Large parasite on sea horses help identify please

[gizmo duck]

I am watching a friends tank while on vacation and noticed these large parasites on the sea horses. I tried to suck them off with a turkey Baster but they are stuck on. I have never had sea horses so don't know about the proper care.

These horses were wild caught I believe and initially only ate live food. The owner was extremely dedicated and trained these horses to eat frozen.

I am here bc I want to do what I can to save the lives of these horses. I think these parasites are flukes (neobenedenia)and should treat with prazipro.

The tank appears to be 45 gal and there are two horses a sea star and some snails. No skimmer just a fluval type filter. I took a sample of water to Lfs and salinity is 1.024.

Fresh water dip has been tried and the flukes did not come off.

Thanks so much for your help!

 

[gizmo duck]

Better picture

 

[rayjay]

I can't identify but if you treat with prazi-pro, do it in a hospital tank, not the display tank.
Are you not able to e-mail the owner for his advice?

 

[ThRoewer]

Was already identified in the fish disease section: Argulus (fish lice), a crustacean parasite.

 

[DanU]

Here is a good write up by the University of Florida.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa184

Dan

 

[kudagirl]

Hi Dan,

That was a very good read if that is what is on the sh how would you get the dam things off

Would we have any meds that could help rid of these things,could it be that they were wild sh???

 

[DanU]

Fortunately I have never had to deal with this. Organophosphates are normally used to kill these but that can be real rough on the seahorses. If I were in this situation, I would probably start over by tearing everything down, bleach followed by an acid bath and restart. This is a tough one!

Dan