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Group: Forum Members
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| Hey Kelly, I caught your talk in Michigan last April where you discussed your use of Beta Glucan. Since then I've read a heavily referenced and very impressive article by Terry Bartelme on the subject. I'm inherantly skeptical of the application of things like this, but it's certainly something I want to experiment with. So I have two questions: Is there any further reading I should do - or is anyone out there other than Kelly and Terry using this stuff? Where do I get it? Our local GNC's said they quit carrying it for lack of demand.  Kirby
Kirby ________________________ "It's funny because it's poisonous!." - Dr. Zoidberg
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| Kirby if you search online there are a number of online 'pharmacies' carrying this stuff, as well as Ocean Rider brand Vibrance food enrichment dust. Some LFSs carry it and the latest formulation includes beta glucan. I dunno if MD has it. They should look into it. The seahorse groups swear by this immunostimulant and many keepers/breeders use it extensively. I was using it to enrich BBS before feeding out to dwarf seahorses. Good stuff. Beta glucan by itself should be great if you added it to other enrichment (maybe Phytoplan or astaxanthin or spirulina powders). HTH >Sarah
"Seaweed is cool, seaweed is fun, it makes its food from the rays of the sun!"
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| For those of you who are not familiar with beta glucan. Beta glucan is derived from brewer's yeast and can boost the immune system. There is a wonderful article by Terry Bartleme that outlines the use/applications of beta glucan: http://www.marineaquariumadvice.com/beta_glucan_biological_defense_modulator.html I get my beta glucan at Wild Oats & Whole Foods. It comes in tablets (Solgar brand) and capsules (Solaray brand). I use beta glucan daily for a week on all newly acquired fish while they are being quarantined as well as daily for 10 days on fish that are being treated for disease or parasites. I have had and have seen beta glucan work well on seahorses as well as fish. I am sure Anthony Calfo (you might have heard of him  ) can attest to the benefits of beta glucan. He gave in to my "hounding him" to try it on his cirrhitus rivulatus (Giant Hawkfish) that came in with a BAD case of lymphocystis. Hope this helps.
Kelly
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Funny you mention that, Kirby. I spoke with Kelly at length about B -glucan, found the product SeaVive and used it successfully to treat an unknown growth on a 15yr old Macropharygydon geoffroyi (thanks Kell), and a few weeks ago by mistake stumbled into that article and found it tragic. Are we to believe in the expertise of someone who cannot spell the names of the organisms he is describing? I started on page 1, held my interest until I noticed some misstatements, then read faster and faster until I decided it belonged in Marine Fish Monthly if that magazine were still around. Sorry if I am being inciteful here, but it blew, and the references are right there to give it false credibility even if B glucan is seemingly a good solution.
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Hey Guys-
while I won't debate the merits in that article you cite. The reality is B-glucan appears to works, but the data is purely antecdotal, just like you've posted.
Unfortunately I have not found good studies which support or refute it in a rigorous scientific manner. So in their absence you have to decide on your own. For me, i've suppliment my feeding w/ it after my discussions w/ kelly from last year, and I've notice quality in my fish, and I haven't had heath issues. Could it be coincidence-sure, but Bglucan supplimentation has been studied in different animal models, so why not fish.
my opinion of course
frank
Frank
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"We are continually faced with a series of great opportunities disguised as insolvable problems."- John Gardner
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| Thanks for your input Eric & Frank! Not only is beta glucan being used in the marine community but also in the human community. It is being researched as a possibility in improving vaccination/immunization response (possibility of children receiving fewer immunizations without compromising immune status) as well as administering beta glucan with antibiotic treatment to help reduce resistant strains......many possible future uses for beta glucan! As many will find out as they get to know me better, I prefer the least invasive/least stressful method of treatment and will always look for a "natural" or "holistic" approach....now don't go thinking that I am one of those radicals that condones Modern medicine, as my "real" job is pediatric nurse practitioner. Kelly
Kelly
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Hmmmm. So you (Eric) are saying that I fell into the trap of thinking 33 references was impressive based on sheer quantity?  My problem is that I'm not a physiologist or microbiologist - and I didn't even stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night - so I was pretty much at the author's mercy after the introduction. I was thinking about using B-glucan in our quarantine. I'm involved with an LFS that quarantines all of its fish before they hit the floor. If there's something out there that could reduce losses in quarantine by even 10%, that would be both financially and emotionally rewarding. Seems like there's enough anecdotal evidence for me. Not sure if we'd want to sell the stuff yet or not.
Kirby ________________________ "It's funny because it's poisonous!." - Dr. Zoidberg
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| Kirby, I would strongly recommend trying it, it can't hurt anything. Please keep us updated on your findings/experience.
Kelly
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Hello, I also read that article by Terry Bartelme on Beta Glucan, but I had a question. Would any of you recommend, or do any of you currently use Beta Glucan other than with new or sick fish? I.E. do you ever use or recommend its use on occasion for otherwise healthy fish?
Being a novice, particularly with fish disease identification, I wondering if occasional Beta Glucan supplements, say once or twice per year for one week or so, could be beneficial.
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| In my fish only and mini reef display system, I currently only use it when there has been an acute stressor in a system - change in water parameters, a new addition (after 8 weeks QT) has been added, rock or decoration rearrangement, etc. Ocean Rider (Seahorse breeding facility in Hawaii) has a supplement (Vibrance) that contains beta glucan that you add to the seahorse's daily food. I have 3 different systems of seahorses and add this supplement. Since beta glucan use is fairly new to the hobby, most information is still antidotal.
Kelly
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