Parasite

[smellytunic]

Hey everyone. Looking for some help identifying and then treatment plans for what appears to be some type of parasite.

Yesterday I noticed this on my firefish.

Got him out of the tank (that was fun) and into a quarantine tank. While the fish was in the container I was using to transfer to the other tank this popped out.

Firefish now just looks like he has a sore and possible infection in that location. What is the plan of attack here. Do I just treat the sore on the fish and let it heal? Any ID on what this thing is? But of course the biggie is what about the rest of my fish in the display tank. None show any signs of this on them. But this came on pretty quick for the firefish. Like 24hrs or so.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ScottR]

I’m following just out of curiosity.

 

[ngoodermuth]

That was on the firefish? It looks pretty large... was it hanging off him before you got him out?

It looks like maybe a piscicolidae worm (marine leech)

http://txmarspecies.tamug.edu/invertfamilydetails.cfm?famnameID=Piscicolidae

I’d do an antiseptic bath (acriflavine or methylene blue) and start antibiotics for the firefish to prevent infection from setting in.

You can keep an eye on your other fish... or try a round of prazipro as a precaution. The firefish should get a round of prazi as well, or a formalin dip before going back into the tank.

 

[HotRocks]

That was on the firefish? It looks pretty large... was it hanging off him before you got him out?

It looks like maybe a piscicolidae worm (marine leech)

http://txmarspecies.tamug.edu/invertfamilydetails.cfm?famnameID=Piscicolidae

I’d do an antiseptic bath (acriflavine or methylene blue) and start antibiotics for the firefish to prevent infection from setting in.

You can keep an eye on your other fish... or try a round of prazipro as a precaution. The firefish should get a round of prazi as well, or a formalin dip before going back into the tank.

+1 solid advice here.

 

[smellytunic]

Its hard to tell in the picture of the firefish you need to zoom in to see it. But that was pretty much embedded under the skin. If worked its way out when I caught it the fish. Not sure if it was the fish squirming after being netted that dislodged it or if it came out on its own. Here is another shot of the fire fish. That discolored area is where it was nested in.

piscicolidae worm looks pretty similar I read a bit more on them to see if that sounds right. Sadly no longer have a microscope around to get a better look.

Thanks for the advice. I will focus on the infection for the firefish and observe the others for now. Fingers crossed it was pulled before it was in any stage of its life cycle to reproduce in the tank.

 

[ngoodermuth]

Yea, that wound looks pretty bad... I’d move quickly to hopefully get ahead of it

Good luck!

 

[smellytunic]

Yeah its not great. I have metroplex on hand. I will get that started. Will need to run out and get some methylene blue this afternoon as well. Thanks again for the advice!

 

[ngoodermuth]

If you can get them, I’d get some kanaplex and furan-2 also. They can be dosed with the metroplex.

 

[smellytunic]

Kanaplex I have. I will add it and the metroplex with some focus to the food and let that soak now. Then look for some furan-2 when I run out to grab some methylene blue later.

 

[ngoodermuth]

It’s in QT correct? I wouldn’t bother with adding it to the food, it will be more effective right in the water column. Dose both every 48 hours after a 25% water change.

 

[smellytunic]

Yes in QT. As soon as I was about to scoop some on the food I was like wait a minute... Dosed to tank directly

 

[rkpetersen]

It looks like maybe a piscicolidae worm (marine leech)

http://txmarspecies.tamug.edu/invertfamilydetails.cfm?famnameID=Piscicolidae

Impressive that you knew this.
I was just going to go with a parasitic isopod, but it does look more like a leech.
Great. One more thing to worry about!

 

[Colemansreef]

definitely has the mouth of a leech.