Nursing Fish

Question 1

How do we anaesthetise a fish?

Answer 1

Inhalational anaesthesia in water (e.g. phenoxethanol/MS222 Tricaine Methane)
Fish can last 5 mins out of water (to examine/take samples)
Place back into second bag of water to recover

Question 2

What diagnostic tests can we run on fish?

Answer 2

Mucus scraping (dorsal/pectoral fin area)
Gill and fin preparations
Bacteriology
Blood sampling
Radiography
Ultrasonography

Question 3

How can we give a fish medications?

Answer 3

In food
In water (non-specific, antibiotics kill helpful bacteria in filter!)
Injection
Topical

Question 4

What are the injection sites on a fish?

Answer 4

Dorsal muscles

Top of neck on midline

Question 5

Describe ulcer disease.

Answer 5

Secondary to septicaemia or trauma

Need to identify underlying causes

Question 6

How can we treat ulcer disease?

Answer 6

GA, debride
Clean with iodine and pack
Inject antibiotics
Correct underlying problem (e.g. parasites/water quality)

Question 7

What first aid advice can we give for fish?

Answer 7

Test water quality (if NH4 high, add zeolite)
If low numbers involved, quarantine affected fish
Change 30% of tank/pond water, drain down then add fresh water
Add salt at rate of 2g/L to reduce physiological stress (care if owner used formalin)
Stop feeding temporarily to reduce waste excretion
Improve aeration
Do not add medications indiscriminately