Thing on powder brown

[wattsupdoc]

I just got this guy today and noticed after getting him home and in the QT this thing that looks like a worm hanging off him. It's right near hislower left fin., above and in front of it. I tried really hard to get a pic of it. But it's so small, only about 1/4 in. Looks thicker at the spot where it connects to him, and then a thin strand hanging from it. I'm thinking its some kind of parasite. I couls probably cath him and remove it somehow. But If I can deal with it differently I would preffer too. Heres the best images I could get of it. I took about 30 and got these two.

 

[beth]

Hard to even see that, but don't try to remove it. Keep an eye on it for the next few days. In the meantime, try feeding the fish with food soaked in fresh garlic.
See what develops over the next day or so. If it doesn't resolve, then try a formalin dip. See the FAQ Thread.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by wattsupdoc
I just got this guy today and noticed after getting him home and in the QT this thing that looks like a worm hanging off him. It's right near hislower left fin., above and in front of it. I tried really hard to get a pic of it. But it's so small, only about 1/4 in. Looks thicker at the spot where it connects to him, and then a thin strand hanging from it. I'm thinking its some kind of parasite. I couls probably cath him and remove it somehow. But If I can deal with it differently I would preffer too. Heres the best images I could get of it. I took about 30 and got these two.
Keep an eye on it. It looks like lymph, which does not need medication, but I cannot be certain. Keep us informed.

 

[worldwide zoo]

It's an anchor worm. fairly common when fish come into the stores, but usually are treated before sale. You can use Organicure on these guys or just go to the LFS and ask them what meds they have for anchor worms. I've seen some store employees just pull them out with tweezers but it will leave a little scar that way. Try the meds first, if nothing after 3 weeks(these guys are tenacious) pull the sucker out. Happy anchor worm fishing

 

[sepulatian]

I would make a positive ID first.

 

[wattsupdoc]

Thank you worldwidezoo! Sep, it definetly isnt lymph. It looks like a string hanging from it. I'll give it a couple days on the garlic, if that doesnt work, then I'll medicate.

 

[sepulatian]

Originally Posted by wattsupdoc
Thank you worldwidezoo! Sep, it definetly isnt lymph. It looks like a string hanging from it. I'll give it a couple days on the garlic, if that doesnt work, then I'll medicate.
Is it moving? Take a good look with a magnifying glass. Use only fresh garlic, not a bottled product. Let us know how things go

 

[wattsupdoc]

Yes, it waves in the current. I gave him a FW dip, with methylene blue today and a few things fell off him. These arent the same thing as what is hanging from him. They lookm similar, and may be even, to flukes.But it would be good to get an Id on these. I never even saw tham on him AT ALL! I've spent about an hour each day laying down next to the tank watching him closely and still never saw thaes. There are currently still 2 of them on him. I can see them now.... weird huh? I tried the magnifying glass to no avail, yesterday and today.
I looked at these through my little playschool plastic microscope from the CSI crime lab kit I got from Wally world

and was able to get a good look at it under 200 magnification. Hell, I even got a pic of it under 200 magnification, with my little casio exilium cam and a good steady hand. Can any body give me an ID on these.
There are three pics here, one on the microscopes slide, another looking at it under 200o magnification(just what I believe is the business end) and then a paint i did of the whole thing.

 

[worldwide zoo]

Looks like what most would call "fish lice". A series of freshwater dips will get rid of em. I also was never able to see these things until one day working at the LFS we did a series of these dips on fish and started pulling dozens off each fish. Once you know what to look for it gets easier, but you still can't see all of them.