Wild Banggai Population at risk

[F&Fmgr]

from one of my vendors....

 

"Due to a recent outbreak of a highly contagious and untreatable iridovirus among wild-caught Banggai Cardinals (Pterapogon kauderni), we will no longer be importing or selling these fish. Symptoms of this virus include listlessness, reduced appetite, and sunken stomach. Reports indicate a mortality rate of over 50% among infected fish within 4-6 weeks.

 

More information about the Iridovirus:

 

* The virus has only been found in wild-caught Banggai Cardinals imported into the US

 

* It appears that the virus is species-specific; there have been no known cases of this virus being transmitted to other fish

 

* The virus has only been isolated from wild-collected fish so it is unclear at what point in the supply chain the fish are being infected or whether it originates in the wild and is amplified by the stresses of shipping, etc.

 

What you can do:

 

* Discontinue carrying imported Banggai Cardinals until more is known about this virus and its potential effects

 

* Advise your customers to exercise caution when buying new fish—adding a wild collected cardinal to an established, healthy group of Banggais puts the whole group at risk of infection.

 

* Because of the extended incubation time of the virus, infected fish may not show symptoms for over a month, if at all. This makes standard quarantine procedures much less effective at screening out unhealthy fish. "

Edited November 10, 2011 by F&Fmgr

[trockafella]

Sean, would you advise against purchasing tank bred Bangaiis at this time. I was in the market for a few, but this certainly may change that.. Thanks..

[Coral Hind]

Wow, that is sad news. Thanks for the info Sean!

[F&Fmgr]

i think any fish breeder would have to make sure proper precautions are taken when introducing new brood stock. centralized UV sterilization is really the only thing besides chlorine that really truly kills viruses. several companies have tried to make products but they are therapeutic at best. Observational QT should be done for at least two months IMO with newly acquired wild Banggais.

 

I think tank bred is the ONLY option. I don't think they'll be affected or infected for that matter if proper precautions are taken

[FearTheTerps]

Ive been in the market for a few banggai as well, I have notice the last several months there havent been many for sale ( at least in the places Ive looked) maybe this was just a coincidence though.

 

At least there are fairly easy to breed in the home aquarium. Anyone in the club still breeding these??? I know sharkey18 was before she had her tank crash and lost all her fish.

[SunWyrm]

Start breeding ppl! Stat!

 

:( just when I started looking for some. I wanted to try to breed them too.