"NetMax" wrote in message ... ((( SNIPPED )))

I am an animal empath and I would like to add to this....

The other interesting phenomena was the rate of wound repair in the
community tank. I've always felt that hospital tanks were poor
environments for recovery and only suitable for the duration of a
medicinal dosage. It's equivalent to putting someone in solitary
confinement until they get better ;~). Quarantine & hospital tanks can
be identically set-up, but recovery tanks should have shelter and some
chances of interaction with other fish. Besides the effect on the fish's
metabolism (and immune system), I wonder if there was anything in the
community tank's water which speeded recovery (chemical, hormonal,
inducing to slime production etc).


I agree, depending on the situation. But there is no doubt that the
stress of netting and transferring a fish into a barren and sterile
enviroment is a risk that should be carefully considered.

And that was a great story about the wound. It didn't quite heal
properly until the angel was back with other angels doing
'angel-like-things' and feeling like an angel again. I say this light
heartedly but fishes have souls too, which stimulate and are
stimulated by intense instincts, which then stimulate the body to
perform and in this case heal. This is a great example and I'm glad
it was brought up.

I'd like to take this opportunity for another quick story (one of many
I have) to further illustrate the point that fish are indeed little
souls because I can't remember it ever being talked about without
flames. This is of a breeding pair of true texas cichlids I had for
years. The pair had raised so many spawns whether I liked it or not I
was running out of space and pet stores who'd take them. Anyway the
male suddenly came down with a fungal infection, my guess is brought
on by old age and weakness, and I had to take him out for dips and
soaks and sometimes he'd spend half the day away from his tank.
Towards the end, he could only lay on his side, but I could not freeze
him (euth.) because upon my introducing him back to his tank after his
daily baths (which seemed to atleast postpone the obvious), he would
lay on the bottom of the tank and the female would come over and
literally hover directly over him, almost fanning him as if he were
her fry. And sometimes he would struggle to get upright, as if just
for her. It was truly amazing to see, she wouldn't leave him for
anything, and she'd defend him against the catfish. And when at last
his end came, she retreated to their old spawning cave and never came
out. She never ate again, despite my efforts, and passed away not too
long later.

Heather
Animal Empath and former Veterinary Technician