Microscopic hairs on fish

[lrs183]

Hello all,

I know this is one of those smash your head against your keyboard for not having a picture of it, however.. I have a question.

My Orange Spot Goby has.. Well, this tiny tiny tiny hairs around his eyes/cheek area. They are clear in color, exhibit no movement and don't appear to be harming the fish. He's eating lots, moves around the tank often, perches on rocks still, visits the cleaner shrimp (his only tank partner) on occasion etc.

Water parameters are solid. It's possible that he's had these for a while now and I just haven't noticed due to backgrounds and the hairs being somewhat translucent. I read one post mentioning anchor worms which I don't feel exhibit the same look at all. These things barely stick out from his cheek area/around eyes.

Final tid bit, there aren't hundreds of them like a mold or something. Just a handful of hairs. It's odd.

Thank you!

 

[lrs183]

Maybe a way to describe would be extremely short/clear bristles. Some around nose area too

 

[HumbleFish]

Could it be from bristleworms? There was a thread recently about a fish getting hit by barbs from a bristleworm. Apparently it's a lot more common than I realized.

 

[Beefy_Reefy]

+1 Bristleworm
They will fall out in a few days.

 

[lrs183]

Ouch, maybe? They don't move at all, clear and barely stuck further out than his eyes do from his body. I'd say there's several (not dozens) on each side and nose area. I've searched high and low for a hair type disease and can't find anything. But now that you've mentioned bristle worms I see some stuff on it. Never took my goby to be a bristle fighter, lol. I didn't notice a dead worm anywhere or parts. Anyone have experience here?

 

[lrs183]

Poor thing lol. I appreciate it everyone. I hope that's what it is!

 

[HumbleFish]

Look at this thread w/pics: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2367987

 

[lrs183]

Look at this thread w/pics: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2367987

That fish has like literally an entire patch of bristles. What I'm seeing are individual bristles/hairs

 

[lrs183]

Update - looks like Mr goby (his name, lol) isn't old man goby anymore. Whatever they were, they're gone now. Yay! Lol. I have noticed a new trend though. He still sleeps under the same rock and will go near the open sand field outside of it to eat but he has a new hangout. Maybe he's not interested in a repeat, lol

 

[Beefy_Reefy]

I always pull large bristleworms out of tank if I can lure them out with food on sandbed. I use long tongs to grab them. I noticed one crawling on/near my YWG at night when it was sleeping. He had a few bristles in him. My firefish took a ton to the eye once. He too moved homes. But I think I took care of the bristleworm bothering him.

 

[lrs183]

Yeah it bothers me a bit. I've only seen one since I started the tank and that was in its first week. I've contemplated rigging a trap but dunno if its necessary yet.