How to choose and use microscopes in the aquarium hobby

Making a wrong diagnoses when your fish gets sick can be both costly when using wrong medications and can lead to the loss of your fish. Dr Loh demonstrates how to use several microscopes ranging from beginner to advanced, and also shows you how to take samples from your fish to check for various common diseases and parasites, plus video examples of what they look like under the microscope to show you ways to accurately reach a diagnosis in order to cure a sick fish.
Disclaimer:
The opinions expressed on this channel and by Dr Loh are created for educational and informational purposes only, and are not intended as a diagnosis, treatment or as a substitute for professional Veterinary advice, diagnosis and treatment. If you have a question or concern about your own fish, please consult a local Veterinarian or professional to address your needs or concerns, or for advice on specific treatments for your aquatic pets.
The Fish Doctor Channel does not endorse or recommend any commercial products, medical treatments, pharmaceuticals, brand names, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation. Names are for the information and education of the viewing public, and the mention of any of the above on the channel does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by The Fish Doctor channel or Dr Loh.

[@happywrench3044]

After many years of guessing games on trying to find the right treatment for sick fish. I now own a microscope from watching your video. Now I know what type of problem I'm dealing with and the correct treatment. I enjoy watching all your videos. Thank you!

[@jacobhollidge59]

Animal health is already a much neglected field, fish health specifically seems far more neglected then most, at least around my area. Thank you so much for all of your videos.

[@Just_Lurking8]

Yes, you’re so correct, I feel bad 😞 for the poor fish…

[@kevinklaas776]

Love your videos. You should develop a guide targeted to the diy fish keeper on diagnosing, microscope use and treatment methods available to the tropical fish keeper.

[@rvalasini9938]

I agree

[@acjupp83]

Thanks mate. I went looking at microscopes and had no idea what I was looking for. This gave me a better idea! 👍🏽

[@nextlevelfishkeeping7997]

u are going to get famous one day. nice work

[@Chelle.O.Marshmellow]

Your videos are very helpful thank you for taking the time to show people how to care for sick fish. I watched this video and bought a microscope, and I was hoping you could tell me if it's normal to find very small worms under the microscope in the fecal sample. I've had some female plattys that have been bloated for a very long time and exhibit swim bladder like issues. Some days are worse than others. I've done Epsom salt, fasting and peas but it doesnt seem to help. They sometimes either float at the top not on their side they are still upright or sit on the bottom some days. Their spines are slightly curved and the losses of them are usually far appart but slowly still happening.

[@Reefahholic]

Man, thanks so much for this video! Been looking for this.

[@Shifty761989]

Why did 2 people dislike this, excellent video thanks

[@Trianglebestvideo]

Nice video, helps a lot, thanks.

[@StevenTanWilddiscus]

Tqvm Doc, learning a lot from your video, will keep on follow & do my best with the knowledge provided from u, wish u all the best with your wonderful work.

[@markgeraldcabatingan6086]

Hi Doc do you have an online seminar i really want to learn from you i've been watching your video and it helps me a lot

[@thefishdoctor8746]

You can get more on similar topics here - www.wavma.org/WebCEPD

[@busterperriss]

thanks. looking forward to using a microscope and forwarding my husbandry.

[@sergiohenriquedefaria9624]

Hi, Vet here. Fantastic video 👏🏼👏🏼 I have a Cardinal Tetra in a formalin histology pot, suspected death from Ich. Is it possible to make a slide and confirm/rule out the disease? If so, what would you recommend? Any stains? Thank you Sergio de Faria MRCVS-UK

[@TecnoDesarrollos]

Thanks a lot for this video you got one more follower. I started learning about freshwater crayfish research with Cherax Quadricarinatus and Procambarus Clarkii and I am impresed with all microbiology arround the things they eat with the gammarus, daphnia, rotifers, and now with parasits from your video and the bacteria in filters definitively I need a microscope, hope I can have your support on future advices. Thanks for your video. Greetings.

[@sam666r]

Really informative

[@movingwater7312]

i love this channel!

[@thechannelivesetupbecausey3585]

Brilliant video. Thanks for uploading. The only thing i would disagree with is using a cover slip to take the skin scrape....especially if you're new to scraping. If/WHEN the fish wriggles, the cover slip could snap. Could i ask how you clean objectives? I didnt read the instructions on mine and jumped straight in.....sending the x40 crashing down on the slide. It has been too dirty to see through ever since.

[@thegoldfishcafe3721]

Would you mind posting the names of the microscopes and respectable places to purchase them? Thank you for the video!

[@thefishdoctor8746]

Elisa Sandle they are "no name brands" and sold to different companies to put their own label on. Basically, the more you pay, the better the quality of the optics. The optics of these monocular and trinocular microscopes almost rival the Nikon and Olympus ( that can set you back $12000!) for a fraction of the price. I appreciate it's difficult to source all these things from the myriad available on the net. So, many of the tools I use for my fish veterinary work is available at thefishvet.com.au/shop/shopping.html

[@veronicav2478]

Thank you! You've taught me so much👍

[@bern585]

Amazing thanks doc I learned alot

[@keithcunningham884]

Outstanding!!! Thank you

[@EvenstarWD]

Thanks to your videos I just bought my first microscope and managed to find capillaria eggs and hexamita/spironucleus. But I must say finding them is not that easy, especially the small protozoa. I noticed that everything is in layers, and at 400x, if I focused on the upper layer, where I found the eggs, I couldn't see at all some of the things that were on the lowest layer, not even as a blur. And if I focused on the lower layer, I couldn't see the eggs at all. So that makes me think I might easily miss something as small as spironucleus. I only saw two of them, but maybe there were more and I just couldn't find them. What's your technique to scan for them and make sure you don't miss anything?

[@thefishdoctor8746]

Takes practice

[@EvenstarWD]

Yeah, guess so! Have you noticed if spironucleus is usually found on the upper layer or the lower layer? Or do you usually find some on both?

[@Chequr_Prostate]

Doesn’t one of the eye pieces adjust to allow for eye problems on the binocular?

[@risky8370]

I'm curious, I've been reading and researching alot about microscopes. Which to buy, which is best, what magnification is needed. Most hobbyists advice I've read, suggest for aquarium fish purposes and koi scrapes, 400x is the magnification needed. Is this true? Or is what suggested here ok?

[@anthonyjserianni2268]

Thanks for your help. I'm waiting on my microscope to come in a few days but had a fish die today, is there anyway to preserve the body and still get viable samples in a few days? Thanks again.

[@ianroughley1933]

amazing work :)

[@nikolaradakovic5050]

I would like to observe live nitrifying and de-nitifying bacteria. Do I need phase contrast microscope?

[@kristenjawor-brady8491]

No brand name?

[@prettyparadoxicalwoman8285]

I'm trying to see lymes disease spirochetes. Also malaria parasites. What microscope would do this? Thank you

[@HermeticJazz]

So I am looking for a microscope so I can look at my saltwater aquariums water. I have seeded the tank with a bunch of different planktons and zooplanktons. I want to monitor this life more than diagnose problems. Before I put corals in my tank. Will the beginner one do that?

[@Devonhursey]

hi , i have two oranda goldfish. my orandas are behaving very abnormally, they are either swimmimg at corner of the tank or lie on the surface of the tank. they are also not eating properly. any suggestion. Is there any diseases they are suffering from. Please advice.

[@jodihorton340]

thisbguy is great

[@EvenstarWD]

If no parasites are visible in the feces and no fish is sick enough to be sacrificed, in which order do you usually try meds to test response to treatment? (assuming the fish has no other symptoms than stringy white feces and perhaps a drop in appetite)

[@thefishdoctor8746]

Try change in diet first.

[@EvenstarWD]

Thanks!

[@tommyriordan870]

Would one that does from 40x to 1000x be amy good

[@wupe85]

super!

[@brandonestrada2791]

You should have a snapchat. You can be like doctor Miami but for fish

[@beth-rg8bm]

Great...now tell me how to afford one!

[@amandafredette872]

I would love to study fish and their scales humanely so i could create more realistic swimmable silicone/resin mermaid tails for myself and others out of love for God and his beautiful creations of sea life! ^^

[@rskid365]

Woah