ID on hitch-hiking fish?

khart0126

khart0126

New Member
After my heater exploded, a lot of life came up from the rocks and sand and out into the open water. Most were worms, but today I saw a grey pencil thin fish swimming around my tank, I didn't buy this fish. It looks like http://badmanstropicalfish.com/who/mystery_august_06.jpg that, except much skinnier and a smaller, rounder mouth. Anyone know what it could be?
 
aquaknight

aquaknight

Active Member
It's a Pearlfish. They indeed live in the butt of a sea cucumber. Not really a nice way of saying it. When the cucumber died, the Pearlfish obviously needs to find a new host. I would go ahead and euthanize the fish, rather then let it starve to death.
 
yannifish

yannifish

Active Member
Lol, thats cool. Why does everyone else always get the cool hitchhikers...
Just out of curiosity, would it be possible for khart to buy another cucumber, and keep the fish?
 
aquaknight

aquaknight

Active Member
Pearlfish can either commensal or parasitic. Commensal is when they live in harmony with their host, remora/shark sort of thing. My knowledge ends here, I'm not sure how to tell which different types of Pearlfish are commensal/parasitic, or it may be as the Pearlfish reaches adulthood, they turn parasitic. (Parasitic pearlfish eat the gonads and other internals, OUCH!)
If the latter, it would be the equivalent of introducing Ich to your fish on purpose, not something I'd recommend.
 
yannifish

yannifish

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by AquaKnight http:///forum/thread/384432/id-on-hitch-hiking-fish#post_3368420
Pearlfish can either commensal or parasitic. Commensal is when they live in harmony with their host, remora/shark sort of thing. My knowledge ends here, I'm not sure how to tell which different types of Pearlfish are commensal/parasitic, or it may be as the Pearlfish reaches adulthood, they turn parasitic. (Parasitic pearlfish eat the gonads and other internals, OUCH!)
If the latter, it would be the equivalent of introducing Ich to your fish on purpose, not something I'd recommend.
Okay, I was simply curious.
 
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