The practicle alternative is that I have *never* found it *necessary* to use
broad spectrum or gram specific antibiotics in *any* of my aquaria pursuits,
*any* of my customer's aquaria pursuits, *any* of the people I've advised
online's aquaria pursuits. In fact, things more frequently became worse
(read: animals actually were harmed in the creation of this event) when they
didn't listen to my arguments and did whatever they wanted which usually,
didn't involve a separate container to do a dip in because they'd ignored
everything I said. And then who came back whimpering?
I'm not questioning anyone's methods specifically. All I'm getting at is we
ought to thoughtfully consider what we're doing with this stuff, and that I've
found them to not be necessary in our aquariums. Plainly put, *I just don't
think they need to be on the shelf*. Remember all that dialogue I presented
yesterday about correcting the problems before worrying yourself about the
symptoms? :)
And I wasn't talking about just fish getting affected upon watershed
contamination, but that point I think has been lost in the fact that this is,
afterall, a fish list. But you might take heart in reading Mr. Huntley's
human account :)
Todd
-----Original Message-----
From: Irate Mormon
Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2002 2:37 PM
To: nanfa_at_aquaria.net
Subject: RE: NANFA-- Antibiotics
So, what's a practical alternative? Euthanize the sick fishes? Take a
bacterial culture and grow it out, and hope the fishes don't die
before you or the vet can make a righteous diagnosis? (Don't forget to pay
the vet his $40 or so...) Or maybe aquarists should have
to get a pharmacy degree.
The idea that dumping antibiotic-resistant bacteria "100 yards from the
headwaters of your favorite trout stream" is a real danger is far-
fetched as well. Nobody is really treating wild fishes in their native
habitat, so the fact that the bacteria are resistant is irrelevant.
Furthermore, if what you are suggesting is that aquarium-borne infections may
be spread to wild populations through water changes,
then the entire aquarium hobby is in real trouble. We should all give up
keeping fishes. After all, why take a chance?
On 12 Nov 2002 at 13:33, Crail, Todd wrote:
> So you're okay with someone dumping their post-tank nuking water
> change into their leechbed 100 yards from your favorite salmon
> headwaters? Or down the driveway into the stormdrain? Cause you
> know, E coli *never* makes it into the water :)
>
> The goal is always education. Wether concerning proper aquaria
> procedure or Anthrax scares (did anyone else watch the med racks at
> the shops during the scare?).
>
> Apathy is the real enemy and evil in that light, and I'd prefer to
> stick to a society that requires prequalification before allowing
> anyone to dispense these chemicals for whatever cause. A pharmacist
> spends how long in school to gain the right to dispense these
> chemicals to humans? A medical doctor spends how long in school to
> gain the right to dispense these chemicals to humans?
Prost,
Martin
Jackson, MS
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