FFP’s Fish Health Team Attends the 2025 AAFV Conference
Nov 17th 2025
The Fitz’s Fish Ponds’ Fish Health Team experienced a change of pace from October 12-16, swimming over the GW Bridge to attend the 2025 American Association of Fish Veterinarians (AAFV) annual conference. This year’s conference was held in Riverhead, NY, at the Long Island Aquarium, where Dr. Ben, Logan, and Emily met and mingled with certified aquatic veterinarians from across the country.
AAFV & The Annual Conference
AAFV, or the American Association of Fish Veterinarians, is a group of licensed North American veterinarians who practice fish medicine in various roles. The expertise of these professionals covers the aquatic world, including pet fish, lab animals, land management, bait, and food for human consumption. Working at different levels within these fields, fish vets have contributed to research ranging from discovering the best enrichment for your pet betta to developing medications for humans by mimicking illness gene expression in zebrafish. The AAFV’s mission is to advance fish veterinary medicine by promoting knowledge, increasing the visibility and importance of fish medicine, and ultimately improving the health of fish, humans, and the environment.
The AAFV was founded in 2013 and hosts an annual conference for veterans from across the country, where they gather to share the latest and most relevant research in their fields. This year, the conference partnered with the Long Island Aquarium, and our team spent the week of October 13 there.
Behind the Doors of the Conference & The Long Island Aquarium
This year’s conference registered 110 attendees, comprising both in-person and virtual participants. The attendees were Aquatic Veterinarians who are experts in their fields, making the event a melting pot of in-depth knowledge about aquatic animals and fish, including both saltwater and freshwater species. Over the course of four days, the AAFV Conference presented twenty lectures and four wet labs, offering opportunities to practice and learn the latest methods and applied research in the field of aquatic veterinary medicine.
Each lecture session included time for questions and discussion to encourage conversations beyond the presentation. Lectures covered a wide range of topics, from general understanding and husbandry of fish tanks to the specifics of individual species and their epidemiology. The veterinarians presenting their research cover various areas of fish medicine, including disease prevention, treatment, medical research, vaccinations, and overall fish health management. Each lecture was also streamed online to AAFV members attending virtually, enabling conference discussions to reach veterinary professionals far and wide.
During the conference, attendees who participated in person had the opportunity to explore the Long Island Aquarium in greater detail. Guides showed the AAFV members the Aquarium after hours, giving them a chance to see what goes into managing and maintaining the tanks, and highlighting the husbandry and attentive care behind the aquarium exhibitions.
Each tank, illuminated with various mixtures of coral, plants, aquascapes, fish, and other aquatic life, features filtration systems nearly as intricate as the tanks themselves. Without the hard-working mechanical and biofiltration systems, the fish could not survive. Thanks to dedicated fish care specialists, the tanks stay clean, clear, well-fed, and happy for both the fish and the visitors of the Aquarium. The organization and routine involved in maintaining and operating an aquarium is no easy feat, and the teamwork demonstrated by staff and caretakers was clear throughout their interactions.
Looking ahead to the 2026 AAFV Conference
Next year’s 2026 AAFV conference will be held in conjunction with the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV). These two organizations will team up in Philadelphia to connect professionals across aquatic, reptilian, and amphibian veterinary practices. The opportunity to collaborate will also promote ongoing education for all veterinarians, giving everyone a chance to learn beyond their typical specialty. Attendees are eager to see neighboring disciplinary fields in veterinary medicine and to discover what the 2026 conference has in store!
Get Involved
Interested in learning more or getting involved with the American Association of Fish Veterinarians? The AAFV offers several ways to share its efforts, regardless of your position in the veterinary field. According to the AAFV’s 'Who We Are' statement, they provide various membership options, including those for veterinarians, retired vets, vet students, vet techs, and friends of the AAFV—meaning individuals without formal veterinary training but who are interested in supporting and learning from the association. With any membership, you gain greater access to AAFV resources and information, the ability to connect with members, and access to streamed or videotaped lectures from different events, such as the conference.
Anyone can get involved through sponsorship or donations, with funds going directly to AAFV events and initiatives. The AAFV conference also featured a silent auction of donated items, raising nearly three thousand dollars to support four veterinary students in their research and education. No matter how or how much, your support for the AAFV is appreciated and helps continue bringing Aquatic Veterinarians together.
