Fish tanks harboured salmonella bacteria which could cause gastroenteritis in children a microbiologist said yesterday.
Diane Lightfoot said six cases of gastro in three states had been sourced to household fish tanks by the public health laboratory at Melboure University.
Fish tanks which were not cleaned could become breeding grounds for organisms which could spread to humans who handled them, she said at the Communicable Diseases Control Conference in Canberra.
As a way to remember their special day, Rachel Stone and James Morrow chose to have some decorations with a difference.
�All my friends were getting married and I wanted something other than flowers for the table centrepieces - so we had goldfish in bowls ,� Rachel said.
While the marine creatures were a hit with the guests, their presence was short-lived.
�They looked great , but by the end of the night only six out of 30 were alive,� she said. �We forgot to neutralise the water.�
The wedding took place on January 20 this year .