By Dr. Brian S. Palmeiro
Most aquarium hobbyists have experienced frustration when one of their fish gets sick. A walk down the medication aisle at the local fish store can be extremely confusing. The varying opinions from fish store personnel, other hobbyists and online resources can be equally perplexing. According to the American Pet Product Manufacturers Association, fish are currently the most commonly kept pet in the United States (2007/2008 APPMA National Pet Owners Survey. American Pet Product Manufacturers Association Inc Website. www.americanpet products.org/press_industrytrends.asp).
In the past, finding a veterinarian with an interest or ability to treat pet fish was a rarity, but given the popularity of aquarium fish, more veterinarians have been diving into the unchartered waters of pet fish medicine. Many will work with all species of fish from an inexpensive tetra to a koi worth thousands of dollars.
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