Tag: amphibian

Where did the killer frog fungus come from?

Posted on by TheFishVet - Richmond's School of Fish

How did this fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis), that is decimating frog populations around the world, end up in Australia? Via importation of frogs for zoological departments? Pet trade? Illegal pet trade?

“The word on the street”/apparently, the fungus was inadvertently introduced to Australia through the trade in frogs used for pregnancy testing.

Huge Bummer!

 

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Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh
BSc BVMS MPhil (Vet Path) MACVSc (Aquatics & Pathobiology) DipPM CMAVA

Veterinarian / Adjunct Lecturer Murdoch University
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

New treatment against killer fungus in frogs….

Posted on by TheFishVet - Richmond's School of Fish

Check this out:

http://www.livescience.com/15315-frog-fungus-treatment.html

Did you know when cane toads were introduced to Australia?

Posted on by TheFishVet - Richmond's School of Fish

on this day in 1935, cane toads were introduced into Queensland in order to control the cane beetle that were wreaking havoc in the sugar cane plantations. The toads proved ineffective as a biological control method against the cane beetle. They have instead, become a real pest to the environment, spreading across state borders and a real danger to your pets if they try to eat these critters.

In the aquarium industry, we need to be more responsible than to release non-native fishes into the environment.