Technical Abstract: Stress in Public Displayed, Cultured, and Pet Fish David J. Pasnik, Joyce J. Evans, Phillip H. Klesius, Victor A. Panangala (?) Aquatic Animal Health Research Laboratory (AAHRL), United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, 118 B Lynchburg Street, Chestertown, MD 21620 and P.O. Box 952, Auburn, AL 36832. Stress in fish seems to be a vague issue, but laypeople, scientists and veterinarians routinely point to stress as a major contributor to fish disease and death. In fact, it is commonly believed that fish are highly susceptible to stress. The objective of this presentation will be 1) to help veterinarians understand the stress responses of fish and their impact on fish health and 2) to discuss what veterinarians and fish health professionals can do to mitigate stress in fish and their owners. Topics will include: 1. Review of primary (cortisol), secondary (glucose), and tertiary stress responses (homeostasis disturbance) and their pros and cons 2. Causes of stress responses in fish (water quality, nutrition, aggression, handling, disease etc.) 3. Clinical and diagnostic signs of stress in fish (behavior changes, mucus sloughing, fertility problems, immunosuppression, elevated blood cortisol and glucose, disease, mortality, sampling, etc.) 4. Methods of treatment or prevention of stress (analgesics/anesthetics, medications, eradication of the offending factor, etc.) 5. Evaluate current perspectives on consciousness and pain and how they influence our understanding of stress and fish well-being and welfare In order to wrap up the discussion, the final discussion will present real-life, specific examples of how stress can impact fish health in 3 different settings where veterinarians work with fish and what veterinarians can do about it. 1. Public Aquarium: how water quality, habitat, and cohabitation play a significant role in the viability of an aquarium exhibit 2. Aquaculture: how intensive culture and feeding regimes affect growth, health, and product in a fish farm 3. Client-Owned Pet Fish: how transport of ornamental fish from a grow-out pond or a reef, on a truck, plane and/or automobile, and into a pet store tank can affect the quality and health of potential fish pets