Gourami! Parasite or... ?

[OgreMkV]

OK, what is this? This is one of my new female gold gouramis. My wife thinks this is her with eggs. I'm worried that it's a parasite. If it's a parasite, what do I need to kill it and protect my other fish?

The string appears to be coming from a position just in front of the lower fin. I'm not sure if this is the anus or reproductive duct on gouramis. Her behavior has been semi-aggressive. She basically claimed a spot near my taller plants and appears to be following the male around.

HELP

 

[jm1212]

yep, its a gold gourami.

and yes, it has a parasitic infection. there are medicated foods that you can feed it, but you should also move it to a QT or hospital tank if you can.

 

[Coler]

how long has that been there Ogre, and is it moving independently ? Have you seen her feed ?

Could it be stringy white faeces ? If so I woudn't worry too much just yet - probably a little stress from the move.

I understood that gourami females laid individual eggs which the male then takes into his mouth and brings to a bubble nest...which does not look like this.

The good news is that it doesn't look like camallanus, which is the worm you really want to avoid.

 

[OgreMkV]

We just noticed it this afternoon when we came home. I don't think it was moving on its own. It came off and landed on one of the decorations.

The fish fed fine 6 hours ago when we fed the rest of the tank.

It wasn't a solid color. It had lighter (more clear) spots and brighter white spots. Without a microscope I can't tell too much more, but I didn't see a head.

I really don't want it to be a parasite, but I don't want to over-compensate and not treat something that I should.

If it is a parasite, what medicine would you suggest? How long in quarantine? If it's already in the tank, should I just treat the whole tank?

Help and Thanks

 

[OgreMkV]

According to this, it's a parasite.

http://www.fishyfarmacy.com/fish_diseases/fecal_disorders.html

 

[Coler]

yeah...that would generally be so...thing is she's new in the tank and the stress of the move could have upset her.

Sounds like stringy white poop. I'd monitor for a couple of days, before treating. See if she settles down. Hopefully you'll start seeing some good normal faeces. Generally I'd want to see stringy white poop for a few days before turning to medications...its not that uncommon, especially when stressed...I believe I get a touch of it myself

hopefully it didn't look anything like a tapeworm ?

QT at this stage is probably irrelevant as the rest have been exposed now, and you'd probably treat the whole tank if you get to that point.

 

[OgreMkV]

OK, Thanks Coler and jm1212.

 

[Coler]

no prob keep us posted & fingers crossed it passes.

 

[jonnyfry]

my female gold gourami went through the same thing when i first got her , it passed , like said before its probably just the stress of being moved . hopefully in a few days it will pass .

 

[Star_Rider]

jungle parasite clear..(acriflavin, metronidazole, praziquantel)

to be honest i treat all my new fish in a qt tank with this med..it's a catch all. realtively safe.

treat the whole tank..do not..I repeat. do not move the fish to a hospital tank to treat..

parasites pass eggs..these eggs will infest the tank..even if you remove the fish.

camillanus is only one of the parasites(round worm, tape worm, and capillaria are also some that infect fish.)..and I have seen the results of this(primarily angels and other SA cichlids)
other parasites include flukes and ich..also flagellated protazoans..
this is one reason to QT all new fish..for 4 weeks minimum..if you see infections, infestations..treat and keep the fish in qt.