Is this a parasite?

[Crooked Reef]

My purple firefish has a swollen right gill with what looks like bits of sand under the skin. Any ideas?

 

[snorvich]

Picture is not definitive, but from your description, it sounds like ich. Please read the stickies in this forum.

 

[Crooked Reef]

Ok. I'll try to get the fish out of there. It didn't look like any ich I had ever seen as it is isolated just under that gill and looks like a cluster of sand grains, bigger than ich spots I have seen. He has had the cluster for at least 8 days. If I am unable to catch him at what point is it safe to assume that it is not a stage of ich? From what I read the stage on the fish you can see stay there for 3 to 9 days.

 

[snorvich]

Ok. I'll try to get the fish out of there. It didn't look like any ich I had ever seen as it is isolated just under that gill and looks like a cluster of sand grains, bigger than ich spots I have seen. He has had the cluster for at least 8 days. If I am unable to catch him at what point is it safe to assume that it is not a stage of ich? From what I read the stage on the fish you can see stay there for 3 to 9 days.

As I said, the picture is not definitive. You did not provide the information that it has been there 8 days in the first post.

 

[Crooked Reef]

I'm not doubting that it could be ich. Today the gill looks like it's bruised, could possibly be from ich trying to drop off. I have a trap in there but so far he stays away from it.

I'm hoping I can get him out and treat him. If not I will have to break the rock work down to get the fish out and once I figure out what it is I will let the display go fallow for 12 weeks and treat all the fish. Is it possible that there is just sand stuck in his gill, an injury, or more likely it is some sort of parasite? There are still no other spots on him. Color, behavior, and appetite are all normal. Thanks again.