Fish Health Management Course at NCSU

Glad to hear it. I was talking to Shane (Lewbart's tech) and he said they were putting a little more emphasis on reef aquariums and coral medicine? Is this true, or is the focus still on fish? I would have snuck into a few of the lectures but was out of town this past week. Glad you had fun...

Take er easy
Scott
 
Just scrape the fish with a sterile instrument and put it on a slide. Stain with crystal violet or your choice of dye, then counterstain to scope out visible bacteria and/or parasites, if microscope does not have oil immersion. You will be able to narrow it down to parasite or bacteria (gram - or +). From this you can then identify using spread plates if handy. I can give more details on how to create your own.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10629326#post10629326 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rwbogard
Just scrape the fish with a sterile instrument and put it on a slide. Stain with crystal violet or your choice of dye, then counterstain to scope out visible bacteria and/or parasites, if microscope does not have oil immersion. You will be able to narrow it down to parasite or bacteria (gram - or +). From this you can then identify using spread plates if handy. I can give more details on how to create your own.

I'd love more info on this. I own an LFS and we have a small lab we use to diagnose coral problems and such. I am a novice on the fish end of diagnosing problems through scrapes and such, but recently hired a UCF student who studies molecular and micro biology to work at the store so we can expand this area of knowledge. Any info or links would be greatly appreciated. Here's some of our equipment:

100_1291.jpg


100_1293.jpg
 
Looks like you've got yourself a nice dissecting scope-- great for doing dissections (:) ) or looking at microcrustaceans, little things, some gross tissue work, some parasites, but to see bacteria you will need something with a stage to put slides on and some stronger objective lenses. I don't know what your magnification is, but most are in the range of 60X. For staining microorganisms you'll need an oil immersion lens for a total magnification of 1000X.

Do play around with it though---you will see amazing things. Bristelworms are especially cool--

Also, you are lucky in that you have a trinocular scope, which means you'll be able to hook a camera up with the right adapter.
 
There's already a camera on the scope that does both still and video plus I have another new scope with a stage and the immersion lens:) Just starting to figure that one out!
 
I would love to attend this course through NCSU...maybe this year or next, depending on finances.

I attended a great course through the University of Florida a few years ago. I believe the course is offered every other year, so look for it in 2010. They typically alternate it with a more advanced course geared towards veterinarians, emphasizing fish surgical techniques.

http://www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu/ame/wwf/

The UF Tropical Aquaculture Lab is definitely a great resource.
http://tal.ifas.ufl.edu/index.htm

...especially their publications section.
http://tal.ifas.ufl.edu/publications.htm

-matt
 
Anyone here ever find a course of this sort in California? I work at a LFS and have been wanting to learn more about fish disease and fish pathology, specifically marine fish.
 
I registered for the 2010 course at NCSU, and it was cancelled due to lack of enrollment. Too bad my airfare was nonrefundable! I hope they offer the course in the future.
 
Hey Steven..
You find a great opportunity but due to the busy time and due to the short funding I can't cash this opportunity..
But you have a great sharing with us.. It's really good I love to see this..
Thanks..
 
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