Never stop at the first diagnosis.

Posted on by TheFishVet - Richmond's School of Fish

I was called out to a case today to provide treatment for fish lice. These parasites are one of few that are visible with your naked eye.

But just to be thorough, I insisted on conducting routine microscopic examination. Lo and behold, there was another critter! Gill flukes! Now these guys are so small that you would never detect them without a microscope! They can cause massive fish losses if the problem is not addressed.

If I hadn’t persevered with doing a thorough job, then I would have missed the diagnosis and the fishes would be in grave danger! Also, the treatment regime would be different for the two different parasites.

It pays to look. For if you don’t look, you will not see.

Dr Richmond Loh
thefishvet.com.au

Plant-choked river causes massive fish kill

Posted on by TheFishVet - Richmond's School of Fish

Most people are under the false impression that plants only add oxygen to the water. Yes they do, but not when the sun is not shining. The ‘reverse’ of photosynthesis occurs during the night and they respire, extracting oxygen and produce carbon dioxide. This is the reason why dissolved oxygen in aquatic systems are lowest just prior to sunrise.

I had been out to a job where dense growth of water lillies choked the pond and was responsible for fish deaths. To prove this, I had to get to the client’s premises just before sunrise one summer (yes this would make it 5am in the morning! That’s dedication!). Where I would normally expect a dissolved oxygen reading of ~8ppm (which is 100% saturation) the reading was 2ppm! A healthy system should have 70-100% saturation.

The web article in the link below shows it happening in a natural river system –

http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/01/10287175-dead-fish-pulled-from-hyacinth-choked-chinese-river

Portable microscope with rechargeable battery.

Posted on by TheFishVet - Richmond's School of Fish

Ever needed to use a microscope but couldn’t find a power outlet? Find tripping on extension cords and having cables near water dangerous?

Searching for an affordable, portable microscope that’s crammed with features?

STOP! Look no further.

Image

For just $649, you can buy a quality device which comes with its own rechargeable power source.

This microscope is perfect for fish farmers, fish retailers, educational institutions and vets.

It comes with outstanding optics equal to any thousand-dollar model.

Check out the specification of this fantastic piece of equipment:

o Monocular eyepiece: 10x

o Objectives: 4x, 10x, 40x, 100x

o Mechanical stage with coaxial drive/rack and pinion adjustment

o Built-in rechargeable battery (for cordless operation)

o Detachable AC power cord

o Battery life up to 20 hours

o Light source: LED illumination (variable intensity)

Go to the shopping cart & BUY IT NOW for just $649!

And add a professional carry case for a mere $99!

Available at http://thefishvet.com.au/shop/shopping.html

Pictorial guide for fish breeding using hormones.

Posted on by TheFishVet - Richmond's School of Fish

It’s not too late in the season to breed fish. Fry will still have a good 2 months of warm weather to grow up in time before the weather changes.

And sometimes fish breeders need a bit of a helping hand to get their fish in the mood. I’ve made a simple flow chart on how the process should go.

There are many benefits to artificially spawn fish and they include: Ability to select & pair up individuals,
Compress & Synchronise spawning period,
Increased chances of fertilisation and yield.

More detailed information is available in
Fish Vetting Essentials – an essential text on fish health and medicine. Book is available from the shopping cart section of this website – http://www.thefishvet.com.au

Download free contents pages here – http://thefishvet.com.au/pdf/sample.pdf

Green pond killer

Posted on by TheFishVet - Richmond's School of Fish

Those with algae-laden ponds will need to keep an eye on their pond life.
After days of hot sunny weather, algae may be abundant in your pond. After today’s overcast weather and the next couple of days of cloudy, rainy weather, your algae will be starved of light and the bloom may crash.

This may be sufficient to deplete the dissolved oxygen and cause fish to die.

So, ensure your aerators and water pumps are on continuously, especially through the night when dissolved oxygen will be at its lowest.

International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine (IAAAM) – Medway Scholarship Program

Posted on by TheFishVet - Richmond's School of Fish

From: <admin@iaaam.org>
Date: Wed, Feb 1, 2012 at 6:09 PM
Subject: Medway Scholarship Program
To: thefishvet@gmail.com

The International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine (IAAAM) recognizes a continuing need for the funding of research projects focused on aquatic animal medicine. IAAAM also recognizes the value and importance for students to gain solid scientific research training. To help fill these needs and to further promote involvement of students in aquatic animal medicine, the IAAAM has established the Medway Scholarship Program designed to support research experiences for students interested in pursuing careers in aquatic animal medicine.

The program is primarily intended for undergraduate, veterinary, and graduate students without stipends or other sources of funding. The purpose of the scholarship is to partially support the student for research experiences beyond that which they might experience with normal undergraduate classwork or a graduate/veterinary curriculum.

Please visit the IAAAM.org website for more details and an application form.
_____________________________

Lisa A. Murphy, VMD, DABT
IAAAM Board – Education

Highways for fish travel.

Posted on by TheFishVet - Richmond's School of Fish
The development of fishnext term passage research in a historical context

Christos Katopodisa, Corresponding Author Contact Information, E-mail The Corresponding Author, John G. Williamsb, 1, E-mail The Corresponding Author

a Katopodis Ecohydraulics Ltd., 122 Valence Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, R3T 3W7
b National Marine Fisheries Service – NOAA Fisheries, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Blvd. East, Seattle, WA 98112-2097, USA

Received 16 November 2010; revised 13 July 2011; Accepted 15 July 2011. Available online 9 August 2011.

Abstract

For centuries, humankind has constructed dams on rivers to control flooding, provide for irrigation and utilize potential energy for power, but generally dams had no or little provision for previous termfishnext term passage. Thus, they often blocked or impeded previous termfishnext term migrations. Empirical observations and “trial and error” approaches that characterized historical efforts to develop passage systems for upstream migrating previous termfishnext term often did not work. The first concerted efforts to develop scientifically based fishways for upstream migrant previous termfishnext term began in the early 1900s in Europe with field and laboratory testing of different fishway designs. These were followed by extensive efforts beginning in the 1940s in North America. Scientifically based testing of configurations for fishways for downstream migrant previous termfishnext term began in the 1950s. Nearly all early efforts were directed at salmonid species, with smaller efforts on shad. Recent species at risk legislation in the U.S.A., Canada, and Europe places renewed emphasis on previous termfishnext term passage for all migratory species, and efforts have also begun to develop successful passage strategies for migratory species in other countries worldwide. This has led to renewed efforts to develop effective passage systems and to try creative solutions using natural materials in addition to concrete or metal used in standard technical fishways. Regardless of the type of structures built, history has shown that the most effective means to develop successful installations has occurred when engineers and biologists worked together systematically to design passage structures based on the ability and willingness of previous termfishnext term to seek and accept the hydraulic conditions presented to them.

Project Neptune – Australian Biosecurity Intelligence Network

Posted on by TheFishVet - Richmond's School of Fish

The Australian Biosecurity Intelligence Network (ABIN) is a networking tool with functions that can be likened to the popular social media and business related platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and GoToMeeting. It is also designed to be a knowledge repository similar to the web and Wiki where individuals can add and edit material for the purpose of sharing. The unique feature of the setup is that users are able to view microscopic images in real time which will be particularly useful when second opinions are needed. All these under one umbrella and under a secure network.

The project is funded by the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) and CSIRO has been contracted by the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (DIISR) to provide administration support to ABIN’s operations. There are several Proof of Concept Project’s and the aquatic wing is called the “Project Neptune”. A series of webinars have been presented and the most recent being about fish gastrointestinal health.

Recently, Dr Marissa McNamara from Biosecurity Queensland has taken over from Tim Green as the lead person. For further information Dr McNamara can be contacted on:

e: marissa.mcnamara@deedi.qld.gov.au
t: 07 3276 6067

 

It will change the way we do business and help facilitate networking where your colleagues are just a mouse click away.


—
Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh
BSc BVMS MPhil (Vet Path) MANZCVS (Aquatics & Pathobiology) DipPM
Veterinarian / Adjunct Lecturer Murdoch University / Secretary Aquatic Animal Health Chapter ANZCVS
The Fish Vet, Perth, Western Australia. Mobile Veterinary Service for fish and other aquatic creatures.
http://www.thefishvet.com.au
Ph: +61 (0)421 822 383


Feel the heat

Posted on by TheFishVet - Richmond's School of Fish

There has been no reprieve from the heat. I was at a LFS (local fish shop) just a moment ago and the fish health manager was putting in frozen bottles of water into the tanks in the upper tier. He remarked that the water temperature would be go as high as 35degC!

Temperature stratification is common in fish facilities. This explains the reason why discus fish (which require warmer temperatures than your average tropical fish) are often in the top tier at your LFS.

I advised him that he could make a few rearrangements so that the more heat tolerant fish are put in the top rungs. Increasing aeration and decreasing stocking density would also help. Lids may be left off tanks that do not hold jumpy fishes to allow for evaporative cooling.

Under the sea art

Posted on by TheFishVet - Richmond's School of Fish

Computerised artwork by my 5-year-old niece made on the ipad. Seems like she has taken a liking to fishes after seeing the “Finding Nemo” play at Disney World.