A big monster in my filefish

[vilyfort]

Hi,

While I was visiting Interzoo ( Nurnberg, Germany) I had to ask my sister to take care of my tank.After a few days, my filefish died, and as I wanted to investigate the cause (suspecting starvation as death cause) I asked her to put-it in the fridge.
After I arrived back home, I discovered in the bag with the fish a parasite.You can see attached pictures.
It seems to be Cymothoa exigua.
Could such a parasite be discovered in time and if so, how to 'treat' the fish?
Some people on the best Romanian forum (www.acvariu.ro) suggested that it's a
Cymothoa exigua, what do you think?

 

[Jacob D]

Well, that is definitely some type of isopod and after using Google to look up Cymothoa exigua your friends might be correct, but I would lean towards "not". You'll need to find someone specialized for a definitive ID. The photos of the pod have some differences, also the range of it seems to be in the Pacific Ocean/ West Coast US.

The description of C exigua is particulary terrible! From Wikipedia which sites the source...

"It extracts blood through the claws on its front, causing the tongue to atrophy from lack of blood. The parasite then replaces the fish's tongue by attaching its own body to the muscles of the tongue stub. The fish is able to use the parasite just like a normal tongue. It appears that the parasite does not cause any other damage to the host fish [1]. Once C. exigua replaces the tongue, some feed on the host's blood and many others feed on fish mucus. This is the only known case of a parasite functionally replacing a host organ"


Based on the size of the isopod and the size of your fish, it's hard to imagine that being inside the mouth of your fish, but parasites are nasty things so I wouldn't be shocked. If it truly was IN your fish I don't know how you would know. I suppose prophylactic treatment with copper or any medication toxic to inverts would take care of it (saying this having never dealt with isopods).

Very interesting, thanks for posting and sorry for the loss.

 

[schudini]

Just don't let it near your tongue!

 

[danyalexa]

On Wikipedia says that the parasite will replace the tongue of the fish.If you are using substances like cooper, or other, and the parasite will leave the fish's body, isn't the fish going to die?He will no be able to eat without tongue or this parasite?

 

[LukFox]

You say you suspect starvation, was the fish eating? That isopod is huge, so maybe it got so fat the fish wasn't even able to swallow anymore.

 

[Mounda]

That is a mature Cirolanid, a nightmare isopod and virtually impossible to get rid of.

 

[tahoe61]

Is anyone using interceptor for tx of this parasite ?

 

[DonH]

How about diflubenzuron (Dimilin)? Not sure how effective it is in treating saltwater fish but it's used to treat anchorworms and lice in freshwater fish by inhibiting the production of chitin (what the hard shell is made of).