Ornamental Fish Q&A 21

This question was provided by Manson Publishing as part of the OVAL Project. See more Ornamental Fish Q&A.

Question	Answer		Article
Why would you wear gloves when handling a fish?	Fish should only be handled when absolutely necessary. Handling time should always be minimized. Make sure all work done with the animal is carefully planned and thought out. If one has never worked with a particular species of fish, it is very important to learn as much as possible about that species before handling the animal. Potentially dangerous animals should never be handled alone. Fish can carry zoonotic organisms such as mycobacteria, so latex or plastic gloves should be worn when handling fish. Moistened latex gloves also protect the fish by decreasing the disruption of the protective mucus layer, which is important in osmoregulation and immune function. Eye protection will protect the fish handler from splashing water.		Link to Article