By Nick Campise
I am a fisheries biology student at Humboldt State University currently studying fish disease.
As fish habitat degrades due to the effects of pollution, climate change, water loss and other factors, fish become more vulnerable to disease.
For this reason it is critical for aquarium hobbyists to be responsible with their exotic pets and prevent the spread of disease into local waters.
If you care to protect the fish populations in your backyard, you can take some precautions.
? Never release your aquatic pets into the wild, dead or alive.
? Never use your aquarium supplies like nets, buckets, pumps and hoses in your local lakes and rivers without sanitizing them with bleach first.
? Never dump your aquarium water or substrate, (gravel, sand, rocks, wood) into your local waters.
Thank you for your concerns for the fish both in and outside of your home.
Nick Campise
Eureka
