Naesco,
No, I did not cover cyanide or capture techniques in the article. The title was not reducing losses associated with capture, transport and handling. The title was Reducing losses associated with transport and handling. Sorry that you feel that I should have written on a different subject. I also stated that some use the technologies or techniques discussed, I did not say that they all do. I also stated that I fully expected resistance to my suggestions. However, they are based on my research and knowledge of stress in fish and techniques to alleviate it.
Peter said:
“I agree that the article should have started by summarizing what is known concerining high mortality rates of marine fish in the aquarium trade, talked about possible causes, and then possible solutions.”
Sorry Peter, it seems you feel that I should have written about a different subject than the subject of my article. I realize that cyanide and capture techniques that are used are a problem, but that simply was not the subject of my article.
“The more pertinent papers were done by scientists at the University of Singapore. Terry should have noted what types of fish were studied when citing papers. Several of the most detailed research papers dealt with guppies and tiger barbs.”
The primary purpose of the article was to draw attention to the fact that too little emphasis is placed on enhancing stress resistance prior to shipment and post shipment recovery from stress and the recovery of normal homeostasis including osmoregul
atory balance.
As far as the species used in the studies it is true that some were freshwater. This is what G. McDonald and L. Milligan had to say about the stress response being similar in nature between various species of fish. “Nonetheless, the stress response are qualitatively similar in nature.” Since the stress response is similar in nature in fish (yes some are more sensitive than others) what we learn from one species of teleost fish can be extrapolated to apply to other species including marine. You might enjoy reading “Fish Stress and Health in Aquaculture” Edited by Iwama, Pickering, Sumpter and Schreck because it contains a wealth of information and references pertinent to the subject of stress in fish. Stress causes an internal hormonal response that is remarkably similar in all vertebrate animals, including fish. Since the article dealt with stress information from studies that used freshwater fish are still relevant to marine fish. I sited thirty-six references in the article. I would expect that to be sufficient to satisfy many people.
“Freshwater and marine aquarium fishes are shipped differently (eg. guppies shipped in groups in large bags, marines shipped one fish to a bag). Likewise, some of the chemicals listed in the article (e.g., neomycyin sulfate) are effective in freshwater but not in saltwater.”
I didn’t suggest that marines are shipped more than one per bag. You really should check your references about Neomycin not being effective in saltwater, because it is very potent in saltwater. This is what Bassleer says on page 81 of his book “Diseases in Marine Aquarium Fish” about Neomycin “One of the most effective antibiotics even for marine fish.”
I certainly do understand all the concern about the use of cyanide. I don’t condone the use of cyanide, it just wasn’t my subject.
Terry B
