Sadly, I just today finally found someone local who could do the necropsy
but I cannot afford the costs of the pathology...all said and done estimate
$200-250. :(
carvi
At 10:31 PM 1/8/99 +1000, you wrote:
>Carvi
>
>Please try to get the affected fish pathologically assessed so you know
>whether your concerns are warranted. The trouble with this disease is that
>we don't have a simple, cheap and reliable test for this rotten bug.
>
>You have accurately assessed the potential for "unconcious" spread of this
>problem and because it is the great pretender/imitator any sick fish may
>represent the problem. Unfortunately unless there is a definitive diagnosis
>your concerns may or may not be warranted.
>
>
>Regards,
>Bruce.
>
>Bruce Hansen, A.N.G.F.A., Advancing Australian Aquatics.
>
>Bruce Hansen, ANGFA, caring for our aquatic ecosystems.
>
>Please visit us at http://www.ozemail.com.au/~fisher/angfa.htm
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Carvi Shamsid-Deen <csha at usa.net>
>To: rainbowfish at pcug.org.au <rainbowfish at pcug.org.au>
>Date: Friday, 8 January 1999 10:04
>Subject: Re: [RML] Dark half or quarter on rainbowfish
>
>
>>Since it appears that myco doesn't require a host for at least an extended
>>period of time and can be found on plants and in fish not exhibiting signs
>>it appears to me there's no way to get rid of it in aquariums. Pass a fish
>>around that you've no idea has it because it's not been stressed?
>>Exchange/purchase plants that carry it and add it to a perfectly fine tank?
>>
>>I suspect that I have this in one of my bow tanks, but there's no way for
>>me to know that it hasn't spread anywhere else, if in fact it is myco. The
>>fish that is exhibiting discoloration at the mouth with what looks like a
>>scrape that didn't heal has been this way for several months now. He
>>actually has been looking better this week. I've just left him in there
>>with the others. He has been growing at what appears to be a normal pace
>>and the discoloration grew with him. They are all fry from my original
>>group of boesemanis. So, when did they get it? Where did they get it? Was
>>it passed from parents that have yet to exhibit any signs over the past
>>couple years? Was this on plants I got from someone else's tank who had
>>fish showing no signs? Or maybe some other species of fish I have...none of
>>which had exhibited any sign of illness? Have I since given it to someone
>>else by providing fish I hadn't a clue about nor any reason to suspect may
>>have been carriers?
>>
>>Not seeing any sign of illness I moved four of the largest fry into the
>>tank with the parents (prior to this fish exhibiting - don't know if he was
>>even in this fry tank at the time as I was continually moving fry in). As I
>>recall, one died in the parent tank within several days with no outward
>>signs of illness. Saw it hiding one night w/heavy breathing and thought it
>>was possibly being harassed. Turned off lights. Decided to watch tank
>>closely. Next day it was dead before I could determine cause. Waited for
>>days/maybe 2-3 weeks and saw no more problems. Added three more fry to
>>parent tank. They have been doing well for months and appear to be happily
>>growing and spawning right along with the parents (although snacking on
>>fry). So, are these carriers but not exhibiting? Are the parents carriers
>>and passed it vertically? Or are none in the parent tank infected? Or are
>>they all now infected from the fry added back?
>>
>>I've had three other fish (not bows) die within the past 4-6 weeks...don't
>>know cause but all exhibited signs of emaciation over a period of two-three
>>weeks...again, signs of tb but other illnesses as well. But I have 18 tanks
>>of fish. This is a low mortality rate I'd say but for me it's high because
>>I simply haven't lost this many fish in such a short time period. Heck,
>>I've normally maybe lost one fish in a year, if that. This is, however, the
>>most tanks I've ever had and am now having a difficult time considering
>>destroying many and tearing them down. I do question my role in all of
>>this...more tanks, more do not get maintenance as regular as with less
>>tanks. And truthfully after hearing more and more about this disease have
>>thought of getting rid of everything and going tankless. I am also
>>concerned about transfer to humans as my immune system is compromised.
>>Forget just putting hands/arms in tanks. How many start syphons by sucking
>>on hose? Water get in mouth? How about in between bucket changes? I've
>>since set up separate buckets/hoses for the tanks, no more transferring
>>anything including plants (cuttings used to stock other tanks) and play the
>>wait and see game. I guess the next thing is to purchase gloves. I don't
>>know what else to do. Am trying to locate someone to look at the one
>>exhibiting fish.
>>
>>Carvi
>>
>>
>>
>
>
Carvi