Fish Lice?

[BloodThirsty28]

Just cleaned out my sisters tank and found two on a goldfish. Called the pet store and described them to them and they told me that is what they were. Googled it and found that they are indeed this. Question is where do they come from and can they harm the fish? Also can they grow up and get out of the tank and into the house? They told me a about a product to kill them so I don't need any help on that. Thanks.


PS - I just changed her water and had my hands all in the tank. I'm planning on doing a water change in my tank tonight. I washed my hands very very well but is there a chance I can spread it to my tank or should I wait on my water change?

[BloodThirsty28]

bumping before bed......

[lucky_ducky]

If u r talking abt argulus....they certainly are harmful..

Argulus feed by first inserting a pre-oral sting wch injects digestive enzymes into d body. They then suck out d liquidised body fluids with their proboscis-like mouth.Feeding can take place on the skin or in the gills. U can guess how irritating it will b for ur fish.

They wont get out of d tank... they need water to survive and basically they feed from fish..i've not know of them to thireve on other aquatic animals.

As for their origin... i am not aware of where they come from... but they r born out of eggs and they need host to survive so they go swimming freely in freshwaters till they find their hosts... wch is fish.

[khombre]

Most probably Argulus as lucky_ducky stated.

http://www.fishdoc.co.uk/disease/argulus.htm

Google "argulus" or "fish lice". Lots of links about them will pop up. Good luck.
:cool: