Cancers, like other marine and river arthropods, are susceptible to disease. The most common causes of disease are pathogenic fungi, parasites and various microorganisms. The well-being of the crayfish depends precisely on the responsibility and vigilance of the person.
Cancer viral diseases
Virus infections are rare in cancers. However, viral diseases are currently incurable. All that a person can do is to prevent infection of the entire aquarium from one individual.
Bacillary infection
The essence and reason. A disease of Australian blue cancers caused by a bacillary virus that enters the arthropod through water or contaminated food. It affects the internal organs.
Signs:
- the affected cancer becomes sluggish, weakened;
- weakly reacts to external stimuli;
- if the crustacean is laid on its back, it will not be able to roll over.
Prevention:
- If the above symptoms are detected in cancer, it is urgently moved from the general aquarium. Thus, the cancer patient can no longer be saved, but the spread of the virus to healthy individuals can be prevented.
- Prevent the spread of infection to the offspring by separating the eggs of the female at the stage of eye formation, followed by sterilization of the eggs and the removal of the offspring in a clean, uninfected aquarium.
- Purchase crayfish, feed and other aquarium equipment only from trusted suppliers.
- After acquiring new individuals, do not immediately place them in a new aquarium. Pre-quarantine arthropods for 3-4 weeks.
At the moment, information regarding viral diseases of crustaceans is for reference only. However, scientists are intensively researching to get a cure for viruses.
Giardia infection
The essence and reason. Virus infection can occur immediately after molting young cancers. Infection affects the hepatopancreatic system.
Symptoms and Prevention diseases are similar to a bacillary infection.
Systemic vapor-like infection
The essence and reason. Another disease inherent in Australian cancers. Affected individuals die quickly enough from necrosis of the connective tissues, internal organs, muscles and gills.
Signs In addition to the already listed signs of a viral infection, one more is added: through the surface of the abdomen, which becomes transparent during the disease, you can distinguish turbid, opaque muscles.
Preventative measures apply the same as with other viral diseases.
Fungal Cancer Disease
Crustaceans are often exposed to diseases caused by pathogenic fungi. This type of disease is often not treatable.
Crayfish plague
The essence and reason. A disease caused by a saprolegnius fungus, inevitably leading to death. Infection occurs through any objects in contact with the diseased cancer. The disease is also known for its high spread rate and transience.
Signs:
- brownish-red spots appear on the muscles of the tail;
- the carapace is covered with black spots (in the area of the paws and the lower part of the abdomen);
- white spots may occur if the aquarium has high temperature water;
- crayfish begin to show violent activity during the day, although they usually led a nocturnal lifestyle;
- attempting to get out;
- the gait of the arthropod begins to look like it is walking on stilts;
- after some time, the crayfish completely stop trying to move and fall on their backs;
- cramps appear.
The disease is faster at elevated temperatures and slower at low.
Treatment no, dead crayfish must be burned without fail.
Prevention:
- quarantine for a month newly arrived crayfish;
- arthropods native to North America must be kept separate;
- fungal spores are highly sensitive to high temperature, so you can protect the aquarium and paraphernalia from spores, maintaining a temperature of 30 degrees in it for three hours;
- magnesium chloride also negatively affects spores.
Water cancer mold
The essence and reason. This fungal disease often manifests itself after the cancer has weakened, for example, after molting, mating, fighting or stress.
Signs:
- white fluffy spots appear on the shell, resembling pieces of cotton wool;
- the appearance of bright green formations both on the carapace and on the stomach is possible;
- darkening of arthropod injuries;
- excessive passivity appears;
- cancer is more interested in food.
Treatment:
- the most successful treatment for cancer mold is the use of the drug Fungol, moreover, it does not cause further damage;
- add almond leaves to the aquarium to slow the development of the fungus.
Prevention:
- the remains of vegetation must be periodically removed, as well as the carcasses of dead cancers;
- maintain beneficial environmental conditions - ventilation, temperature conditions, eliminate stress factors, etc .;
- change water regularly.
China disease
The essence and reason. This fungal disease is currently considered incurable, and sick cancers, despite the fact that they can live with the disease for a long time, ultimately inevitably die. Infection occurs during contact with a sick crustacean.
Signs:
- legs, abdomen, oral apparatus become inactive;
- the lower part of the abdomen becomes white, porcelain;
- in the later stages, the cancer is paralyzed.
Treatment does not exist.
Prevention:
- crayfish originally from Austria, Great Britain, Finland, France and Lithuania contain separately;
- contain newly acquired arthropods in quarantine for the first two to three months.
Mycosis
The essence and reason. A fungal disease that has been occurring for several months, causing a violation of osmotic pressure and the concentration of sodium and chloride ions in hemolymph in cancers. The spores of the fungus, as a rule, penetrate into the aquarium on plants or in soil taken in nature.
The main a sign disease in the early stages is the occurrence of brown spots on the gills and carapace.
Treatment. The disease is treated with antibiotics - Streptomycin sulfate and Penicillin.
Prevention:
- do not use objects found in nature in aquariums - soil, plants, stones, etc .;
- if necessary, sterilize and sanitize before installation in the aquarium.
Fungal cancer of caviar
The essence and reason. Dead caviar is initially affected by pathogenic fungi, after which the infection passes to a healthy one. Only weak larvae die from this disease, while strong ones are able to cope with it on their own without any human intervention after dropping caviar and molting.
Sign the disease has one, but very specific: the affected caviar is covered with a kind of “fluff”.
In specific treatment fungal infection of the eggs does not need.
Prevention:
- maintain optimal environmental conditions;
- change water regularly;
- Do not place paraphernalia from unverified suppliers or from natural reservoirs in the aquarium.
Rusty spotted disease
The essence and reason. Septocylindrosis penetrates the arthropod through the wounds and cracks in the carapace, after which it begins active damage to tissues. The disease leads to a slow death of cancers.
Signs:
- the appearance on the shell of fresh spots of a greenish tint;
- over time, these spots become rusty brown;
- the core of the spots gradually becomes hard and grainy, while the edges are thin and soft;
- in place of spots, the formation of deep ulcers that violate the integrity of the shell;
- sometimes ulcers heal, forming a chitin tubercle;
- begins the process of necrosis, in which there is a massive destruction of the shell.
Treatment does not exist.
Prevention:
- do not purchase crayfish from unverified sellers;
- keep new cancers in quarantine for at least two weeks;
- add dried almond, oak or beech leaves to the aquarium.
Burn disease
The essence and reason. Opalis is one of the most common diseases in cancers caused by a pathogenic fungus, often accompanied by bacterial damage. Most often, arthropods become victims of the disease in overpopulated aquariums and especially when the environment is inappropriate.
Signs:
- the shell is covered with black or black-brown spots with a red border resembling a burn;
- in the center of such a spot, the chitinous coating of cancer is often destroyed;
- sometimes instead of spots, holes may form right away.
Treatment does not exist, however, some cancers manage to cope with the disease by dropping the affected shell.
Prevention: the person’s task is to prevent the spread of infection, therefore, cancers who have become burned with the disease must be destroyed.
Invasive Cancer Disease
Parasites are the most numerous and voluminous in their manifestations, the root cause of cancer diseases. Some parasites can be eliminated with medication or by maintaining cleanliness in the aquarium, while some do not directly damage arthropods and do not need treatment.
Metacercaria
The essence and reason. Parasitic larvae that live on the muscles of the abdomen, in claws, sometimes in the body cavity.
Sign - the appearance on the body of cancer of small (up to 3 millimeters) larvae of a bright pink color with high mobility.
Specific methods treatment and prevention does not exist. Affected individuals must be urgently removed from the general aquarium and destroyed.
Microsporidiosis
The essence and reason. The second most dangerous disease in cancers after the plague. The disease affects almost all organ systems and progresses extremely rapidly. You can recognize the disease with a microscope.
Signs:
- sick individuals are inactive;
- the abdominal muscles become white;
- over time, a chalky plaque characteristic of the disease appears;
- at a late stage, not only the stomach, but also the tail becomes white.
Microsporidiosis in crustaceans (for example, lobster)
Treatment: use drugs Buquinolate, Monesin, sodium hydrochloride, iodine-based products. The treatment is that the cancer is immersed in a bath with a weak solution of the drug for five minutes.
Specific preventative measures does not exist.
The concentration of any drugs should be prescribed by the veterinarian.
Trematodes
The essence and reason. These parasites in small populations do not pose a threat to the life of the cancers. However, if their number increases critically, they can cause cancer death in a few days, even in the most favorable habitat.
Signs:
- infected cancer is sluggish;
- the shell turns blue, sometimes a milky hue appears.
Treatment and specific measures prevention does not exist.
Branchiodella
The essence and reason. Worms inhabit gills and the surface of the body of the crayfish. In the summer, arthropods affect gill processes, and the surface of the respiratory epithelium decreases.
Branchiobdella parasitizes on cancer
Sign there is only one disease: the unexplained death of a crustacean during transportation or when kept in an artificial reservoir.
Treatment currently under active development.
Prevention:
- quarantine mode for new individuals;
- purchase of crayfish from trusted sellers.
Cestodose
The essence and reason. The disease is caused by cestodes (tapeworms). Parasites develop in the tissues and cavities of the body, but this process does not last long - the cancers are not the ultimate hosts of the worms. A person can get helminthiasis if he does not follow the rules of hygiene (hands need to be washed after each contact with cancers, as well as before eating). If the eggs or maggots of the worms are swallowed, then infection is inevitable. It is also important to boil the crayfish well before use to kill all available parasites.
Signs:
- cancer is more interested in feed;
- reduced mobility.
In specific treatment cancer with cestodosis does not need.
Special preventive no measures exist. When buying crayfish for breeding, give preference to proven points of sale.
Nematodes
The essence and reason. Another type of parasite that selects cancers of both the final and intermediate hosts. Worms usually settle in gill cells, sometimes interfering with the respiration of the cancer.
Signs:
- under a microscope in the water of the aquarium you can detect small worms floating in jerks;
- helminth capsules can be found in the intestinal walls or striated muscles.
Treatment:
- involves the addition of Baycox in a dosage of 5 μg / ml;
- also in the aquarium infected with parasites, some species of fish that feed on these worms can be planted.
Special preventative measures not.
Ectosymbionts - a non-hazardous type of microorganism
The essence and reason. This type of organism occupies the surface of the carapace and gills of crayfish. Attached to the cancer, they eat bacteria that are in the water. The presence of ectosymbionts themselves does not harm the cancer, but their appearance is a clear signal that the water is contaminated.
Signs the presence of symbionts can be detected by examining the carapace of cancer.
Ectosymbionts Temnocephala sp. (darkcephalus) on cancer
Prevention and treatment:
- It is necessary to maintain organic cleanliness;
- maintain optimal environmental conditions;
- do not overfeed crayfish;
- carry out water changes regularly.
Epistylosis
The essence and reason. Infection of cancers with these parasites is fraught with death from a lack of oxygen, since protozoa parasitize mainly on the gills, where they multiply.
Sign the disease has one - the cancer looks as if it was dipped in whitish or brown foam.
Treatment:
- reduce water pollution by frequent changes;
- reduce the amount of feed;
- as soon as the ecological situation in the aquarium improves, the cancer will independently get rid of the parasite after molting.
Prevention Disease standard - trusted suppliers and quarantine.
The occurrence of the last two diseases is often the result of contaminated water. To avoid them, pay as much attention to cleanliness in the aquarium with crayfish.
Scraper
The essence and reason. Only Australian blue crayfish are susceptible to these parasites. Worms occupy the midgut, muscles, and circulatory system.
The disease has no specific signs manifestations treatment or preventative measuresexcept standard. It is detected by chance and, as a rule, in laboratory conditions. Very rarely leads to the death of cancer.
Scratches (Acanthocephala or Acanthcephalus): microscopic view
Bacterial Cancer Disease
They are caused by bacteria that multiply in the aquarium. They are rarely treated, but it’s quite simple to prevent their occurrence and development by keeping the cancer environment clean.
Rickettsia
The essence and reason. The defeat of Australian cancers by bacteria that penetrate the connective tissues of all organ systems, the epithelium of blood vessels.
Signs:
- crayfish become weak and passive;
- exhibit a weak reaction to stimuli;
- cannot independently roll over, being turned on their backs;
- Rickettsia sometimes cause spotty blue in the crayfish.
Give in well treatment broad-spectrum antibiotics, for example, tetracycline.
Prevention - standard for the prevention of bacterial diseases.
Asymptomatic bacteremia
The essence and reason. In the early stages, the disease is asymptomatic, but bacteria can already be detected in the hemolymph. It is known that stressful situations accelerate the growth of microorganisms, for example, high water temperature or low oxygen content in it.
Signs:
- crayfish become sluggish;
- reaction to external stimuli becomes dull;
- muscles lose their tone;
- there is a violation of motor function;
- nodules and granulomas appear on the tissues.
Treatment and prevention:
- weekly change water;
- conduct timely soil siphon;
- maintain optimal temperature and adequate aeration;
- introduce probiotics into the diet of cancers.
In general, it is possible to contain crayfish even without soil, but in this case, they must have shelters in the aquarium.
Intestinal bacterial infection
The essence and reason. One of the most dangerous diseases in cancers, since it does not lead to their mass death. Bacteria breed in the intestines of cancers, which contributes to a weak and vulnerable condition (for example, molting) or adverse living conditions.
Specific symptoms and treatment the disease is not due to the fact that the diseased cancers experience only discomfort, not dangerous to their life.
To prevent the development of infection, typical preventive cleanliness activities.
Difficulties during molting
Shedding is a process during which crayfish are vulnerable enough. Moreover, it does not always go smoothly. One of the difficulties that arthropods may encounter is staying soft for more than a day (the so-called carapace). The reasons for this phenomenon are as follows:
- inappropriate water acidity (pH);
- water hardness is too low;
- lack of calcium (the body cannot build a new chitinous shell).
To protect the pet and provide comfortable molting, a person needs to take care in advance of a proper, complete diet, with sufficient calcium content. This can be achieved in two ways:
- In addition to standard frozen boiled shrimp, add specialized foods for such occasions (e.g. Sera Crabs Natural Complete Die or JBL NovoCrabs Food Chips).
- Calcium carbonate powder can be applied to any typical feed and then fed.
It happens that molting ends for cancer fatal. The most common cause of this incident is iodine deficiency. For prevention, you can carry out the following activities:
- Once a week, add specialized drops of iodine to the aquarium, which can be purchased at any pet store. Carefully read the instructions for the drops. As a rule, the dosage there is indicated for marine aquariums. For fresh water, the dose should be half as much.
- Spirulina or chlorella-containing foods will also benefit the crayfish and help to avoid shedding problems. However, it should be borne in mind that chlorella contains more than 50% protein, therefore, if protein foods predominate in the standard diet of crayfish (shrimp, fish, shellfish, squid, bloodworms, etc.), then the menu should be varied with plant foods.
Crayfish, despite the thick shell and formidable appearance, are extremely vulnerable to disease. At the same time, it is simply impossible to cure arthropods. However, preventing diseases is quite simple: for this, a person needs only to be responsible and vigilant about the health and safety of his pets.