FishFolk

MTS has mutated to a rare form called WBMTS. Wanna Be Multiple Tank Syndrome is a contagious disease that affects the mind of normally non-fishkeeping people. Indications are that WBMTS is becoming more common and may not be the rare disease people once thought. Further, WBMTS victims are succumbing with increased frequency to MTS.

The numbers on just one street in Columbus are staggering. A 14 year old boy developed MTS in Dec 07. In Dec 08,an aquaintance of the boy, his brother's girlfriend, developed WBMTS. By Jan 08, she and her mother had MTS. By May 08, the boy had infected his mother. In the last week, WBMTS has surfaced at the neighbor next door. For the past six months, this neighbor had been content with a single betta tank, however repeated exposure to MTS by the son and his mother seem to have infected the neighbor. In addition, last week the boy's grandmother, also a resident on the street began exhibiting signs of WBMTS.

Of note, the boy's brother, has no interest in fish, fishkeeping or water. The brother has even left the swim team.

Current Status of Victims:
Boy: 5 active tanks, 1 frog terrarium, 2 new unused tanks, 1 tank holding a fish for a friend (already a victim),asked for SW tank for Christmas 08
Mother of Boy: 2 active tanks, maintaining son's tank holding for a friend, 1 unused tank, 1 damaged "emergency" tank, searching for one more
Brother's Girlfriend and GFs mother: 2 active tanks, 1 tank pending rework after recent death of inhabitant, 1 unused
Neighbor: 1 active tank, 1 unused, pending purchase of large (75-100) tank
Grandmother:asked for active tank for birthday this month

Further research and controlled studies are need to explore the rapid spread of what was once thought to be a rare disease.

Butterfly

WOW- and theres no antidote either. Another tank just slows it down temp.
Carol

Lucy

chickadee

Darling post and so appropriate for this site. Whoever finds the cure will make a fortune. (but perhaps not be so popular)

Rose

Dino

Does that make Ross and I a disease vector?

See you at the support group meeting in Atlanta on Thursday.

Lucy

They'd be popular with my husband. lol

FishFolk

I was hesitant to name the probable source from which the boy contracted the MTS carrying the mutated gene for WBMTS. Now the fish (cat) is out of the bag. Dino suggests he and Ross may not only be carriers, but most probably a vector. Is it possible that a majority of MTS/WBMTS in the Southeast and parts of the midwest can be traced back to them?
You will note "probable" in the wording. It has not been established by which means these diseases are transmitted. Are the diseases passed from human to human via direct contact or is proximity enough? Can they travel via internet? Are they viable on shipped fish packaging? Can they live indefinately on an item in an LFS? Are they physiologically or psychologically based?

Again, we need more research. A study would naturally include a study of the victims, possible carriers, and sources. I don't know that victims truly seek a vaccine or cure, but ongoing research would appease the discomfort of those not afflicted with the diseases. They might even fund a grant for said research. My grant proposal would include a raw data collection phase in which the victims, carriers and sources would gather(perhaps at an AAAA meeting this Thursday or The FishHouse) to provide data about symptoms, their onset and severity...and to umm...buy, sell and trade, fish, tanks, and supplies.

And now, I must confess, I too am a victim and possible carrier. Perhaps my signature gave me away?

P.S. Dino and Ross- You know it's all in fun. I wouldn't have our fish experience any other way! P

livetowin

Any one who has one tank big or little WILL contract this disease. me included i started out with a bowl then a 2 gal. then a 10 gal now a 29 gallon and still wanting more!!!!

capekate

What wonderful fun it was to read this thread! Thanks for making the start of my day on the lighter side!

Allie

Well said.
Our house causes WBMTS on a regular basis. 6 of our friend/couples have become members of the MTS society, b/c of our fish tanks.

This is where breeding our own fish comes in handy.

Butterfly

Since I was already infected with this dread disease when I met Dino and later Ross I can't blame them for my illness. But they definitely are not encouraging a cure
carol

Dino

Maybe we cross pollinated Carol.
I know you and I have made the disease worse for each other.

Butterfly

That is a distinct possibility I've enjoyed every minute of it.
Carol

Devon

My boyfriend would probably appreciate it as well. Poor guy... I suffer an incurable disease, he's just in a complete state of denial.

FishFolk

The boy's grandmother now has a 55 with 3 leopard angels. On order are 2 plecos, 5 panda cories and some (?) tetras (?).

Angela_96

I think the syndrome starts w/ having a fish tank period, I had an empty fishtank in a closet in my house and its like constant voices came out of that closet saying "fill me w/ fish!!" finally when my son got obsessed w/ fish we got him some guppies... then I took all of my xmas money and invested in a bigger tank and fish, my husband then caught the bug.... before a month went by we had 4 tanks going on 5... now we own 8 soon to be 9 when we go for the saltie side.. I have spread the bug to people at work and even people at works children that are in college (I had a friend the other day at work ask me about the how to's on setting up a tank for her dautgher in her dorm room)... my mother has went from a small tank to 9 tanks, and my mil has 2 and mentioned before getting a bigger tank if she could find the room....

I think its viral and there is no cure!
To be honest, I don't want a cure, this is one bug that is too much fun for the whole family! I cleaned all of my tanks today and eventhough it was "work" I enjoyed every bit of it, and so did my fish.



Hey wait a min, we met Dino and Ross back in May or June? After that our MTS went out of control, we went from 5 to 8 tanks! They must have some worsened form of the bug!

Dino

BWHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Opps.

Alessa

My Bf would fund the research for the cure for sure lol!

he is sick of hearing me say why we need that 55 gallons!

Angela_96

Yours is sick of the need for 55 gallons? my husband has been begging a friend at work to sell us all of his emty tanks, he has some big unused tanks just setting there... imagine the possibilites!! lol... He says that maybe I need to get in on it, that hes a sucker for women begging him, a year ago my husband was complaining about a 5 gallon and a 10 gallon tank. I have played him into the MTS and brought him over to the dark side, you need to do the same eventually he will crack, maybe he needs to meet Dino and Ross......

Alessa

Please Help! If I only could bring him over to the dark side it would be much easier....

Angela_96

Mine started off w/ the ellusive going to a fishstore to pick up something I was out of and then saying "oh what kind of fish do you think is pretty??" Then I aggreed w/ him no matter what I thought. We then went looking for a tank for the size fish he liked. Eventually after talking about it ended up w/ my choice because I had already researched water parameters of keeping the south american fish (we have hard water at our house) and well ended up w/ my type of fish, and he is as obsessed w/ them as me. Then really got pulled into it w/ the malawi peacocks, which up until he got his eyes on the cynatilapia afra hai reefs and lab hongi red tops, were his favs.... you just have to "make it their idea" then talk them out of their choice of fish by telling them why you cannot keep them (if its not your choice too). Of coarse my husband is wanting to go to the saltie side of fish keeping but he is saying if we do we shouldn't have as many tanks as we do, not going to happen that way! Unless I start back school next fall,then it would be impossible to keep up w/ all those tanks, work, and my children, we would temp have to scale down...

But its just like I said, you have to make it look like it was "their idea" then the get into it.

Alessa

Yes! It was his idea to get the first tank anyways! then, I was the one that ended up obsessed!

I will work it out... I have to! LOL :P