2008

Koi Health Seminar

The seminar was held on February 15-17, 2008 in Athens, Georgia.

Photos from the Event

Speakers:

Dr Erik Johnson

Dr. Erik Johnson is a veterinarian and fish health specialist. He has been practicing fish medicine since graduation in 1991 from UGA. He's a well known speaker on the national level. He has been an instructor of UGA Ornamental Fish Health Course on many occasions. Dr. Johnson is a published author with books and many articles to his credit. He sponsors multiple websites on fish health.

Dr Steven Hernandez Divers

Dr, Stephen Hernandez-Divers graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in London, and is a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Diplomate of Zoological Medicine, a RCVS recognized Specialist in Zoo & Wildlife Medicine, and a Diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine. He is a past-president of the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians, associate editor for the Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, and chair of the editorial board for the Journal of Herpetological Medicine & Surgery. Dr ‘HD’ is Associate Professor of Exotic Animal, Wildlife, and Zoological Medicine, and co-director of the Endoscopy Research and Development Center, at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia.

Dr Helen Roberts

Dr Helen Roberts received her DVM from the University of Georgia in 1990. She currently co-owns a small and exotic animal practice in Orchard Park, NY and also owns an ambulatory practice exclusively for pet fish. Helen is involved with local emergency and disaster response in Western New York, where she serves as the veterinary sector leader for a regional specialized medical response team. Dr Roberts is also a consultant for Veterinary Information Network (VIN-aquatics) and teaches several veterinary technician courses online for Vet Med Team. In her spare time, she enjoys being in her backyard where she has several ornamental fish ponds and over fifteen bird feeding stations. She also is an avid computer gamer.

Dr Brian Palmeiro

Dr. Brian Palmeiro received a Bachelor of Science from Rutgers University with a major in animal science and a minor in marine biology. While at Rutgers, he worked as head aquarist at the Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences. Dr. Palmeiro attended veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine. Currently, Dr. Palmeiro is employed as a small animal veterinarian at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Palmeiro is also the staff veterinarian for a large ornamental fish wholesaler in Philadelphia, where he works with an extremely diverse population of fish. Dr. Palmeiro also does consultations for private koi ponds, aquaria and other fish retail and breeding facilities (www.petfishdoctor.com). He is an aquatic animal medicine consultant for the Veterinary Information Network. Dr. Palmeiro is involved in various studies focusing on ornamental fish health including a research project establishing normal biochemistry values in koi and research on microbiological characteristics of koi ulcer disease. He has given numerous lectures and laboratories on fish medicine to hobbyists, veterinary students and veterinarians. Dr. Palmeiro recently created and directed the first clinical rotation in pet fish medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a founding member of the World Aquatic Veterinary Medicial Association, and a member of the Fish Veterinary Society.

Presentations by Dr. Brian Palmeiro: Biology and Physilogy of Disease and Fish, Fecal Exam and Endoparasites of Fish

Dr Jay Shelton

Dr. James (Jay) Shelton is an Associate Professor of Fisheries in the D.B. Warnell School of Forest Resources, University of Georgia, where he conducts research and teaches a course in fish culture. He has a Ph.D. in Fisheries and Aquaculture from Auburn University. He has worked with artificial propagation of a variety of fish species including koi, striped bass, grass carp, and channel catfish. He is currently assisting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources in an effort to develop artificial propagation techniques for use in the recovery an imperiled fish species, the robust redhorse (Moxostoma robustum), native to Georgia, North and South Carolina. He has given presentations at past koi health management and koi breeding classes, as well as the American Veterinary Medical Association Annual Convention.

Vicki Vaughan

Research Coordinator, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia Center for Emerging Diseases of Companion Animals Director of Aquatic Services, College of Veterinary Medicine President of Molecular Therapeutics- manufacturers of Tricide Neo Director of KOILAB Diagnostics Owner/operator of The Koi Store which breeds and imports koi. Ms Vaughan has been associated with The College of Veterinary Medicine for 15 years and is responsible for research directed at disease processes affecting aquatic species. As president of Molecular Therapeutics Ms Vaughan is responsible for the formulation of medicants for aquatic species such as Tricide neo and Neocide Three. Ms. Vaughan is the course coordinator for The Koi Health Seminar which is a 3 day hands on lecture series and wet lab designed to introduce hobbyists, retailers, and veterinarians to disease identification, treatment and prevention.

Michael Anderson

Michael Anderson is an Electrical Engineer who has worked with telecommunication systems since 1972. Michael and his wife Toni built their first pond in the spring of 1998. It was in reality a water garden with koi. This combination caused them to both learn better ways to keep koi. In 2001 the water garden was replaced by a 4,000 gallon koi pond designed by Michael. In 2003 Michael and Toni moved to Atlanta and joined the Atlanta Koi Club. Michael designed the club's website and is the club's AKCA Director. Michael is also Vice President for 2008-2009. Toni is the Newsletter Editor. Michael designed and built their current 8' deep 10,000 gallon koi pond.. He is a contributor to KOIUSA and KOI NATION magazines and is a regular on koi-related bulletin boards such as KoiShack (www.koishack.com).

Presentation by Michael Anderson: Nishikigoi Pond Water Quality