sera guide - Healthy pond fish

3 1 Prevention is better than the cure! Stress affects the immune system and wak- ens disease resistance. It therefore is – just as in humans – one of the main factors for fish disease outbreaks. Stress is caused by different factors. Maintenance mistakes (too many, insufficient or wrong measures taken), a fish stock that does not harmonize, adding too many fish, strongly varying temperatures, overfeeding and correspond- ingly high organic water pollution along with a large number of pathogens in the water are among the most common ones. Frequently, diseases then break out whose unnoticed corresponding pathogens were already present in the pond (secondary parasites, among others). You will find extensive and well founded information about keeping your fish stress free in the sera guide “Relax at your garden pond throughout the year” and on www.sera.de. Your specialized retailer can counsel you in detail which fish are suit- able for keeping together, and which spe- cial features and water parameters they require. If you then dedicate one to two hours per week to your hobby it will pro- vide you unspoiled pleasure for a long time. In case a disease ever actually occurs, this guide and the sera treat- ments will provide excellent support for helping your pond fish quickly and effec- tively. We want you to enjoy your pond and your healthy, lively fish to the fullest. How does stress develop in a pond? – Examples •Fish transfers and transports •Varying temperatures, e.g. in spring and in autumn •Frightened fish, e.g. due to keeping unsuitable species together or due to permanent hierarchy fights •Frequent maintenance in the pond, e.g. due to permanent redesigns •Ponds without places to hide or retreat •Too strong water agitation •Unsuitable water parameters •Improper application of chemical agents (e.g. unsuitable fertilizers, substances from surrounding soil being washed in, wrong application of treatments) •Poor hygienic conditions, e.g. by insuffi- cient or wrong care •Overfeeding or wrong/deficient nutrition due to feeding poor quality food •Overstocking Avoiding stress = preventing diseases 3