The thing is, I take EXCELLENT care of my tanks. Most people with instances of fish TB are having cycling issues, or water quality issues, or don't take care of their tank. Yes, all fish have some form of Mycobacterium. Well taken care of fish don't get over run by it. Its like saying beware!! Women have yeast! Be careful who you touch! Yes, all women have yeast, but its only the ones with the nasty hoo-has that need to worry about infection. Just like fish kept in nasty tanks.
It is not a care issue. There is an unusual strain finding it's way into the betta hobby. Fish can carry and shed it for months. And my fish receive excellent care. I allowed ONE sick fish in the fish room and did not take proper steps and lost years of work. And I can tell you other breeders have taken excellent care of their fish. This is NOT a water quality issue causing a disease that can be cured. You going to tell the Z-fish research facility that they have care issues? I think not. But they get this. You get it by not taking precautions to keep it out. And they are pretty sever on how they handle getting rid of it.
This is a heads up. If you have something you can not get rid of you have to face this issue. And you have to get the right kind of stuff to kill it on your tanks and everything else. And fish can not be cured. I was told by more than one expert to destroy everything and start fresh. This is what you read and what you do when nothing else is working. And you can be proactive about prevention.. or not.
It is not a care issue. There is an unusual strain finding it's way into the betta hobby. Fish can carry and shed it for months. And my fish receive excellent care. I allowed ONE sick fish in the fish room and did not take proper steps and lost years of work. And I can tell you other breeders have taken excellent care of their fish. This is NOT a water quality issue causing a disease that can be cured. You going to tell the Z-fish research facility that they have care issues? I think not. But they get this. You get it by not taking precautions to keep it out. And they are pretty sever on how they handle getting rid of it.
This is a heads up. If you have something you can not get rid of you have to face this issue. And you have to get the right kind of stuff to kill it on your tanks and everything else. And fish can not be cured. I was told by more than one expert to destroy everything and start fresh. This is what you read and what you do when nothing else is working. And you can be proactive about prevention.. or not.
From a Microbiologist standpoint (yes that's me! BSAST MT(ASCP)) most bacteria disease are caused but lack of care. Most bacterial disease can be prevented by proper hygiene, or in the case of a fishroom, proper maintenance. As far as accidentally letting a bad fish in? Well, would you put an old lady with pneumonia in a room of babies? I think not. It's called quarantine for a reason. And in almost 100% of cases, a bad fish put in a healthy tank is not going to infect healthy fish. That fish will die and that will be the end of it. Healthy immune systems fight off disease.
Last edited by DiesesMadchen; 01-16-2013 at 09:33 PM.
Their guess is 70% of the TRADE. That means ALL fish.
If 70% or 100% fish in the trade have this (because I guess it's the same thing apparently) then there's nothing we can do, there's no clean stock, one of those papers said it's even difficult for scientists to get Myco-free stock, why bother? You'll get a fish that will die in a few hours, or you'll get one that will die in a year. If every fish is going to die of Myco then there's nothing we can do. Killing fish and replacing them with more fish with Myco? I don't quite get it.
If 70% or 100% fish in the trade have this (because I guess it's the same thing apparently) then there's nothing we can do, there's no clean stock, one of those papers said it's even difficult for scientists to get Myco-free stock, why bother? You'll get a fish that will die in a few hours, or you'll get one that will die in a year. If every fish is going to die of Myco then there's nothing we can do. Killing fish and replacing them with more fish with Myco? I don't quite get it.
+++++++1
I was just thinking this same exact thing
Oh, good lord, what a thread! There is a lot of good info in this thread. I just wish we could discuss it without everyone getting freaked out and flooding us with reports.
There are different strains. Some can be managed. Others can not. You eradicate the bad ones and the good care manages the good one. When opened most fish will show the mycos. But not be riddled with a strain that is killing them off.
And do the research on this DiesesMadchen. Fish carry and shed this without letting on they have it. When they do show signs.. often months later.. it is too late.
It takes a lab to determine if you have this. And even more lab work.. mine down to dna analysis.. to determine the STRAIN. Each is different. Google m triplex and see what they symptoms are compared to other strains. This triplex is what is showing up and it is a death sentence. it is not quick. Fish go months with this getting progressively worse. Not everyone has lab access so this is just a tool to use when all else fails. Get the proper TB killer if you set on a path to eradicate it or prevent it.
Again.. this is information from phd's that study this particular disease. Look up Dr Chris Whipps.. and read his papers. There are a few others.. but he is a leading researcher in the field and the source of what I have shared.
Some will heed and be careful. Some will try all kinds of meds before finally going this route,. And others will just keep on. To each his own. Now there is some other info besides add salt and all will be better in time.
Now I'm really scared that I'm going to get really sick from any fish that I buy...
Don't be. With good maintenance, chances are slim that a new fish will kill your stock. If you are worried, have a quarantine tank ready for any stock you buy.
Check out the eBook Betta Fish Care Made Easy
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