All about Fish Vetting – Dr Richmond Loh
To diagnose the condition, we can even prepare a cytology smear, and dye for you.
We’re not as expensive as getting it all wrong. Loan sharks not needed. We can save your sole because, we are Veterinary sturgeons.
Sand dollars not accepted. Payment is by credit or COD.
So don’t be koi, drop us a line.
“The risk could have been reduced if Biosecurity Queensland was made aware that federal authorities were investigating organised breaches of importation laws, under the codename Operation Cattai.”
The Fish keeping “industry” is full of myths. People are being advised to do all sorts of crazy things, most of which have no evidence behind them. Over the years, however, I have found a number of strategies that seem to be effective at curing fish diseases.
Here are 6 steps that actually work.
1. OBTAIN a correct diagnosis, often can’t tell what’s wrong just on clinical signs alone. Need evidence, water results, microscopic examinations, laboratory testing, whatever it takes.
2. Don’t stop at the first diagnosis. There may be more than one thing wrong.
3. Choose the right medicine class to suit the diagnosis.
4. Select the best method of administration.
5. Stick to plan, and keep your veterinarian informed with regular updates.
6. Be able to change plans to suit unique situations.
DIAGNOSIS, it helps you know what to do.
DOWNLOAD the latest version of our Services Manual here – TFV-Services-&-Fees-2017 (postal address updated 23/2/2017).
Q: How do you communicate with a fish?
A: Drop him a line.
Have a FINtastic week! R <+>{
You know you’re obsessed with fish when…
#1. You own at least two aquariums, two ponds and an aquaponics system, and countless numbers of fishes.
#2. All large pots and planter boxes are fair game for turning into a pond.
#3. You stare intensely in every drain, river, pond or lake for fish.
#4. You tell your friends with swimming pools, “You should really make it into a fish pond.”
#5. When you wife (or partner) says you cannot have anymore fish tanks.
#6. You own so many aquatic plush toys.
#7. You can recite every line in Finding Nemo.
#8. You must visit the public aquarium in any city you travel to.
#9. You can stay staring at fish for hours on end.
#10. You never come home empty-handed after visiting the fish shop.
#11. You love marvelling at the variety of fishes at the fish market.
#12. The song played at your wedding is “Unda da sea”, and “Kiss da girl” (from The Little Mermaid).
#13. Your friends tag you on ever social media post that has to do with fish.
#14. You spend all your free time reading about fishes.
#15. You know scientific names of several fish species.
#16. You light up with energy when the conversation is about fish.
#17. You’re frequently having to debunk the myth of fish having a three-second memory.
#18. You get a job working with fish.
#19. Your presents you’re given are always fish-themed.
#20. You get The Fish Vet out to check on your fish!
I’m afraid I’m guilty on all counts 😛
There are many fish medicines available over the counter for pet fishes. I often get asked whether they work. Most commonly, I’m asked about Melafix and Pimafix.
It’s challenging to answer sometimes. One major issue I have is that many products don’t show active ingredients on their label. Examples include Waterlife’s Octozin and Myxazin, Tetra’s Lifeguard, and others.
Some claim their remedy cures all ailments,”
“With XXXX, there is no need for time-consuming guesswork when it comes to treating your freshwater fish. A unique, broad spectrum, non-antibiotic agent, XXXX treats the clinical signs of disease at their earliest stages in freshwater fish… attacks and destroys microorganisms that can cause disease in fish.”
Sometimes you can guess what sort/s of chemicals they contain, by their colour, smell and their claim of the range of pathogens they treat against. In terms of colour, treatments that impart a green colour to water may contain malachite green; blue may be methylene blue; tea-brown, tetracycline; and yellow, acriflavin. Then there are a great variety more that come in liquid, powder and tablet forms that do not stain the water.
As veterinarians, we are under oath to NOT promote, sell, prescribe, dispense, or use secret remedies or any other product for which we do not know the ingredients. We would not want to risk our veterinary registration to suggest such “secret” products.
The other problem is that, people are often using medicines without knowing what they’re treating for. So, if a medicine doesn’t work, it may be due to a lack of a proper diagnosis. For example, if someone’s fish has a parasitic infection, and they use an antibacterial drug, it’s surely not going to cure the fish. But to the person, they are determined that the deug doesn’t work, because the fish died.
Moreover, many people run the risk of being sold the wrong drug because of the opposites experience/s. People may be recommending you use this or that drug instead, because it has “worked for them” in the past. So, will it work for you? Your fish health problem is likely dissimilar, and using drugs without a proper diagnosis will surely end in failure.
Sometimes I’m asked what to treat with, without first performing diagnostics,“What’s your best guess?”
To which I reply, “I don’t guess.”
At The Fish Vet, we never guess. We diagnose and then treat – using medicines we know, and only those that we know will work in your specific case.
The Australian government has announced white spot disease is now detected in southern Queensland
The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is implementing an expanded movement control zone that encompasses Moreton Bay due to positive detections of the virus that causes white spot disease in northern Moreton Bay. The recent detections were found near Redcliffe Peninsular and Deception Bay.
With the recent storms and flooding events, WSSV may have spread further than this.
See the link below for further information: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/animal-industries/animal-health-and-diseases/a-z-list/white-spot-disease
Australia may face
At our recent Victorian fish speaking gig, we were asked alternatives to methylene blue and malachite green for angelfish eggs. We mentioned possibly potassium permanganate, and peroxide. Possibly increase salinity. In this article shared by our Bribie Island-based colleague, we learn that Copper is possible (see link).
A word of caution, that copper is more toxic under conditions of soft water and low pH. Additionally, some species such as the clownfish and elasmobranchs are more sensitive to copper than other species. Additionally, nothing beats maintaining optimal water quality, and so no drugs or additives should ever replace good husbandry.
Check with your fish veterinarian before attempting anything different.
Q: where do fish keep their money?
A: at the riverbank!
With thanks to Snook Le.
Have a FINtastic week! R <+>{
There is a lot of conflicting information about how frequently fish should be fed over the course of a day. Generally speaking, the warmer the temperature is, the frequency and amount of food would be increased. However, when there are water temperature is too warm, feeding should be reduced, or even stopped.
As a general guide, fish in outdoor ponds can be fed in the following manner:
The species of fish would also determine the frequency and amount to be fed. Fish without large “stomachs” (e.g. goldfish and koi) tend to be grazers, and so would benefit from more frequent feeding. Fish with distendable stomachs (e.g. many catfishes), can eat larger amounts of food, at reduced frequencies.