Help!!! Parasite??

J

june2000

AC Members
Nov 24, 2008
139
0
0
Portland, OR
The following is the brief history of QT tank.
------------------------------------------

6 False Julli were flashing frequently with red gills and not eating well in the main tank. Since then, we lost 2 Jullis along with 2 neons. So, we decided to setup hospital tank and put all 4 remaining corys to hospital tank.

In hospital tank, 4 false julli have been there around 10 days.

First week: Coopersafe with Maracyn-2
--------------------------------------
After coopersafe medication, they looks much better. (Schooling again, eating well...)

Second Week: Melafix + Pimafix (Still in this treatment)
-----------------------------------------------------
Almost get back to normal Cory except remaing reddish gills for two Jullis

Yesterday, I found / captured three small creatures from the hospital tank. :eek3:
I believe I caught 3 little parasites (Not sure though).
They are about 0.1in (2mm) long and thinner than hair with reddish color.
I put them in 8oz of water and add 2ml of coppersafe. Thy are still alive with those heavy coppersafe treatment. (They look not happy at all with coppersafe. They are twisting a lot now but still alive)

Can anyone help me to identify this?
If they are not going to be eliminated by coppersafe, do I have to put other medication to hospital tank?
Is our main tank safe?
(Remaining 4 Neon / 2 Cardinal Tetras / 2 Zebra Danios are fine. Two remaing guppies looks OK but are frequently flasing.)

Thank you !!!
 
If they're alive without their hosts, they're not parasites. Parasites are obligated to live on their hosts.

They'll be freeliving nematodes; not uncommon, but not a problem.
 
Karlth, Thank you very much!!!

I searched more for nematodes and found out "Camellanus nematode".
I remember one of my dead fish had long "poo" over two days.
I'd better watch them more closely.


KarlTh said:
If they're alive without their hosts, they're not parasites. Parasites are obligated to live on their hosts.

They'll be freeliving nematodes; not uncommon, but not a problem.
Click to expand...
 
Camallanus are obligate parasites, meaning they can't survive without a host. If your worms are alive, they are not parasites.
 
Thank you again!!!

Then, these small creatures are not the root cause of the recent our fish loss.


KarlTh said:
Camallanus are obligate parasites, meaning they can't survive without a host. If your worms are alive, they are not parasites.
Click to expand...
 
No. They're harmless. You may have a fluke problem, but I assume you've checked ammonia levels?
 
Thank you!!
(0, 0, 5) is reading from my main tank and
(0, 0, <5) is reading from hospital tank.

I thought we had fluke and treat accordingly. Currently, we are seeing no more fish loss and no more red alert from any fish.

I just want to verify this small red things are another sign of parasite or secondary infection.

Now, I am pretty sure it is not a bad sign at all.


KarlTh said:
No. They're harmless. You may have a fluke problem, but I assume you've checked ammonia levels?
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom