Fish parasite

[K1ng]

I bought some fish today and upon inspection one of the fish in his tank had a "problem". The pajama cardinal appeared to have almost flared like gills and possibly some parasite looking patches. It was super hard to tell by the guy told me the fish was bought at the same time as the others, originally healthy and randomly a year ago developed this "problem" and thats that. Fish acts completely normal and has been alive with this problem for around a year and has never spread to any other fish. I tried to take the best pictures I could to help.

Since he has had these fish for so long I was going to add them to my display tank but had to quickly set up a qt tank for them. Do you think its fine just to add them since the problem the other fish in the tank had didnt spread to any others? Dont want to risk anything in my display if its not safe.

 

[WIReefer]

@Jay Hemdal

 

[Flippers4pups]

I don't see anything out of the ordinary. Cardinal's as they mature do at times have what looks like large gill plates. I wouldn't stress unless you've added other fish since getting it and they could have brought something with them.

Another picture of it may help.

Edit: the lighter spots, do they look like "bugs"? (flukes?)

 

[ScubaFish802]

Possible to get another picture in better lighting?

 

[K1ng]

Sorry I know its a horrible pic. Ill ask him if he can take a better pic for me. The one white looking spot on the black stripe over his gills is what im referring to. The fish has been fine for a year though he said it just looked weird but it kind of looked like parasites to me.

I didnt buy the fish that looked bad, the other fish were just in the same tank and have no ill signs.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I bought some fish today and upon inspection one of the fish in his tank had a "problem". The pajama cardinal appeared to have almost flared like gills and possibly some parasite looking patches. It was super hard to tell by the guy told me the fish was bought at the same time as the others, originally healthy and randomly a year ago developed this "problem" and thats that. Fish acts completely normal and has been alive with this problem for around a year and has never spread to any other fish. I tried to take the best pictures I could to help.

Since he has had these fish for so long I was going to add them to my display tank but had to quickly set up a qt tank for them. Do you think its fine just to add them since the problem the other fish in the tank had didnt spread to any others? Dont want to risk anything in my display if its not safe.

Any chance you can get a better picture? The flared gills are likely developmental - a lot of banggai cardinals are tank raised now days, and gill issues are pretty common as they develop. It is also possible that the flaring is due to goiter, from an iodine deficiency. I can't see the "parasite patches".

Jay

 

[K1ng]

Took this from a thread I just found. This is what it looked like, made the gills flair out.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Took this from a thread I just found. This is what it looked like, made the gills flair out.

I don't think that's flukes. @Jay Hemdal.

 

[K1ng]

After researching flukes I dont think its that since the fish has survived for a year with those symptoms and acted completely normal. Will what ever it has spread do you think?

 

[Flippers4pups]

After researching flukes I dont think its that since the fish has survived for a year with those symptoms and acted completely normal. Will what ever it has spread do you think?

Unless flukes came in with fish after. I don't think it's flukes. I've not used iodine in treatment for this, so Jay needs to respond.

 

[vetteguy53081]

This appears to be a tumor and possibly caused by isopod, not injury. The fact that it has been so long, I would say leave it. Risky, is you can insert syringe and release any fluid but I peronally would be very hesitant.
Various protists and Myxosporea are also parasitic capsule like growths on gills. Maintain good water quality. The fish should continue hopefully to do well

 

[K1ng]

This appears to be a tumor and possibly caused by isopod, not injury. The fact that it has been so long, I would say leave it. Risky, is you can insert syringe and release any fluid but I peronally would be very hesitant.
Various protists and Myxosporea are also parasitic capsule like growths on gills. Maintain good water quality. The fish should continue hopefully to do well

I didn't purchase the fish with this problem. Is it possible that whatever it has can spread to other fish? I bought the rest of the tank inhabitants and havent introduced them to my display tank yet.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I didn't purchase the fish with this problem. Is it possible that whatever it has can spread to other fish? I bought the rest of the tank inhabitants and havent introduced them to my display tank yet.

I want to say 90+% chance it will Not spread

 

[K1ng]

I want to say 90+% chance it will Not spread

If it did spread would there be any visual signs because the fish I did pick up look perfectly fine. I just dont want anything to contaminate the fish currently in my display tank.

 

[vetteguy53081]

If it did spread would there be any visual signs because the fish I did pick up look perfectly fine. I just dont want anything to contaminate the fish currently in my display tank.

There would be but cysts and tumors are a condition than disease and rarely if ever spreads.

 

[ScubaFish802]

I also saw that thread in a quick google search and I believe it stated they were parasites of some kind or “Lymphocystis”? But this was just from google..

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Took this from a thread I just found. This is what it looked like, made the gills flair out.

That is most likely a tumor. Given the location, and knowing Banggai are prone to this, I’d say it is thyroid tissue, a goiter. Adding iodine to the water won’t help, potassium iodide in the food helps in early stages, but once the goiter has been there for some time, nothing seems to reduce them. The fish can live for some time like this though. If it starts spitting it’s food out, you should euthanize it.
Jay