Spring Viraemia of Carp (SVC)

Chris · #1 03-17-2008, 06:58 PM

Reports of an importation of Fancy Goldfish from Hong Kong carrying the deadly SVC disease.

This is a notifiable disease under defra controls, an out-break must be notified and all fish within establishment or home aquaria will be humanely destroyed by defra officials, regardless of whether they have been in contact with the newly imported fish or not.

If you are thinking of buying new stock and are not sure of the source of the fish then ask, any reputable wholesaler should be able to tell you where the fish came from, if they are vague in their answer DO NOT BUY THEM!!!

Here is the link to the story on the Practical Fish keeping site.

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.u....php?news=1609

This is not meant to scare-monger or to worry reputable sellers, but to advise people who may find that one special fish might wipe out their pride and joy.

Richard Gb · #2 03-18-2008, 08:55 AM

Again Chris has pointed out the reason why we should all have quarantine facilities

D.R. · #3 03-18-2008, 07:36 PM

Great link Chris, as someone who used to test for such notifiable diseases I would advise anyone who has been facing mortalities on a large scale to contact their local authority, DEFRA on the mainland, In N.I. there are no reports of SVC, we would like to keep it that way.
There were reports of smuggled ornamental fish from Europe to the UK. Although customs officials have tightened security measures.
For notifiable diseases, testing agencies foot the bill, they are obliged to investigate under European directives. So the average Joe Bloggs will not be charged.

Chris · #4 03-20-2008, 03:51 PM

My best advice for quarantine is a separate tank, well away from all others preferably in a separate room. All nets and ancilliary equipment should only be used for the quarantine tank and NEVER EVER USED ON YOUR EXISTING TANKS. Have a heater at hand for your quarantine tank and increase the temperature of the water by a degree a day untill it reaches around eighty degrees, plenty of aeration and the fish will not suffer, most of the diseases that are carried into the country by Far East imports only come out at high temperatures and over a long period of time, The last fish I brought into my stock is still sitting in a separate tank in my garden shed at eighty degrees and has been for the last eighteen months, he is showing no signs of disease and is happily swimming around and eating three meals a day.

Remember that PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE in all cases, most fish importers do not have the facilities or time to quarantine fish properly, in my opinion two weeks is nowhere near enough time for any fish to show any signs of being unwell never mind being clear of disease. It is our responsibility to ensure that we do what is best for the fish in our charge.

Richard Gb · #5 03-20-2008, 06:15 PM

The above also stands for Koi and goldfish kept outdoors in ponds only on a larger scale

D.R. · #6 03-20-2008, 09:34 PM

Chris - do you always quarantine for such lengthy periods? Several months would be more than sufficient. Even SVC will show clinical signs at around 3 weeks after infection. Exposure to the virus for a couple of hours will cause infection.

telboy · #7 03-20-2008, 09:42 PM

18 months quarentine?geesh i only ever quarantine for a month max, but then saying that i havent quarentined a fish for donkeys

Richard Gb · #8 03-21-2008, 06:27 AM

Most Dealers quarantine their koi for six weeks b4 releasing them for sale. This includes raising and dropping the temperature of the ponds several times aver this period. if you find a dealer that does this then short periods of quarantine at home will then suffice

Chris · #9 03-21-2008, 07:07 AM

The reason that I quarantine for such a lengthy period is that some strains of my fish have been with me for over thirty years. I cannot replace the bloodline if anything happened to them. The fish that has been in solitary confinement was purchased from a dealer and I could not take the chance that it was carrying anything, even an outbreak of white spot could decimate my fish as they have never been exposed to any diseases.

The reason for me purchasing the fish was to put in a more desirable trait into the particular line of fish, It was a Lionhead with a fantastic base blue colour, I will attempt to cross it back in to my line this year to improve the colour.

D.R. · #10 03-21-2008, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

The reason that I quarantine for such a lengthy period is that some strains of my fish have been with me for over thirty years. I cannot replace the bloodline if anything happened to them. The fish that has been in solitary confinement was purchased from a dealer and I could not take the chance that it was carrying anything, even an outbreak of white spot could decimate my fish as they have never been exposed to any diseases. The reason for me purchasing the fish was to put in a more desirable trait into the particular line of fish, It was a Lionhead with a fantastic base blue colour, I will attempt to cross it back in to my line this year to improve the colour.

I have absolutely no doubt that you have established a good strain. However, with 1 1/2 yrs in quarantine you have already missed out on a breeding season.
I always QT new fish, no matter what the reputation of the breeder/LFS.
You should set in place the same biosecurity measures after returning from a show.