unusual for
large lesions to suddenly appear within 24 hours. New lesions are white, due to the
mycella of the fungus, and over time will become red, brown, or green as a result of
trapping algae or debris. When the fish are removed from the water they appear to
have a "slimy" matted mass growing out of the skin and scales.
This disease will progress rapidly, producing lesions that can form a deep, necrotic
ulcer. This can extend deep into the body and will frequently affect internal organs.
After time the infected tissue will slough off, leaving a large crater-like hole,
surrounded by dark red or white muscle.
Although typical saprolegniosis lesions grow rapidly over the surface of the skin,
they usually do not penetrate deeply into muscle. However, the damage to the skin
or gills may be enough to kill the fish. The severity of the disease is determined by
the area of skin and gill damage. The larger the area affected, the greater the
osmotic stress and electrolyte imbalance. Skin woulds due to net damage or other
trauma increase the risk of infection.
Many oomycetes display a seasonal re-occurrance. Saprolegnia species are seen
mostly in cooler months of the year. Most saprolegniaceous oomycetes are
prevented even by moderate salt content in the water. There is also evidence that
many fungal infections affect hosts that are "stressed".
Oomycetes infections can also be a secondary infection. If the fish had a preexisting bacterial infection due to a motile aeromonad (aeromonas or hole in the
side disease), the fungal disease will surely attack the open sores.
So, basically... there are many factors which can contribute to this disease. It is
suggested to research thoroughly all contributing factors before diagnosis is made.
Treatment and Control:
Forma Green is good at controlling algae, molds and fungus, but won't always work
on this problem (depends on the severity). Erythromycin would be the best for
treating this problem. Erythromycin will also kill cyanobacteria in marine tanks (red
algae), and black algae Aspergillis Niger.