Removing Louse from Fantail with Tweezers!?

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13BRAVO

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Sep 18, 2004
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Hey Again,

I posted before about the dark grey/black spot on my Ryukin's tail. I was at a local fish store (not petco) picking up a bigger tank for my GF and mentioned the spot on this tail since no one really seems to know what it is. he said it was most likely a fish louse (lice?) and to remove it with a tweezer!!

Now, the first piece of advice you all gave me when I first posted here with my betta/gf problem was to come here and ask the forums advice about anything my local fish store tells me...well, you guys (and gals) won my respect from day one so that is exactly what I am doing.

Does what this guy said sound right? If so, how the heck do I do this??? Please help!!

Thanks in advance!

13BRAVO
 
I am going to try and get a picture of it...because that didn't look like what my GF has...ALTHOUGH....I haven't gotten a really good closeup...it's been tough, he swims to fast!
 
BIG NEWS! I AM THE KING! Well, not exactly but at the risk of sounding like a total dork I am very proud of myself.

Well, I actually shined a light on my fish and that circle that didn't look like the pic in the link you posted NOW LOOKED LIKE IT! So I finally mustered up the courage and performed my first GF operation! :D

I pulled the little critter off with a pair of tweezers, it was as easy as everyone mentioned it would be. So it actually was a fish louse. We then put him under a microscope...he looked AWESOME, he was moving around and stuff, the kids (and my wife and me to be honest) got a real kick out of it! WOO-HOO!!

Now, on to the bad news..... :sad After actually shining a light on the fish I noticed things I never noticed before:

1) That the circle was a louse as mentioned above, but worse:
2) That my black moor has about five white dots on him, real tiny specs...ich?
3) My ryukin, on the fantail tail that had the louse has like some web looking white fuzz going across in like a line....any idea?
4) One part of his tail seems to be ripping, not sure if it was like that all along...sure hope it isn't fin rot?

Also, finally got a test kit and put it into action.....BAD BAD BAD! Ammonia levels were off the chart...my chart only goes to 8ppm and it was a darker green than listed. Nitrites were between 0.25 and 0.50ppm, nitrates were about 40ppm.

I did about a 65% water change and will test again when I get home today. I am sure it will still be high. I am think I will need to do 50% water changes for at least a few days and then 25-50% every couple days to keep it manageable until the new tank is ready. What do you think? Please let me know your thoughts!

Also, should I get some ammonia and nitrite reducer or just try and get it done with water changes? Thanks in advance!

13BRAVO
 
Keep up the water changes. There is nothing you can ADD to water to take something OUT of the water. Those levels seem lethally high...were you using an ammonia binder like amquel?
 
First off - congrats on pulling the louse off the fish!
Eeek on your water readings! I'm not familiar with your tank. How big is it, and what kind of filtration do you have? How long has the tank been set up? How often do you do water changes?

1) That the circle was a louse as mentioned above, but worse:
2) That my black moor has about five white dots on him, real tiny specs...ich?
-Could be... do the white dots look like grains of salt?
3) My ryukin, on the fantail tail that had the louse has like some web looking white fuzz going across in like a line....any idea?
-Could be some fungus, maybe caused by the louse? That I'd give another day or two to see if it clears up now that the worm is gone.
4) One part of his tail seems to be ripping, not sure if it was like that all along...sure hope it isn't fin rot?
-Could be fin rot, or again, could be effect of the louse, give it some time

Of course, it could all be due to your water conditions. You did a 65% water change when, last night? You should do that much every single day, until you get the readings down to a reasonable level (ammonia/nitrItes ideally should be at 0, but if you're cycling the tank, you WILL have readings above 0, just do water changes to keep them somewhat reasonable). I don't like the idea of any chemicals... nothing helps the situation mroe than big, frequent as possible, water changes!

~Tara
 
Thanks for all the thanks! :D I couldn't believe that I actually did it!! I was as scared as, well..something really scared! I thought I was going to rip his tail off if I tried but it all went well. OK, onto improving this horrific situation.

First, for those of you who don't know, please allow me to say I am a know-nothing dunce when it comes to fish! Finding this forum was the best thing that ever happened to me...and ultimately to my fish going forward.

No, I didn't use amquel or anything else. I thought I read something about, besides the ammonia binder, there was something that removed or reduced ammonia and/or nitrite levels. But what you say chicoraton makes sense!

Dwayne, my tank is 2 gallons with no filter, just one of those aerator thing-a-ma-jiggys. You must be cringing, believe me, so am I after learning better. As for water changes, yes, I did the 65% last night...it was the first water change since I got the tank and fish back on 9/17 (a little over a week ago). The water looked so clear and not knowing any better thought that that was what counted and why disturb the fish if I don't have to...DUH! Since I have gone out and bought a 6 gallon (which is all I can fit for now) and am trying to do a fishless cycle. Once complete I will be transferring the fish over to that tank.

Huge, daily, water changes were my plan as I noted until the levels were down but I was hoping to get a confirmation from the experts on the forum to make sure I was doing the right thing....I will be doing today's as soon as I finish typing this (good news....ammonia is down to about 4ppm from yesterday's 8+ppm so I guess it is working). I will keep on until I am at 0 and 0 and then do a 25-50 per day or every couple/few days...whatever I learn is necessary to keep it at 0 and 0 until new tank is ready! Thanks Cearbhaill!!

Thank you all! I will keep everyone updated (and keeping asking for advice as I go)! :D
 
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