VTMED 6432 - Fish Health Management

Spring. 1.5 credits. Student option grading.

Enrollment limited to: second, third, and fourth year veterinary students or written permission of instructor. Minimum enrollment 8; maximum 16.

H. Marquis.

This lecture and laboratory course provides an overview of the aquatic environment and the important infectious and non-infectious diseases of aquatic animals in commercial aquaculture, aquarium systems, and natural waters. The laboratory is designed to provide students with a knowledge base and hands-on fish necropsy, diagnostic, anesthesia, blood collection, and fish health management in large and small aquariums. Students will maintain and manage small aquarium systems during the course to gain an appreciation for the science behind the operation of those systems. This course requires time outside the normal scheduled class sessions for management of the aquarium systems (to be scheduled by the students) and for an external visit to the Syracuse zoo aquatic facility. Student evaluation will be comprised of four parts: participation to labs, a lab report related to aquarium water quality, maintenance, and fish health issues, a paper on a topic in aquatic animal health, and a written exam.