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Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Pests, diseases and weeds
  4. Aquatic animal diseases
  5. Disease Watch: Aquatic Animal Health Awareness
  6. Ornamental Fish

Sidebar first - Pests diseases weeds

  • Pests, Diseases and Weeds
    • Report a pest or disease concern
    • Animal pests and diseases
      • Avian Influenza or Bird Flu
        • Bird biosecurity
        • Global avian influenza outbreak situation update
        • Information for recreational shooters
      • Emergency and Exotic Animal Diseases - Bulletins and Alerts
      • Equine Influenza Inquiry - the Government's response
      • Foot-and-mouth disease
        • A review of Australia's preparedness for the threat of foot-and-mouth disease
          • National foot-and-mouth disease vaccination policy
        • Potential for wind-borne spread of FMD in Australia
      • International arrangements for emergency animal disease outbreaks
      • Keeping African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease out of Australia
        • Non-English speaking background communities and swill feeding project
      • Lumpy skin disease
      • National List of Notifiable Animal Diseases
      • National List of Reportable Diseases of Aquatic Animals
      • State and Territory Notifiable Animal Diseases lists
      • Wildlife Exotic Disease Preparedness Program
      • White nose syndrome
    • Aquatic animal diseases
    • Bees and bee pests and diseases
      • Honey bee and pollination continuity strategy
        • Statement of research and development priorities
      • Honey bees, crop pollination and varroa mite frequently asked questions
      • Status of Asian honey bee in Australia
    • Exotic weeds
    • Forests and timber: a field guide to exotic pests and diseases
    • Fruit flies in Australia
      • Managing fruit flies in Australia
        • Sterile Insect Technique use in Australia
      • The Smart Fruit Fly Management Measure
        • Fruit fly economic studies
        • Strengthening Australia’s Fruit Fly System Research Program
        • Technical and scientific projects and activities
    • Locusts
      • Australian locusts
        • Locust and grasshopper identification guide
          • Description of adults
            • 1. Australian Plague Locust: Chortoicetes terminifera
            • 2. Spur-throated locust: Austracris guttulosa
            • 3. Migratory locust: Locusta migratoria
            • 4. Small plague grasshopper: Austroicetes cruciata
            • 5. Other Austroicetes species
            • 6. Eastern plague grasshopper: Oedaleus australis
            • 7. Yellow winged locust: Gastrimargus musicus
            • 8. Bermius brachycelus and other Bermius species
            • 9. Giant or Hedge grasshopper: Valanga irregularis
            • 10. Heteropternis obscurella
            • 11. Peakesia hospita and other species
            • 12. Urnisa guttulosa
            • 13. Aiolopus thalassinus
            • 14. Caledia captiva
            • 15. Wingless grasshopper: Phaulacridium vittatum
          • Description of nymphs
            • 1. Australian Plague Locust: Chortoicetes terminifera (nymph)
            • 2. Spur-throated locust: Austracris guttulosa (nymph)
            • 3. Migratory locust: Locusta migratoria (nymph)
            • 4. Small plague grasshopper: Austroicetes cruciata (nymph)
            • 5. Other Austroicetes species (nymph)
            • 6. Eastern plague grasshopper: Oedaleus australis (nymph)
            • 7. Yellow winged locust: Gastrimargus musicus (nymph)
            • 8. Bermius brachycelus and other Bermius species (nymph)
            • 9. Giant or Hedge grasshopper: Valanga irregularis (nymph)
            • 10. Heteropternis obscurella (nymph)
            • 11. Peakesia hospita and other species (nymph)
            • 12. Urnisa guttulosa (nymph)
            • 13. Aiolopus thalassinus (nymph)
            • 14. Caledia captiva (nymph)
            • 15. Wingless grasshopper: Phaulacridium vittatum (nymph)
        • About locusts
        • Australian plague locust
        • History of locust and grasshopper outbreaks in Australia
        • Links to related websites
        • Migratory locust
        • Spur throated locust
      • Current locust situation
      • Role of the Australian Plague Locust Commission
        • APLC documents
        • Area of operation
        • APLC activities
        • APLC Commissioners
      • Information for landholders
        • APLC strategic control - commencing or ceasing operations
        • APLC offices and contacts
        • Locust control agents-livestock and crop residues
        • Reporting locusts
      • Locust bulletins
        • Terms and Descriptions used in the Locust Bulletin
    • Marine pests
      • Marine Pest Sectoral Committee
      • Review of National Marine Pest Biosecurity
        • Discussion paper submissions
        • Frequently asked questions
        • Marine pest network
        • Issues paper submissions
      • Emergency Marine Pest Plan
    • Pest animals and weeds in Australia
      • Supporting Communities Manage Pest Animals and Weeds Program
      • Supporting Australia’s regions to manage established pest animals and weeds
      • Control tools and technologies for established pest animals and weeds competitive grants programme
      • Environment and Invasives Committee
      • Funding innovation to tackle pest animals and weeds
      • National Carp Control Plan
    • Plant pests and diseases
      • National action plans
      • Barley stripe rust
      • Begomoviruses and vectors
      • Brown marmorated stink bug
      • Citrus canker
      • Cyst nematodes of grains and vegetables
      • Exotic bees
      • Exotic stem borers of sugarcane
      • Exotic tree nematodes
      • Fire blight
      • Fruit flies
      • Giant African snail
      • Guava (eucalyptus) rust
      • Grape phylloxera
      • Gypsy moth
      • Hessian flies
      • Huanglongbing
      • Internal and external mites of bees
      • Khapra beetle
        • Urgent actions to protect against khapra beetle
          • Requirements for high-risk plant products to protect against khapra beetle
          • Requirements for other-risk plant products to protect against khapra beetle
          • Requirements for sea containers to protect against khapra beetle
          • Requirements for seeds for sowing to protect against khapra beetle
        • Khapra beetle in imported goods
        • Khapra beetle bulletin
        • The khapra beetle story
      • Karnal bunt
      • Leaf miner
      • Panama disease tropical race 4
      • Plum pox virus
      • Potato cyst nematode
      • Potato late blight
      • Sudden oak death
      • Xylella and exotic vectors
        • International Symposium on Xylella fastidiosa
      • Russian wheat aphid
      • Tobamoviruses
      • Exotic invasive ants
      • Ug99
      • Wheat stem sawfly
      • Zebra chip
    • Protect your animals and plants from pests and disease
      • Biosecurity engagement
      • Bird biosecurity
        • Avian Influenza (bird flu)
        • Bird flu and our health
        • National Biosecurity Manual - Exhibition poultry
        • National Farm Biosecurity Manual - Poultry production
        • Protect your birds against bird flu and diseases
        • National Water Biosecurity Manual - Poultry production
      • Plate it. Don’t plant it.
      • Vital information for travelling farm workers
      • Biosecurity videos and audio
      • Biosecurity and farmers' markets

Biosecurity materials for ornamental fish

Ornamental Fish

Like all animals, aquarium fish can carry and transmit disease. This includes parasites, bacteria and viruses. These diseases could seriously affect our wild fisheries, waterways and aquaculture industries if they escape from aquariums into the environment. These materials provide information and advice on how responsible aquarists can help Australia prevent ornamental fish disease outbreaks.

Don't hesitate > investigate materials

Aquarium fish can spread disease

  • Dispose of dead fish safely
  • Do not release aquarium fish into waterways or stormwater drains
  • Get advice on maintaining a healthy aquarium from your pet retailer or veterinarian
  • If you suspect serious disease, contact your veterinarian or state laboratory

Like all animals, aquarium fish can carry and transmit diseases. This includes parasites, bacteria and viruses. Some of these diseases can spread to other fish in your aquarium and affect your home collection when you introduce new fish. Buy healthy fish to avoid introducing serious diseases to your aquarium.

Aquarium fish can spread serious diseases because they are transported live. These diseases could seriously affect our wild fisheries, waterways and aquaculture industries if they escape from aquariums into the environment.

Australia needs the help of responsible aquarists to be on the look out for emerging disease problems.

Some irresponsible pet fish owners have illegally dumped their aquarium fish, plants or tank water into public waterways. Such actions can spread disease into our aquatic environment. Aquarium fish, alive or dead, should never be released or disposed of into waterways. Return unwanted live fish to your retailer.

Dispose of dead fish by securing them in a plastic bag and placing them in your household waste bin.

Helping reduce the risk of disease escape

  • Never release aquarium fish into any waterways
  • Always dispose of aquarium tank water down a household sink. Do not dispose of water or sick fish into stormwater or street drains
  • Ensure outdoor fish ponds cannot overflow into creeks or into storm water drains
  • Seek advice on keeping a healthy aquarium and if you suspect a serious disease, contact your veterinarian or state laboratory

Signs to look for that might indicate a disease issue

  • Loss of appetite, and loss of body weight
  • Skin ulcers and eroded fins
  • Loss of bright colours
  • Bloated belly
  • Loss of buoyancy control
  • Abnormal swimming behaviour
  • Bulged out eyes

Case Studies

gourami fish showing iridovirus
Top: Sick gourami, the
day before death.
Bottom: Normal gourami.

Case study 1: Gourami i​ridovirus

Some gouramis are known to carry a serious virus. Not only can this virus make gouramis sick, it can spread and cause the death of other fish species. This virus can infect and cause death in murray cod.


goldfish showing ulcer disease
Photo courtesy of
Richard Loh

Case study 2: Goldfish ulcer disease

Goldfish can become infected with this bacterial disease. Disease signs include missing scales and red-white ulcers. This disease can also cause serious losses in salmon and trout.


Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline

If you see any unusual symptoms in farmed or wild aquatic animals, play it safe and report it immediately to the disease watc​​h hotline. Early detection is the key to effective response.

​

Contacts

Call 1800 900 090

Contact us online

Report a biosecurity concern

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Last updated: 04 November 2019

© Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.