STUDIES ON THE CONTROL OF PREVAILING PARASITIC DISEASES AMONG ORNAMENTAL FISHES

Abstract

Ornamental fishes are beautiful creatures and many people like to have them. Aquarium fishes play an important role in the amusement of many people and create wonderful comers in houses and offices all over the world. As a matter of fact, pet fish are the most popular pets in the United States. Production of fish for sale in pet stores is an important aquaculture industry (Francis-Floyd, 1998). On the other hand, they are considered as a source of income through selling them. Accordingly, it is very important to set an ideal standard for getting a healthy aquarium fishes. Nevertheless, the environment has a major influence on virtually every important disease affecting cultured fish (Kabata, 1985). The parasites of aquarium fishes are not as well known as most of us like think (Goldstein, 1971). The number of species offish parasites is measured in thousands and many more remain to be discovered very few are seriously harmful to fish (Roberts, 1978). The most common parasites that infested the aquarium fish in Russa were Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Costia necatrix, Hexamita truttoe, Trichodina pediculus, Oodinium pillularis and Gyrodactylus spp (Popov et

• al. 1993). Meanwhile, monogenetic trematodes (Dactylogyrus and