ID and treatment recs please

Lilnoelle80 · Dec 12, 2021

I discovered my foxface had something extruding from its side today and it seemed to be acting strangely (more nervous, camouflaged, but still eating.) I was concerned it might be a nematode and removed it from my display tank. I have been qt’ing my fish religiously before putting them into my DT, but did have a fish die last July for an unknown cause and wondered if it had a parasite.

I removed the foxface and did a freshwater dip. I noticed that the object was then gone from its side but was not able to find it in my freshwater dip - however the fish had stooled in the water so I may have just missed it.
I have it in general cure in a QT tank and put general cure into the DT (FOWLR). I know to redose the GC in 7 days, but is there anything else I should do for both the fish in QT or the DT?
Do you think it looks like a nematode from the pic?
Thanks

Jay Hemdal · Dec 13, 2021

Lilnoelle80 said:
I discovered my foxface had something extruding from its side today and it seemed to be acting strangely (more nervous, camouflaged, but still eating.) I was concerned it might be a nematode and removed it from my display tank. I have been qt’ing my fish religiously before putting them into my DT, but did have a fish die last July for an unknown cause and wondered if it had a parasite.

I removed the foxface and did a freshwater dip. I noticed that the object was then gone from its side but was not able to find it in my freshwater dip - however the fish had stooled in the water so I may have just missed it.
I have it in general cure in a QT tank and put general cure into the DT (FOWLR). I know to redose the GC in 7 days, but is there anything else I should do for both the fish in QT or the DT?
Do you think it looks like a nematode from the pic?
Thanks

Nematodes don't protrude from a fish's side like that, it is too high up to be coming from the body cavity, where nematodes would live.

My guess is that it is from a tail a strike by a tang. What you saw was likely mucus from the wound and it fell off. It is the classic location and size/shape for that.

Jay

Lilnoelle80 · Dec 13, 2021

Jay Hemdal said:
Nematodes don't protrude from a fish's side like that, it is too high up to be coming from the body cavity, where nematodes would live.

My guess is that it is from a tail a strike by a tang. What you saw was likely mucus from the wound and it fell off. It is the classic location and size/shape for that.

Jay

Thank you!