The Fish Vet's Blog

Dr Richmond Loh graduated as a veterinarian from Murdoch University in 2001. Through post-graduate examination he became a college-accredited aquatic veterinarian in 2006. In the same year he was awarded his Masters degree in veterinary pathology. Then in 2009, he became a college accredited veterinary pathologist and a NATA-accredited signatory. Dr Loh is recognised as a Certified Aquatic Veterinarian by the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association (2013).

The Fish Vet now comprises of a team of hand-selected veterinary graduates, with post-graduate qualifications or experiences in aquatic animal health.

+ Dr Alistair Brown BSc, BVMS, CertFHP, MANZCVS (Aquatic Animal Health).

+ Dr Giana Bastos-Gomes BVM, MVM, CertAqV.

+ Dr Lucie Nedved BVSc (Hons) BScAgr (Hons).

+ Dr Orachun Hayakijkosol BVSc, MSc, PhD, CertAqV.

Dr Loh and his colleagues across Australia provide veterinary related services including site visits for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment of fish diseases. Our team caters for pet fish, through to production species, and everything in-between.

The Fish Vet, truly a one-stop-shop when it comes to Doctors for Fishes.

+ Dr Richmond Loh DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology), MANZCVS (Aquatics& Pathobiology), CertAqV, NATA Signatory.

Web: http://www.thefishvet.com.au

Ph: +61 421 822 383

DOWNLOAD our Services Manual.

Q: What do wind and koi have in common? 

A: They both have big socks!

Have a FINtastic week! R <+>{

I thoroughly enjoyed this presentation on aquaponics since I dabble with it in my backyard (see link), and attended a conference on it in Hawaii.

I especially liked the part the speaker presented on finding the optimal pH requirements that accounts for needs of plants, fish and bacteria. They also present little rules-of-thumb for feeding, planting:fish ratios, and supplementation.

Watch the presentation here – Aquaponics: How to Do It Yourself

Follow me on: Facebook "Fin Page" – YouTube – Blog – Linkedin – Twitter

—
Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh
DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology), MANZCVS (Aquatics & Pathobiology), CertAqV, CMAVA, NATA Signatory.
Aquatic Veterinarian & Veterinary Pathologist
THE FISH VET, AUSTRALIA – PERTH | SYDNEY | MELBOURNE | TOWNSVILLE | BRIBIE ISLAND
Mobile Aquatic Veterinary Medical & Diagnostic Services.

W: http://www.thefishvet.com.au
Ph: +61 (0)421 822 383
Skype: thefishvet
President WAVMA 2014
Adjunct Lecturer Murdoch University
See advert on YouTube.
Looking for more books? Check out this site.

The title was inspired by out Twitter follower.
Since 2002, we’ve shown our clients, that we can do better than that.
The Fish Vet can help you, whether you’re a fish farmer, managing a zebrafish colony, or have pet fishes. 

We offer site visits and laboratory diagnostic services for all types of fish and shellfish.
So if you have any sick fish, we can help you solve your problems.
Call us on 0421 822 383.

Or use our online contact form. 

We’re here for you.

DOWNLOAD our Services Manual

So here I am in Colombo, Sri Lanka, at the International Ornamental Fish Conference (see link).

 What have I learnt?

 

I learnt that the Sri Lankan government is more than fully supportive of its ornamental fish industry. Currently, Sri Lanka is the 6^th largest exporter of ornamental fishes, having doubled its exports in the last 5 years, to take on a market share of 5%. Doesn’t sound like much, but this equates to a turnover of ~AUD$100M. By the year 2020, they’re focused on doubling it yet again!

How do I mean that they’re being backed by their government? Well, this conference was attended by the:

• CEO of the Export Development Board,
• Minister of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources,
• State Minister of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources,
• Minister for International Trade, and
• Director of the Coastal Aquaculture Development (NAQDA)
• >150 local delegates sponsored by the government of Sri Lanka

 

These government departments will be working together to achieve their national goal, will also help with financing up to 80% for start-ups, and will help with market access, by organising their presence at several international aquarium/pet conventions.

 

There was also very strong media presence, and they have organised through INFOFISH, the invitation of speakers from around the world to share their learnings and experiences. They’ve even employed translators for real-time translation for the talks we’re giving!

Head sets for the translation service. 

 

Why is the government and community so keen to support ornamental fish trade? It’s because there’s going to be huge socioeconomic gains to be had. It provides rural/remote communities an avenue for earning an income (in a term coined, “Trade not Aid”), allows women to gain employment locally (35,000 people employed in the line of ornamental fishes), has a relatively low start-up cost (~USD$2000), and there is expertise  locally to farm fish, and there is demand for the product (global demand is increasing by 14% each year). This is exciting times for ornamental fish producers in Sri Lanka. I can only wish our Australian government could view our industry in a similar manner.

 

This conference will cover aspects of fish health, conservation, trade trends, marketing opportunities, regulation, biosecurity and more.

 

Check out some of the sights I’ve taken in – see link.

 

Registration is now open for the Fish Vet Society’s annual Spring Conference being held at the Norton House Hotel, Edinburgh airport, on Tuesday 28^th & Wednesday 29^th March.  

The veterinarian in charge of organising this annual event, Matthijs Metselaar, commented – 

“Our Spring Conference has become a much needed and very welcome opportunity for fish health professionals to come together and review important topics in a convivial and professional atmosphere of knowledge share.  One of our key objectives is to encourage the brightest and best veterinarian students to enter our young industry and we are therefore sponsoring ten students to come and present to the Conference.”

He continued, “Not only do we have an impressive range of external presenters lined up, the Society has coordinated this year’s event with the Laboratory Animal Science Association (LASA) and they are holding their Conference the following day in the same venue.”

Registration and further details can be found at www.fishvetsociety.org.uk and  www.lasa.co.uk 

You may be surprised to hear that many are still unaware that Veterinary Services are available for fishes. And even when I tell people that I’m a fish vet, they still ask (in disbelief) what it is that we do.

We come out, run tests to diagnose fish disease/s and administer appropriate treat/s.  We also offer Pathology Laboratory testing. Yes, for goldfish and koi, through to sharks and aquacultured species like barramundi, silver perch and abalone. 

Help spread the word that fishes now have real doctors who can help. 

http://thefishvet.com.au

PERTH | MELBOURNE | SYDNEY | TOWNSVILLE | BRIBIE ISLAND | AUSTRALIA-WIDE.

Q: How do fishermen like getting paid?
A: COD (cash on delivery). 

Have a FINtastic week! R <+>{

To continue to provide the best possible service, I’ve been invited to deliver aquatic lectures at the International Ornamental Fish Conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka. I hope to see you there!

Consequently, I will be unavailable until Tuesday 14th February.

I have organised my colleagues to cover for me while I am away. If you’d like to book an appointment, please send details via our contact-form at thefishvet.com.au

In the meantime, please check my blog for information on your topic at www.thefishvet.com

Follow me on: Facebook "Fin Page" – YouTube – Blog – Linkedin – Twitter

—
Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology), MANZCVS (Aquatics & Pathobiology), CertAqV, CMAVA, NATA Signatory.
Aquatic Veterinarian & Veterinary Pathologist
THE FISH VET, AUSTRALIA – PERTH | SYDNEY | MELBOURNE | TOWNSVILLE | BRIBIE ISLAND

Mobile Aquatic Veterinary Medical & Diagnostic Services.

• W: http://www.thefishvet.com.au
• Ph: +61 (0)421 822 383
• Skype: thefishvet
• President WAVMA 2014
• Adjunct Lecturer Murdoch University
• See advert on YouTube.

Have you seen any seafood with tell-tale unusual white spots?

The government is seeking our help to check on Australia’s status on white spot disease. If it’s here, we’d need to test and eradicate. If it’s not, then we continue to be one of the few countries free from this devastating disease.

If you see any “funny” looking lesions on any sort of shellfish (e.g. prawns, lobsters, yabbies, bugs, crabs, etc), immediately phone the 24 hour Dept of Fisheries FishWatch hotline on 1800 815 507 and provide the following information:

Your name, phone and home address.
The date, time and location of where the suspect prawns or other crustacean were seen, and photos/video.

See pictured, a case with signs resembling white spot disease that I found, and which thankfully returned NEGATIVE results for WSD.

Read more here –

http://www.outbreak.gov.au/current-responses-to-outbreaks/white-spot-disease

—
Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh
DipProjMgt, BSc, BVMS, MPhil (Pathology), MANZCVS (Aquatics& Pathobiology), CertAqV, NATA Signatory.

Aquatic Veterinarian & Veterinary Pathologist.
PERTH | MELBOURNE | SYDNEY | TOWNSVILLE | BRIBIE ISLAND.
THE FISH VET – AUSTRALIA.

Aquatic Veterinary Medical & Diagnostic Services.

http://www.thefishvet.com.au

Ph: +61 421 822 383