Presentation: I’m Dying to Get Out of Here!  Self-Poisoning in Corydoras Catfish

Corydoras catfish have a reputation for releasing a toxin which can kill the fish when being transported or handled. This presentation covers the latest research on the chemistry of the toxin, how and why it’s released, and what people can do to prevent deaths.

Program Speaker: Eric Thomas

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Eric Thomas is an associate professor of Biology, co-chair and director of graduate studies for the Biological Sciences Department at University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. Eric’s research is split between reproductive pheromone production Hymenochirus frogs and self-poisoning in Corydoras catfishes, and recently he’s started studying Microglanis bumblebee catfishes in Peru.

At home, Eric’s interests are keeping and breeding catfish, primarily Corydoras, Loricariids, and most recently Microglanis. Between home and work, Eric runs up to 27 aquaria and currently has over 40 species of catfish. Socially, Eric operates a YouTube Channel (Bekateen) and FaceBook page (Bekateen’s FishRoom) for sharing his knowledge and experiences with fellow fish keepers; he is also the program coordinator for the Sacramento Aquarium Society and a moderator on PlanetCatfish.com.