Chemotherapeutics Used in the Treatment of Fish Diseases

Before choosing a chemotherapeutic, one must know which disease they are dealing with. Using an antibacterial on a parasitic disease will have no effect on the problem. For the novice hobbyist, and even more advanced hobbyists, identifying diseases can be almost impossible. Hence I advise that one or more really good books on the subject be kept on hand. Some titles I would recommend include:

Manual of Fish Health
by Chris Andrews, Adrian Exell, Neville Carrington

A-Z of Tropical Fish Diseases and Health Problems  
by Peter Burgess, et al 

Colorguide of tropical fish diseases
by Gerald Bassleer

Fish Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment
by Edward J. Noga

Handbook of Fish Diseases
by Dieter Untergasser, Herbert R. Axelrod (Editor), G. Untergasser, Howard Hirschhorn (Translator)

Aquaculture for Veterinarians, Fish Husbandry and Medicine  
by Lydia Brown (Editor)

Bacterial Fish Pathogens : Disease of Farmed and Wild Fish (Springer-Praxis Series in Aquaculture and Fisheries)
by B. Austin, D. A. Austin

Choosing the proper chemotherapeutic is important when treating disease in ornamental aquarium fish. By choosing a drug that will have no effect upon a particular condition, treatment can be set back for days, possibly leading to the demise of the fish. Use the charts below to determine which drug is proper for a particular disease or condition.