A Fish Out of Water

1. A Fish Out of Water Laura Allison Melissa Munger

2. WHY FISH???

3. Ornamental Fish Industry • Pet fish constitute a large portion of the pet industry • Approximately $350 million is spent annually on pet fish in the U.S. • 80% of pet fish owners have other pets in the household

4. $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

5. Water Quality Issues Patient Transport Case History Physical Exam & Restraint Basic Universal Clinical Signs Diagnostics Therapeutics Most Common Diseases Case Study Outline

6. Patient Transport • Have employees instruct the client • 1 gallon water/1inch fish • Fish & water sample in separate containers • Cooler makes ideal transport container • Bring 1 or more fish for examination • If traveling long distance may need aeration

7. History: Key Questions (Compiled by Dr. Gregory Lewbart) • How long have you been keeping pet fish? • What are the problems with the fish(es)? • When did you first notice these problems? • How long have you owned the fish, and where did they come from? • Are there other fish in the tank with the sick fish, and if so, how are they? • What is the size of your aquarium and how is it heated, filtered, lighted, and aerated?

8. History: Key Questions • Do you test the water? What are you most current results? • What, and how often, do you feed your fish? • Have the fish already been treated with any medication? If so, what medication? • Were the fish possibly exposed to some type of toxin?

11. Water Sample Testing • What should I test for? • pH • Ammonia • Nitrite • Other tests • Water source • Water changes • 25% water change every 1-4 weeks Doc Wellfish, Tetra Cost: ~$30

12. Physical Examination • Observe fish for: • Rapid movements of the operculum (gill cover) • External signs of diseases • Abnormal behavior • Weigh fish • Palpate fins & body (as necessary)

13. Physical Restraint • Always wear gloves! • Protect fish’s slime coat & skin • Protect you from Mycobacterium marinum • Watch out for spines!

14. Avoid dorsal fin spines Gloves! 

15. Chemical Restraint • Chemical Restraint: • MS-222 (Finquel): 50-200 mg/L • Withdrawl period applies • Clove oil (eugenol): 40-120 mg/L • Available over the counter at health food stores • Inexpensive • Most preparations contain 1 g eugenol per ml oil • To make 100 mg/ml stock solution: • 1 part clove oil to 9 parts 95% ethanol • Overdose of either for euthanasia

16. Common signs of disease

18. A normal, healthy Discus

19. An ill, stressed Discus

20. A diseased Neon Tetra that is pale in color

21. Exopthalmia

22. “Dropsy”

23. Abnormal swimming behavior

24. What’s abnormal about these goldfish?

25. Nothing! They are bred to look like that. (Bubble Eye Goldfish)

26. Area of erosion and necrosis on the gills

27. Multifocal white spots on this tetra

28. A mass lesion on a goldfish

30. “Fin & Tail Rot”

31. Fungal growth on the skin

32. Diagnostics • Skin scrape • Fin clip • Gill clip • Culture & Sensitivity • Fecal (direct smear) • Blood draw • Necropsy

42. Necropsy

43. Most Common Diseases • Parasitic • Ichthyophthirius Multifiliis (“Ich”), Trichodina sp. • Bacterial • Aeromonas sp., Flavobacterium columnare, Edwardsiella sp., Vibrio, Streptococcus, Mycobacterium, Nocardia

47. Most Common Diseases • Viral • Lymphocystis • Fungal • Saprolegnia, Achlya • Nutritional • scoliosis & lordosis

48. Therapeutics • Parasiticides: • Formalin, Copper Sulfate • Antibacterials: • Oxytetracycline, Copper Sulfate, Nitrofurazone • Antifungals: • Copper Sulfate • Sodium Chloride • osmoregulatory enhancer

49. Case Presentation

50. You get a phone call from Mrs. Ross, one of your best clients. Her son’s fish has been “swimming funny” and she would like to have him seen by a veterinarian. You, of course, say you are up to the challenge of seeing a fish and tell her to bring in the fish and a separate water sample.