The ornamental fish industry in Australia, valued at over $200 million (FRDC 2007) is comprised of more than 200 licensed fish breeders, collectors and importers who through a network of wholesalers supply over 2000 pet shops and specialist aquarium outlets distrubuted around the country.

The majority of fish traded within Australia are sourced from imports (around 15 million fish annually), which comprises mostly freshwater finfish, while local production from breeding varies between 5-10 million per annum.

Like all animals, aquarium fish can carry and transmit disease. This includes parasites, bacteria and viruses. These 'diseases' could seriously affect the growth of the ornamental industry in Australia and therefore gaining a better understanding in terms of identification, treatment and management is impecable to allow this industry to flourish.

The project will identify existing and emerging Ornamental Fish Diseases as well as discuss the methodology for diagnosis and treatment of parasitic, bacterial, viral, as well as nutritional, and environmental diseases of warmwater food fish and aquarium species.