For those of you who read our pricing page, you know that paying a specialty service to come to your house, do all the work and diagnose complex issues carries a premium fee. But is that fee worth it to your fish? We certainly think so, but we can break it down further. Take for …
Unfortunately, not many veterinarians are able to see and treat pet fish. It is a growing specialty and we are working hard to spread the appropriate training materials and opportunities to those veterinarians who are interested. But what can you do in order to find a fish veterinarian in your state to help you? For …
Not all fish start out with the best life. We have received several requests to assist with fish “rescue” jobs and owners unsure what to do with their new pets. Often taken in under less than ideal circumstances, what can do you do to make your new fish feel at home? Quarantine No matter where …
Not all goldfish are created equally, especially fancy goldfish. Many of these varieties have sacrificed internal function for hunched bodies, long, decorative fins and bulging body parts. Most comet and other long-body goldfish varieties will look like this on the inside (minus the pebble): Those two grey blobs in the middle of the fish’s body …
Many “internet fish helpers” recommend fasting sick fish, or decreasing their diet, and we have to ask…WHY?!?!? If you were constantly swimming to survive, you’d be burning a lot more calories than sitting at your desk, reading this article. When you’re sick, you often want to lay around in bed because your body is working …
Alright, we’ve cleared up the internet’s favorite fish diagnoses: swim bladder, dropsy, constipation and mystical green peas, but what about that “white stringy poop?” Somehow, many internet diagnoses involve this mysterious phenomenon in fish and have linked it to internal parasites. Well, let us set the record straight… White stringy poop is a poop with …
Floating goldfish post-eating is a common issue that results in an internet wormhole. Let’s get some facts straight: Goldfish are Physostomous Fish Yes, it’s a big word. What is means is that goldfish, like many other carp, have a pneumatic duct between their swim bladder and esophagus. It connects in between the cranial and caudal …
Behavioral signs of disease are harder to spot for most fish owners than physical signs of disease. By watching your fishes’ behavior consistently, for at least 5-10 minutes per day, you will be able to determine what is normal or abnormal for your fish. Some “fun fish quirks” may actually be a sign of a …
How can you tell if your fish is sick? Here are the physical signs you should keep an eye out for if you owner fish. Behavioral signs of disease will be addressed in the next post. Trauma Most trauma events in fish present as open wounds. The fish above was in an outdoor pond that …
Unfortunately, fish are not immune from cancerous growths. And sharks, being fish, are included in this group. Like tumors in all other species, some are treatable, while others are not. Here are some of the most common cancers we seen in our daily practice. Goldfish Infiltrative Papilloma-Like Warts These “warts” are a type of benign …
I mean, if people over the internet can do it, why can’t veterinarians? Sorry to say, but being a state licensed veterinarian requires all patients have a valid VCPR, which is mandated by state veterinary practice laws. These laws may vary slightly by state, but for an example, here is what is laid out by …
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A cousin of Koi Herpes Virus, Carp Pox in koi is also a herpes virus (Cyprinid herpesvirus-1). It is a fairly common disease for our office to see and this time of year, in colder water, you may be seeing more clinical signs than usual. How do fish get Carp Pox? Like any infectious disease, …
An aquatic environment is an ideal growth environment for many fungi, especially water molds such as Saprolegnia. Unless your fish’s immune system is compromised, you won’t have any reason to worry about fungal infections. Fungal Species There are thousands of potential species of fungus lurking in your aquarium or pond. Aquatic environments are ideal for …
One of the most common owner concerns we get calls about are “ulcers” on their fish? What is an “ulcer,” how do they come about and how do you fix them? What is an “ulcer?” Most commonly, fish get skin ulcers. This is an open wound in the skin of a fish that may expose …
Fish respond to a “stressful event” the same way as all other animals, humans included. What defines a “stressful event” may differ, but the behavioral and biological changes are the same. The Stress Response With any stressor, a fish’s body will react in the following: Primary Response – seconds to hours after event Increased corticosteroid …