Protozoa or protozoa

Protozoa is a collective name for single-celled parasites that cause various diseases in fish and it is easily recognized by the fine dots on the skin. All protozoa need water to move around moreover this can even be a very thin layer around bottom particles. Protozoa are divided into four categories according to how they move around:

• Flagellatta (Mastigophora or whip animals) are the smallest of the protozoa and use whip threads to move and feed.
• Ciliata or cilia have tiny cilia all over the cell, these cilia allow them to propel themselves and feed.
• Amoebozoa, Sarcodina unicellular organisms, Rhizopoda or Amoebocytes have no solid form and have false feet. These false feet allow them to propel and feed.
• Apicomplexa (Sporozoa or sporozoans) are complex unicellular parasites that do not move and possess no cilia or flagella.

Treating protozoa

Protozoa are easy to control if treatment is started early. Treating with a good agent is sufficient but prevention is always better than treatment. To prevent a sick fish, it is important to feed the fish during the summer months with a good quality food, where all important nutrients, vitamins and minerals are present in ample amounts. Another cause of Protozoa can be poor water quality, or possibly too many fish in the pond a guideline here is 50 cm of fish length per 1,000 liters of water. A good filter, equipped with activated carbon offers a solution because this carbon can purify all sorts of micro-fine particles from the water. It also filters out various pathogens.