Urgent help needed

[CraigT1976]

Hi

Today I have noticed some kind of parasite on one of my clowns rear tail fin its about 1cm long and has 2 eyes clear looking body but has a dark stomach to it how can i remove this? as it seems to be putting the fish in a bit of distress

Thanks

ive done a quick outline scetch of what it looks like here

here

 

[Max]

I'd guess isopod. There are several ways to get it off of your fish and a possible additional problem for you to consider. I'd just take the fish out of the main tank and put it in hospital for a couple of days. Have the water in the hospital at or a little below 1.2 the invert won't be able to take the osmotic shift . The fish will do alright just adjust water params slowly for it but, quickly for the pod. There copper based blood can't take the sudden shift and voila pushing up daisies.
I hope that the clown is a recent purchase because other wise your main tank is possibly infested with these blood suckers. If that's the case the best way to get rid of them would be to remove all of your fish to a hospital tank treat with low s.q. You'll need to keep your main tank fish free for about 6 weeks to get rid of these monsters. I strongly reccomend a q.t./ hospital tank for all hobbiest. They will save you more money,time and effort than all the meds in the world.
HTh good luck and welcome to A.C.
Chris

 

[CraigT1976]

yes this is a new setup about 4 weeks old, I purchased the clowns yesterday along with 3 x red legged crabs

this is the guy

It is a Isopod, it has now come off my fish but how can i remove him from my tank?

Thanks

 

[mogurnda]

Unfortunately, it's hard to find them unless they're on a fish. According to Calfo and Fenner, some species generally attack at night, so it's worth a look with a flashlight. If you can get the fish out, the "fish lice" can be removed with forceps.

They supposedly can breed in tanks, but in my limited experience, it seems like people see one or two in newly introduced fish, and then they go away without becoming a plague. I hope that will be true for you. Otherwise, the tank may have to be fishless for quite a while before the isopods starve.

Interestingly, Humann and Deloach say that most of the fish lice that are seen on fish in the Caribbean are actually just commensals, hitching a ride. I trust them on most things, so it seems puzzling to me.

 

[CraigT1976]

you might be right when u say hitching a ride cause after it jumped off the fish i have'nt seen any marks on the fish to confirm that it has be so called slashed for blood

 

[Max]

Make sure it didn't get a snack from the fish's gills they love to feed there . Thats where there is the most blood close to the surface.

 

[CraigT1976]

no it was on its rear tail fin and all looks ok. would a ozonizer kill it ? or uv sterralizer as i know those kill some parasites i have both bu have never had the need to use them?

Thanks

 

[Max]

I really doubt that it would work. And most anything that would kill them would make your tank unfit for invert life forever. You might consider adding a cleaner shrimp they are known for eating parasites so if they aren't all that big they might do the trick. Of course that would depend on what else you have in the tank.