Rahul Kumar^1,, R.K. Gupta¹, Tejpal Dahiya¹, Renu Yadav¹, Ruksar Saifi¹, Kiran Yodha¹, Bibha Kumari², Paramveer Singh³, Shefali ¹

Heteropneustes fossilis were collected at monthly intervals from different fish farms in Haryana to monitor the incidence of any disease in cultured fish. At each fish farm 25 fish samples were collected through nets; each sample contained 40–50 fish and the percentage of diseased fish was determined. Red patches were the most prevalent symptoms of the disease reported, followed by fluid accumulation in the abdomen, creepy curved backbone, spinal deformities, hanging symptoms in water, ragging and splitting of fins. Other conditions, such as ulcers along with cotton like fungal hyphae growth, haemorrhages on body, and injury were also reported but with a lower frequency. Symptoms revealed that disease is the leading cause of mass mortality in various fish farms. Disease control and treatment methods have also been studied. This study emphasized health management issues associated with H. fossilis farming. Thus, the findings of present investigation can be appropriately employed as valuable information on diseases and health management.

disease, farmers, health management, mass mortality, symptoms