Easy to follow lessons that will allow you to develop the skills to successfully diagnose and treat all manner of freshwater fish disease
Dr Loh has created simple to follow lessons, packed with practical knowledge, information and reference charts, photo and video case examples that will teach you how to accurately recognise the signs of fish disease. You will be shown the correct techniques for making a precise diagnosis, followed with information on the best treatments known to veterinary science, giving you the greatest possible chance of providing successful treatment outcomes for your fishy patients.
About the Trainer
Dr Richmond Loh, The Fish Vet.
BSc, BVMS, MANZCVS (Aquatic Animal Health), MPhil (Vet Pathology), DipProjMgt, MANZCVS (Pathobiology), CertAqV, Fellow WAVMA, GradDipEdu, DABVP (Fish Practice).
Dr Richmond Loh is a aquatic veterinarian and veterinary pathologist with more than 25 years of experience in fish health, diagnostics, and disease management. He holds multiple advanced professional credentials, including Diplomate of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Fish Practice), Membership by Examination of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in both Aquatic Animal Health and Pathobiology (MANZCVS), certification as an aquatic veterinarian (CertAqV), and appointment as a technical assessor for the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) in veterinary pathology, fish pathology, and histology. He also serves on the Life Sciences Accreditation Advisory Committee and is a past President of the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association (WAVMA).
He created and leads the Fish Vet Masterclass (FishVetMasterclass.com), a highly acclaimed online training program that delivers practical, step-by-step lessons on all aspects of fish veterinary medicine, from diagnostics and surgery to treatment protocols and preventive care. Designed for veterinarians, aquaculture professionals, hobbyists, and aquarium operators worldwide, the course has earned rave reviews for its comprehensive content, real-world case studies, and ongoing support from Dr Loh himself.
His aquatic veterinary career began in 2002 at the Tasmanian State Veterinary Laboratory (DPIPWE), where he developed foundational expertise working with cool-temperate species including salmonids, abalone, and Pacific oysters. He later continued this work at the Western Australian State Veterinary Laboratory (DPIRD), where he serves as a Senior Veterinary Pathologist and Manager, overseeing aquatic animal health across species ranging from temperate to tropical, including shrimp, marron, pearl and edible oysters, abalone, mussels, scallops, abalone, sea cucumbers, barramundi, kingfish, trout, pygmy perch, snapper, and black bream.
In parallel, operating as “The Fish Vet,” Dr Loh provides mobile veterinary and pathology services across Australia and internationally, supporting a diverse clientele that includes pet fish owners, public aquaria, retailers, wholesalers, and producers of ornamental and food fish.
A dedicated advocate for aquatic animal health, Dr Loh actively shares his knowledge across multiple platforms. His YouTube channel, “The Fish Doctor,” has attracted more than 8 million views and nearly 100,000 subscribers, offering practical insights, case discussions, and educational content. He also mentors future aquatic veterinarians as an Academic Advisor to the Murdoch University WAVMA Student Chapter since its inception. In addition, he serves as a peer reviewer for leading scientific journals and has contributed to collaborative publications, including National Survey of Diseases in Australian Abalone, Fundamentals of Aquatic Veterinary Medicine, Pathology and Epidemiology of Aquatic Animal Diseases and North Australian Tropical Rock Oyster Disease Survey.
In recognition of his contributions to the field, Dr Loh has been honoured as a Distinguished Fellow of WAVMA, invited as an international trainer and keynote speaker, and engaged to deliver government biosecurity and aquatic animal risk-management training. He also runs an annual intensive five-day hands-on practical course for qualified veterinarians.
Through his work, Dr Loh bridges academia, government, industry, and clinical practice, empowering professionals worldwide to deliver evidence-based, high-quality care to aquatic species.
Dr Loh's Academic, Work and Teaching Credentials
I began my studies in 1997 at Murdoch University and obtained my veterinary degree in 2001. In the ensuing years, I completed my Masters degree in Veterinary Pathology and several post-graduate examinations and attended multiple overseas courses, notably Aquavet 2 and Seavet in the USA.
Pictured above: Gowned up for graduation (Masters Degree, Murdoch University, 2006).
For over two decades, I have worked in veterinary pathology and aquatic veterinary medicine. My professional journey began with a six-year tenure at the Tasmanian State Veterinary Laboratory, followed by a transition to the Western Australian State Veterinary Laboratory.
Pictured above: Testing water quality at an aquaculture facility, during a fish disease investigation.
Pictured above: Inspecting containers with broodstock mussels for artificial spawning of mussels.
Currently I offer diagnostic pathology and veterinary consultancy services to a range of clients including fish hobbyists, retailers, wholesaler, exporters, fish farmers, public aquaria, aquaponics, education and research.
Pictured above: Dr Loh brings his entire veterinary practice, equipped with a field laboratory and pharmacy for rapid on-site diagnostics and immediate treatment of fish diseases.
Pictured above: Dr Loh inspecting fish health at an ornamental fish wholesale facility.
Pictured above: Artificial spawning of koi with client collecting milt.
My skill set can be considered unique as I have trained and passed post-graduate exams in two separate fields ("Aquatic Animal Health" and "Pathobiology"), which was officiated by the Australian & New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS) .
in the field of writing educational materials, prior to creating the Fish Vet Masterclass, I published two books, "Fish Vetting Essentials" (2011) and "Fish Vetting Medicines – Formulary of Fish Treatments (2012)." Working together with colleagues from the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association (WAVMA), we wrote "Fundamentals of Aquatic Veterinary Medicine" and “Pathology and Epidemiology of Aquatic Animal Diseases for Practitioners” published through Wiley Blackwell (an international scientific, medical, and scholarly publisher). I also serve as an author and reviewer for various international scientific journals such as Journal of Aquatic Animal Health, Diseases of Aquatic Organisms and the Australian Veterinary Journal and others.
Pictured above: Several publications authored by Dr Loh (top row), and co-authored by Dr Loh (bottom row).
I am frequently invited as a speaker on fish diseases and medicine at veterinary and scientific conferences worldwide, including events in Australia, USA, New Zealand, Czech Republic, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Colombia, Malaysia, St Kitts & Nevis, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Notably, I served as a Keynote speaker at the Ornamental Fish Biosecurity Workshop for the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) and Fish Quarantine and Inspection Agency of Indonesia (FQIA) (2014); Techniplast Aquatics Symposium in Sydney, Australia (2018); and the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association Conference & Biosecurity Workshop in St Kitts & Nevis (2018).
Pictured above: Dr Loh speaking at the Ornamental Fish Trade Conference in Sri Lanka.
Pictured above: Dr Loh speaking at the American Veterinary Association Convention, Denver, Colorado, USA.
Pictured above: Dr Loh speaking at the World Small Animal Veterinary Association Congresses in Cartagena, Colombia (left) and Bangkok, Thailand (right).
Pictured above: Dr Loh at a post-conference workshop, Singapore.
Pictured above: Post-conference workshops.
As an avid promoter of good aquatic animal health, I use multiple platforms to share my knowledge and experience. I have a Facebook group for fish hobbyists called Aquarium Fish Health where I provide assistance to fish keepers, and a YouTube channel where I share some of my cases and experience has garnered over 8M total views and 95k subscribers (http://tinyurl.com/thefishdoctor).
I am a Teaching Fellow at Murdoch University where I provide lectures and tutorials on aquatics to veterinary and biomedical students, undergraduate and post-graduate classes and volunteer as an academic advisor to the Murdoch University WAVMA Student Chapter in their aquatic pursuits.
Pictures above: Dr Loh teaches undergraduate veterinary students at Murdoch University.
Annually, I teach a "Fish Vetting Crash Course", a practical five-day hands-on class that attracts qualified veterinarians from around the world (including the USA, Canada, UK, Singapore and Australia) who wish to enhance their aquatic veterinary expertise.
I am passionate about promoting and advancing aquatic animal health and veterinary pathology and I continue to make meaningful contributions locally, nationally and internationally. For my significant contributions to the field, I was honored as a Distinguished Fellow of the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association in 2018.
Pictured above: WAVMA President Dr David Scarfe presents the Distinguished Fellow Award to Dr Loh.
An excerpt from the award ceremony by WAVMA President, Dr David Scarfe, "Each year the Board Members of WAVMA ask themselves this question... Are there any individual members that truly stand out, that have made a huge contribution, not only to the organization itself, but have also made a contribution to aquatic veterinary medicine, and encouraging other people to get involved, to help them, mentor them and do it? This might come as a little surprise because we don't do this every year. When the board sits down and looks at this, they look for these people and they give them recognition as a Fellow of the WAVMA. This is rather a distinguished recognition, and I would like to ask Dr Richmond Loh, to come up and accept the plaque... Well done!"
A quote from the WAVMA website, "The honor of Fellowship is bestowed to outstanding WAVMA members who have contributed significantly to the development of aquatic veterinary medicine practice, art and science. It is to honor those members who have distinguished themselves amongst their peers.
It requires three WAVMA members to nominate a member who has contributed significantly to the development of aquatic veterinary medicine. The nomination will subsequently be scrutinized by a committee of peers with the awarding of a fellowship recognising this contribution. The program was developed as there are few if any mechanisms to internationally recognise aquatic veterinarians who have contributed significantly to the field, except through academia. As such there are several categories of contribution which can lead to nomination."
Below are all my educational certifications in chronological order, include my university degrees, post-graduate examinations, diplomas and awards received.
