question about fish cancer

[Plec123]

I was just thinking this morning, and i realized: the only fish ive ever heard of getting cancer have been color forms of fish, i.e.-swordtails, platys, and oscars to name a few. so im wondering:
dose the large amountof inbreeding that leads to the creation of these color forms cause them to be more susceptible to cancer?

 

[bluehairman]

Genetics causing a weak immune system can make cancer more likely, but cancer itself is not genetic. Those fish you mentioned need good conditions to live in. Oscars especially.
Being in bad condition can cause problems. Fish that need high quality water and are not given high quality water can reduce the immune system anymore.

 

[gzeiger]

What makes you say cancer isn't genetic? It is by definition a gene malfunction.

 

[bluehairman]

What makes you say cancer isn't genetic? It is by definition a gene malfunction.

The information you received is correct, but cancer itself is not genetic. You misunderstood what you read/heard.

What happens is the genes within the single cells are mutated and the cells growing limit is erased, in a sense. A healthy person's immune system would most likely destroy this cell. If the cell is not destroyed it continues to grow, and possibly spread to other parts of the body.
Not all cancer behaves this way, but most do.

 

[bubbaG]

I never heard of fish getting cancer, period. So I'm at a loss.

 

[Lupin]

I never heard of fish getting cancer, period. So I'm at a loss.

Fish can get cancer. Heck, every living creature can. Carp pox can be classified as cancerous. So are tumors common in goldfish and koi. Both of the carps are long lived and all too often, this gives enough time for tumor to establish especially with multiple blood vessels around their bodies working as a network system where the tumors eventually establish in various areas. You wonder why people tell you living for a long time gives you cancer. The same thing can happen to fish. Some cases of tumors in fish will not inhibit the fish's health and the fish generally lives until it dies of old age while carrying with it tumor growths but most tumors are already acute and it is extremely dangerous if it establishes itself near the gill system where its respiration may be inhibited thus the fish does not live for a long time.