Articles by Jay Hemdal

Food for Thought Or Potential Pitfalls of Using Utility Organisms (CUC) in Aquariums Jay Hemdal Aquarists often add “utility organisms” (animals not just for use in a purely decorative sense) to their aquariums to serve some beneficial function. These are often called CUC (Clean Up...

Mucus: The Slime that Binds Jay Hemdal C. 2020 This article examines the various causes of excess mucus coatings on fish, as well as fecal mucus issues. ------------------- The mucus produced by the fish’s epidermal cells gives them their characteristic slimy feel. Mucus is produced by three...

Parasitic Crustaceans (Copepods, Isopods, and Sea Lice) Jay Hemdal c.2020 This is an excerpt from my upcoming fish disease book - a section on arthropod parasites of fish; isopods and copepods. ------------------ Cause This disease problem is caused by a variety of very small crustaceans that...

This file is a PDF copy of the book, "Aquarium Careers" written by Jay Hemdal It offers some advice to people interested in aquariums as a career. What is a “Job”, what is an “Occupation”, and how might they differ from a “Career”? To me, a job is something distasteful that you must do in...

Red Band Syndrome in Marine Fishes: Caused by the Protozoan; Uronema sp. Jay Hemdal Introduction: This moderately common disease of certain species of marine fish is so often misdiagnosed that most aquarists apply incorrect treatment methods when attempting a cure. Symptoms include the...

Aquarium Inventions @Jay Hemdal C.2006 This article discusses aquarium inventions, a bit of history and future thoughts. It is offered just as a way to get DIYers thinking about expanding on their ideas. Includes an interview with John Kuhns, the person who invented Novaqua and Amquel. A...

The Harlequin Tuskfish – All Dressed Up, but Anywhere to Go? Jay Hemdal Arguably one of the most colorful Pacific reef fish, the harlequin tuskfish is often the premier subject for underwater photographers, and is commonly used as a subject by artists who portray the coral reef environment...

Activated Carbon as a Cause of Head and Lateral Line Erosion (HLLE) in Marine Aquarium fish Jay Hemdal c. 2020 Background: Head and Lateral Line Erosion (HLLE) is the name for a type of skin erosion that affects some species of marine fishes in captivity. It is occasionally referred to as...

Proper Dosing of Medicated Foods Jay Hemdal c. 2020 Oral medications are an excellent way to target internal diseases of fishes. Marine fish absorb aquarium water, so in certain cases, they “drink” enough medication from the water to effect a cure. However, freshwater fish actively export...