> Immunologically, your description makes sense, Chip. Testosterone is a
> strong immunosuppresant, and testosterone levels increase dramatically
> during spawning season for both males and females in most fish species. In
> that weakened state they may have become susceptible to infection. This
> could explain why your other sunfish were unaffected.
>
> --Bruce Stallsmith
Ah-HA!
Well, whaddyaknow? That just might explain it. My shiners have been
spawning, but not my sunfishes or Pygmy suns or any other fish. The opposite
is true for Chip's fish. ( sort of )
Okay, assuming that's part of the problem, all I gotta do now is figure out
what the disease that normally lies dormant is and elimnate it, lest I keep
having this problem with every spawn. Those Burrheads I mentioned having
this last year? Guess what-- it hit after they spawned, which I had simply
chalked up to the "spawn & die" habit of many fishes.
Well, it's not great news, but it's-in-least something to go on, I guess.
Thanks, Bruce! I suppose I could try keeping them in conditions which aren't
conducive to spawning to see if that helps, but I suppose I'm probably going
to wind up having to just tear down, sterilize, and restart everything,
since spawning is kinda the whole point.
Rats.
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