thousands of visible parasites

[Chuck Norris]

I bought a 35 gallon tank from a guy that had a 10" fireside oscar and a catfish in there and i know thats not nearly a big enough tank for these guys. we brought the tank to my house with the oscar in the tank with about half of the water, and this water is filthy. they didnt ever vacuum the gravel or do frequent water changes. so i started doing a large water change, vacuumed the gavel. i had my light hood leaning on the side of the tank because it was easier to see inside the filthy tank and the water was quite stirred up. then i look from the top of the tank and saw thousands of tiny white parasites swimming around. im thinking that these are ick or velvelt parasites but the oscar has only a small amount of visible dots on him so im thinking that they are in his gills, or they are at the stage where they leave the fish and multiply. So i dosed the tank with coppersafe and salt. but i had my arm in the tank for about 15 minutes and i was wondering if i could get the parasites in me. i know they live in water but im still worried because im kind of itchy right now. So is it possible for a person to get infected with these parasites?

 

[KingOfTheDeep]

ich parasites are not visable, nore are velevt parasites

they may possibly be planeria, which are harmless and non parasitic, they occur when to much food is left in the tank

when a tank is seriously filthy, the chemicals in the tank can cause irritants on human skin, i had an ammonia spike a few months ago and eat time i put my hand in the tank it would become itchy, i wouldnt worry too much about that

just clean the tank well and use the meds, see what happens

also..a 35 gal is WAY too small for a 10 inch oscar, a 75-90 would be much better for him and his tankmate

 

[Chuck Norris]

yes i know that the 35 is way too small. thats why im getting a 75 or maybe a 140 within the next week. its good to know that those arent ick or velvet parasites. ive had some of my fish get ick and when the parasites left and died i would see like a small clump of cloudy substance, so thats thats why i wasnt too sure what these were.

 

[KingOfTheDeep]

yes i know that the 35 is way too small. thats why im getting a 75 or maybe a 140 within the next week. its good to know that those arent ick or velvet parasites. ive had some of my fish get ick and when the parasites left and died i would see like a small clump of cloudy substance, so thats thats why i wasnt too sure what these were.

ok, a 75 will be good, a 140..even better

whichever one you can afford

good luck with your O, they are great fish!

 

[DeRo316]

I would save the meds and just do frequent water changes. Have you tested the water? I suggest you get a freshwater master test kit and test your water. Do water changes until you get 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, <15 nitrate. You said you kept water in the tank when you got it so bacteria should still be present.

If the dots on him stay for the next couple days just raise the temp and start salt treatment for ich, there is an article up top on the steps to treat it.