ILLNESS: HYDROGEN SULFIDE POISONING

Other names: Rotten Egg Smell Type of disesase: This is not a disease. It is actually a posoning caused by Hydrogen Sulfide

Causes: Caused by anaerobic (without air) decay of debris and waste in the gravel, sump, filter or in the tank. Detritus builds up in dead spots can cause pockets of dangerous levels of hydrogen sulfide. A sand bed eventually developed sizable anaerobic pockets.

Symptoms: Gasping, darkened gills, increased respiration rate, shimmy. Rotten egg smell in the aquarium or sump.

Medication: The best measure to take is to make a large water change, using a siphon to remove waste from the gravel. Make partial water changes until the odor is gone and the fish return to normal swimming and breathing.