I find this very interesting, especially because I was 'diagnosed' as having come into contact with tuberculosis and had to go on a year of meds, even though I knew no one with it nor had I ever knowingly come into contact with it. After learning that fish TB really isn't that rare, I chalked it up to owning an aquarium and sticking my hands in it (which may have had cuts on them at one time or another). Fish TB isn't dangerous to humans, but I am assuming that it might show up on a general TB test. Then I saw this paper, and I work with frogfishes, and well... Anyways, here's the abstract of the paper, which may also point to another reason frogfishes might die in the aquarium:
Title: Atypical presentation of mycobacteriosis in a collection of frogfish (Antennarius striatus).
Author(s): Yanong, Roy P. E.; Curtis, Eric W.; Terrell, Scott P.; Case, Gail
Source: Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 34 (4) : 400-407 December 2003
Language: English Medium: print
Abstract: Severe systemic mycobacteriosis without typical granuloma formation was diagnosed in a group of six mature, captive, striated frogfish Antennarius striatus approximately 5 mo after fish originating from Brazil were purchased by Mote Marine Laboratory Aquarium. Beginning 1 mo after spawning, over a period of 9 mo, individuals began to show a variety of signs including egg retention, ocular opacity, poor buoyancy control, ascites with coelomic distension, skin lesions, and anorexia. Two fish died, and four were euthanatized. At necropsy, raised pigmented skin nodules; pale pink gills; and pale yellow or tan, fatty livers were noted. A systemic fungal infection was diagnosed histopathologically in one female, and the remaining fish had severe, systemic, histiocytic inflammation and necrosis. Although large numbers of acid-fast bacterial rods were identified in each fish, no bacteria were cultured aerobically from skin, kidney, spleen, liver, or brain. Mycobacterium marinum was cultured from the liver of the last fish that was euthanatized after it became moribund and failed to respond to symptomatic treatment.
). He is about 3" and I haven't fed him yet as he is pooping up a storm and his belly is a bit rounded. I suspect he had a rather large meal in the fish store, maybe a blenny or a small tang. In the next day or two I plan to offer him some frozen food, but if he doesn't take it I have plenty of live to go around, same fare but larger than what the nummi gets twice per week. Sound like a solid plan to you guys?
