wth is this worm on my fishies?

[Alkiazer]

Hey guys. haven't posted in awhile, been busy and such.


There are some sort of parasites in my tank and i don't know how the hell they could have gotten in there. but there are a few now and i need help getting rid of them.


they look like fish poo attached to one of the fins or even mini leeches kinda. they also attach themselves to the tank and swing back and forth or sometimes sit there trying to grab onto another host.

I haven't added anything new to the tank in months so i'm really stumped figuring out how they got there =<

What do I need to do to git rid of these evil creatures and keep all my fish from dying in the process?


also should i see a doctor??? i stuck my hand in the water the other day ='<

 

[Lotus]

If they're actually attached to your fish, then they're probably leeches or possibly anchor worms.

You'd need to find a medication with metriphonate in it to treat the tank.

I doubt they're harmful to humans. I believe they're purely aquatic.

 

[exhumed07]

would be nice if u could get a pic but what lotus said is probly true. and with some parasites they can take a while to germinat and be seen. like say tape worm for example. the eggs get released out of the host and usually in water. there the eggs are eaten by a small fish and in turn a larger fish. there the tapeworm moves to the flesh of the fish and lives there till something liek a person, bear, or eagle gets ahold of it. then they turn into the tapeworm we all know and love lol. so as u can see sometimes it takes time or need a certin series of events before some parasites can mature. that could be y u have not seen them till now.

 

[Alkiazer]

sure I can grab a pic

 

[Alkiazer]

they kinda look like brown fish poo, heres a picture for you guys. I have caught 4 so far but theres still one on my fish and elsewhere im sure. Lotus where could I find that medication, and can I administer it to my tank without killing the different kinds of life in there??

 

[Lotus]

The only place I know that sells stuff like that is this place: Koi Parasitic Disorders (with info on identifying both of those parasites). You could do a Google image search to see if you can tell which you have.

These parasites are much more common in pond fish than tropical/aquarium fish, but there is quite a bit of info out there.

 

[Smells fishy]

My goldfish has an anchor worm attached to him, I came down the other morning and thought: "why the hell is there poo coming out from the wrong end???" then realised it was a disgusting parastite!

I have medication for parastites bought from a pet shop but I was also recommended to pull the worm off as long as it wasn't really well attached, so I caught my goldy in his soft net and put him in a bowl (still in net) and with a pair of tiny pliars grabbed hold of the worm which then did a back flip so I knew he wasn't firmly attached and plucked him out. He was horrible, survived for ages out of the water, I killed him good and proper and my goldy was so much happier as he was darting around trying to rub the worm off

Also use aquarium salt to try to prevent yukky stuff in the tank, it is supposed to help.