Many authors mention Lymphocystis being a weakness parasite and I am
convinced it is, as is tuberculosms and most skin parasites.
I think it more than a hypothesis that in FD and flakefood there are
ingredients nobody would offer his fish if he could see it as raw material.
And I doubt the production process is as sterile as it should be. It4s not
made for human consumption and whatever the producers state - it4s marketing
rather than optimum nutrition. It is far away from being natural. Fish
species may be generalists or specilized in certain food types, from flower
dust to paranuts! From crustaceans to fishes. And we offer them a standard
"dirt" made of vaste materials from beef, chicken, turkey, fish flower,
vergetables (not Grandma4s Garden Quality!), conservation additives and what
else is put in. And it is dry (!), whatever is given for the amounts of
nutritions (fat, raw fibre etc.) - it cannot be good for the intestinal
organs and metabolism. Millions of fishes every year die by fat liver,
waterbelly, tuberculosis etc. This doesn4t come from nothing. The industry
itself is not (alone) to be blamed. Why feed that sh.t?
My oppinion is: rather care for the natural requirements than in fighting
diseases.
Of course, the viruses and bacteria can and will be introduced with new
fishes and from many possible sources (Oodinium sporocytesi are found in
most tab waters in Germany regularly!). But fishes will get over it if they
are strong.
If somebody thinks different, he/she is free to do so. For me, it works and
shows.
Keep my fingers crossed for Geoff and everybody else who has or will have it
in tanks to get over the epidemy.
Irate, you may speak of something different than lymphocystis. To me it
sounds like the description of a Glugea-infection. These parasites are
species-specific, absolutely incurable but not that problematic as the
disease takes time to kill a fish (but it surely will!). Glugeas are well
know from many species of killifish (Nothobranchius in east Africa,
Simpsonichthys in South America). E.g. the Simpsonichthys fulminantis have
it in nature, but their predators Cynolebias leptocephalus don4t ever get
it.
I eradicated the Glugea by spawning the fish as young as possible and
eliminating any fish with visible white knots (first under their skin, then
rising and finally "exploding" and setting the "load" free). After two
generations the disease was wiped out. Friends did succeed with for
Nothobranchius as well.
Possibly there is a species of Glugea infecting a certain species in North
America (I am sure there are more). If so and it is in ones tanks, get the
fishes with symptoms out ASAP and watch the others for months.
If it concerns fishes from one location or species only - leave those, there
are others.
Steffen
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