tangs_in_pacifica
Member
I'm expecting to get flamed for this comment, but here goes.
It is sometimes better for one/few to suffer for the good of the masses. This has gotten me thinking a bit about parasites, stress and the introduction of new fish into closed environments. What if someone was to stress a fish a bit, on order to have them exhibit signs of parasite infestation or other illnesses? I have, for example, witnesses YTs being dipped in freshwater that seem to magically grow and shed black spots by the score. The fish are, of course, stressed in the process. However, this stress causes the parasites and/or ailments to surface.
This lead me to ponder the use of stress to induce signs of pre-existing medical conditions in fish, before introducing them to a closed system where they can infect others. Would this be a good idea, or is it just a cruel notion? For example, a quick freshwater dip of a YT before introduction into the Q-Tank might cause black spot to appear immediately, instead of weeks/months down the road. Would the same hold true for other parasites? What about strange illnesses (i.e. Red Sea disease). Would such stress also bring of illnesses like Vibrio, Brookynella, etc. that would otherwise stay dormant until they require difficult re-capture from our show reefs and subsequent isolation. Are there "Stress Techniqes" other than the common FW dip that can induce symptoms... especially for ailments other than parasites?
I guess that a "stress-Free" Q-Tank and 30 or so days of monitoring will often give the fish time to exhibit pre-existing symptoms brought to a boil after the stress of capture and shipping. I just wonder if there isn't a way to ENSURE that more illnesses/parasites have reared their ugly heads before they endanger all the inhabitants of our mini-reefs.
Just a crazy thought???
It is sometimes better for one/few to suffer for the good of the masses. This has gotten me thinking a bit about parasites, stress and the introduction of new fish into closed environments. What if someone was to stress a fish a bit, on order to have them exhibit signs of parasite infestation or other illnesses? I have, for example, witnesses YTs being dipped in freshwater that seem to magically grow and shed black spots by the score. The fish are, of course, stressed in the process. However, this stress causes the parasites and/or ailments to surface.
This lead me to ponder the use of stress to induce signs of pre-existing medical conditions in fish, before introducing them to a closed system where they can infect others. Would this be a good idea, or is it just a cruel notion? For example, a quick freshwater dip of a YT before introduction into the Q-Tank might cause black spot to appear immediately, instead of weeks/months down the road. Would the same hold true for other parasites? What about strange illnesses (i.e. Red Sea disease). Would such stress also bring of illnesses like Vibrio, Brookynella, etc. that would otherwise stay dormant until they require difficult re-capture from our show reefs and subsequent isolation. Are there "Stress Techniqes" other than the common FW dip that can induce symptoms... especially for ailments other than parasites?
I guess that a "stress-Free" Q-Tank and 30 or so days of monitoring will often give the fish time to exhibit pre-existing symptoms brought to a boil after the stress of capture and shipping. I just wonder if there isn't a way to ENSURE that more illnesses/parasites have reared their ugly heads before they endanger all the inhabitants of our mini-reefs.
Just a crazy thought???
My 2 year old has begun to potty train (probably he stopped smelling dead fish). My 4 year olddaughter continues t be perfect and still calls her P. Fridmani my "Little pink fishy". Even my patients have begun to be nicer to me (they crap out at 1:00 AM instead of 3:00 AM).