What in the world is this?

[bigredspecial]

can someone identify what's wrong with two of my fish?

A week or so ago, I noticed one of my danios had a large sore on it's side, which I assumed to be an open wound of some sort, so I treated with melafix.

that didn't work, and it continued to get worse - it now looks like a big thorn in it; his stomach is all sunken in, and he is having trouble swimming. on top of that, he now has another sore on the opposite side.

I know now that it isn't a sore, but rather a parasite of some sort. I will have to euthanize him, it's too late, but I want to destroy whatever is causing it before it affects anyone else(it already has a guppy).

here's the danio, note hi sunken stomach and thin tail

 

[bigredspecial]

and it's also got one of my guppies... his anus is swollen and red, with something coming out of it - looks like a bunch of very tiny, reddish brown worms. Anchorworms perhaps? the thing thatr has got me, is how did it get in there? there hasn't been a fish or plant put in there in almost 2 months, and no live food save for a few mosquitoes and one small spider(hehehe); I feed them tubifex and bloodworms, but they're both freeze dried.

I have no idea how to treat it either, all I have on hand is melafix and pimafix, Aquarium pharmaceuticals super ick cure(contains Benzaldehyde Green and Povidone/Colloid mixture),A.P. Triple Sulfa capsules, and Jungle Fungus ELiminator(contains salt, nitrofurazone, furazolidone, and potassium dichromate)

here's the guppy, although you can't see it very well

 

[Lotus]

I would assume it's internal parasites. There is some info here: http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/fecal_disorders.html I would advise you to go to the LFS and get a med for internal parasites.

 

[bigredspecial]

they're not internal I don't think - on the danio, it's on his side, and on the guppy it's protruding, also.

 

[Lotus]

Does it look like this? http://www.fishpalace.org/Disease.html#Worm

 

[bigredspecial]

I looked on pandora's aquarium already, that's where I got the anchor worm idea(although these are much smaller than that)

I'm also thinking it could be roundworms.

in either case, how do I get rid of it?

does anyone have any idea how they got there, seeing a how my most recent additions were almost 2 months ago?

 

[Lotus]

I believe CopperSafe can be used for those. A lot of people don't like it, but I have used it sucessfully for other diseases before. I always add 1/4 dose at first, wait 4 hours, add another 1/4 dose etc. Some fish can react badly to it. There are probably other parasite meds out there you can get.

 

[bigredspecial]

but will that harm my shrimp?

not that it's as important now anyway, I woke this morning to find both of them dead; none of the other fish seem to be affected yet.

BTW, thanks for the help lotus!

 

[blueturq]

yeah it may harm your shrimp

Remember to remove the carbon from your filter(that's if you use carbon) because carbon absorbs medication

Another medication you could use is Jungle Parasite Clear. They are dissolving tablets that treat both external and internal parasites.

Good luck

 

[Lotus]

Sorry to hear that

It may harm your shrimp. I have not had it harm them, but it can, so it would be better to remove them.

By the way, coppersafe isn't removed by carbon.

 

[bigredspecial]

the good news is, none of the others seem to be affected.

I'm starting to think it wasn't parasites at all - my girlfriend googled it, and came up with something called extra hole disease(or second hole or something), and from what she read it sounds similar.

 

[bigredspecial]

ok, after those two fish died, It went away, and I assumed it was gone and forgotton(or hoped at least), a few months ago it hit another danio, and this time I quickly removed him to my new tank to protect everyone else

and it strikes again..... now all three of my guppies have it.

and it is a parasite of some sort, you can see it protruding from the anus of the victims.


I think I'll put the danio back in the 15, put the loaches, cories, and shrimp in the 25, and treat the 15, which will have all scaled fish.

 

[ashleigh]

eeew- I can't remember how to spell it but camellanus worms? I hate them. I had a female betta that had them- I think I used hex a mit? It was one of the meds that comes in the capsules- it worked okay but it was HARD to get rid of.

 

[bigredspecial]

BINGO! that's it; after all these months, I have the information I require to destroy these pests..... The tables have turned......