Ornamental fish

William Wildgoose has provided professional services to fish clients on a first and second opinion basis for over 20 years. Most fish work involves private hobbyists with coldwater ornamental fish such as koi and goldfish. He has been the veterinary advisor to the Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA) since 1996 and offers professional services to several importers and retailers of ornamental fish. He is on the Secretary of State’s list of registered zoo inspectors with a special interest in public aquaria.

Qualifications

Postgraduate RCVS Certificate in Fish Health and Production

Memberships

• Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
• Fish Veterinary Society
• European Association of Fish Pathologists
• British Koi Keepers Association
• British Veterinary Zoological Society
• International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine

Publications

• Written several peer-reviewed scientific papers
• Written many articles for the scientific and hobby press
• Editor of the Fish Veterinary Journal for three years
• Edited and cotributed to the BSAVA Manual of Ornamental Fish (2001)

Recent Scientific Papers

• Occurence of spontaneous tumours of the renal proximal tubules in oscars (2010)
• Buoyancy disorders of ornamental fish (2007)
• Exenteration in fish (2007)
• Ornamental fish in veterinary practice (2006)
• Internal diseases of ornamental fish (2006)
• Fish Veterinary Journal

Presentations

• Lectures regularly to hobbyist groups, students, vets and other fish health professionals.
• Acted as tutor on several courses on fish health, both internationally and in the UK.

Recent presentations were at the FVS meetings in Glasgow (2006) and Southampton (2006), OATA conference in Coventry (2006), EAFP conference in Copenhagen (2005), the NAVC in Orlando (2007) and the BVA Animal Welfare Fund Conference (2009).

Services offered

• Diagnostic disease investigations in ornamental fish.
• Health care for commercial and private clients.
• Consultations and site visits by appointment.
• Routine health monitoring and water quality testing.
• Laboratory tests (microscopy, autopsy, bacteriology, virology, histopathology).
• Veterinary radiography, medical and surgical treatments.
• Assistance in litigation and insurance cases.

Interests

Buoyancy disorders and internal disease, which accounts for 50% of cases: these frequently require radiography (X-rays) and other diagnostic investigations.