I am new to this forum, so if this is in the wrong location than please move.
I have a koi pond and am interested about the truth and more in depth information in regards to skin flukes (Gyrodactylus) . And hope the experts can answer my questions..
I have read that they attach themselves to the koi with haptors and this is were they can cause a bacterial infection. They also eat the upper skin cells. And also can stick mouth parts into koi and draw out fluids when the infestation numbers are increased, causing also bacterial infection.
However, I have received information from a person that has done much research of fish and koi. I was informed that skin flukes are not true parasites. They live on microorganisms and proteins found in the slime coat.That they do not penetrate the kois skin with haptors or other body parts. They do note break the skin layers or consume fluids. They do not directly cause bacterial issues.
They irritate the koi by movement only by there sheer numbers and this is what irritates the koi and causes flashing and stress. The flashing rubs off slime coat and can create injuries for other parasites and bacterial to start taking advantage. And their haptors attach to the scales. The haptors are not as aggressive as they look.
Can the skin fluke work under a scale and cause more irritation?
After doing some more investigation my understanding is there are two camps in the research world of parasite in regards to skin flukes on koi being a true parasite?? Thanks
I have a koi pond and am interested about the truth and more in depth information in regards to skin flukes (Gyrodactylus) . And hope the experts can answer my questions..
I have read that they attach themselves to the koi with haptors and this is were they can cause a bacterial infection. They also eat the upper skin cells. And also can stick mouth parts into koi and draw out fluids when the infestation numbers are increased, causing also bacterial infection.
However, I have received information from a person that has done much research of fish and koi. I was informed that skin flukes are not true parasites. They live on microorganisms and proteins found in the slime coat.That they do not penetrate the kois skin with haptors or other body parts. They do note break the skin layers or consume fluids. They do not directly cause bacterial issues.
They irritate the koi by movement only by there sheer numbers and this is what irritates the koi and causes flashing and stress. The flashing rubs off slime coat and can create injuries for other parasites and bacterial to start taking advantage. And their haptors attach to the scales. The haptors are not as aggressive as they look.
Can the skin fluke work under a scale and cause more irritation?
After doing some more investigation my understanding is there are two camps in the research world of parasite in regards to skin flukes on koi being a true parasite?? Thanks
