Need Help IDing This Parasite...

[Rea17]

Good to know...

Also interesting that the powder blue/brown theme is consistent. Thanks.

 

[saltyair]

IMO with some experience in micro biology. They look like one of three types of parasites.
A sub-version of fluke (larger cousin) or a type of flat worm but
I think it's most likely Anchor worms.

the Frey-ed white fins are subsequent bacterial infections

 

[Rea17]

IMO with some experience in micro biology. They look like one of three types of parasites.
A sub-version of fluke (larger cousin) or a type of flat worm but
I think it's most likely Anchor worms.

the Frey-ed white fins are subsequent bacterial infections

I tend to agree with the worm-like theory, but PraziPro had no effect, nor did Praziquantel administered directly through food.

 

[saltyair]

but the fresh water did did?
External parasites have a different morphology than internal. Were you able to scrape or save any? If you did could you ship it to me? I will pay shipping.

 

[Rea17]

No, fresh water dip didn't help either. The powder brown had a couple of flukes I think and the dip helped with that issue, but not the original problem.

After the powder brown died, I did a thorough inspection. I attempted to pull a couple of the stringy objects off with tweezers, but they were pretty delicate and tore. I didn't save anything, I guess I should have.

 

[saltyair]

hmmm - were they spongy did they move? too bad have you had them pop up again?

 

[Rea17]

They didn't move and didn't seem very spongy, although I didn't touch them with my bare hands to find out.

The base of the structure near the skin of the fish was fairly rigid (due to thickness), but easily bent when I prodded at it during inspection. It was very difficult to tell how deeply it was anchored into the fish.

The powder blue is the only fish in my system that ever showed symptoms, and it was removed quickly afterwards. I got it from an established tank where it was "healthy" for years. After running an 8 week fallow on the tank I have not seen it since. The powder brown was from another local tank, and nothing in that tank was in contact with mine, so there was no possibility of cross contamination.

 

[saltyair]

great to hear - very smart.

happy reefing

 

[kv2wr1]

Here is what I have found:

Anchor worms are parasites that infect fish and one of the main problems with them is that they increase the risk of attracting other diseases. The anchor worms can cause serious damage to a fish and can eventual kill the fish themselves, but anchor worms are only seldom the cause of death in fish with anchor worm since the damage weakens the fish and opens it up for other diseases that end up killing the fish.

Anchor worms are in fact small crustaceans. These crustaceans start out their life as free swimming and find a fish to burrow their way into. They burrow themselves too far into the fish to allow for safe removal. When they have buried themselves into the fish they move themselves into the muscles where they live for several months while developing. They then make their way out of the fish, a process that often leaves ugly wounds, and releases their eggs before dying. The circle will then start over again.

The wound caused by the crustaceans often gets infected which is one of the main reason this disease can invite so many other diseases to infect the sick fish. The long time the crustaceans spend in the fish also makes it hard to know where this disease was introduced from and if it has been cured. The symptoms of anchor worms include the fish scratching themselves against everything in the tank and white green threads hanging out with inflamed centers on the body of the fish.

Anchor worms can be treated with potassium permanganate in the community tank (will color the water) or by bathing sick fish in a potassium permanganate solution (10mg per liter) for 20-30 min. Treating the entire community/holding aquarium will as I said color the water and be a little messy but it is still a good idea since it guarantees that no other fish are infected and that the disease doesn't return in a few months by emerging from a fish that is currently showing no signs of infection. If you decide to treat your entire tank you should add 2 mg potassium permanganate to every liter of aquarium water in your tank.

 

[kv2wr1]

Found some other meds that aren't as risky to cure this here:

http://www.nationalfishpharm.com/

 

[Rea17]

Thanks for the info, but I'm reasonably certain these aren't anchor worms.

 

[MatthewcTorquay]

Guys

I have the EXACT! Same issue.....

There are what seems parasites all over her, now these are only there first thing in the morning as my Cleaner Wrasse goes to work on her by 9am and she is cleaned and maintained throughout the day, however I can tell it bugs her as she will occasionally brush against rocks etc.

When the lights go off she looks clear, however by morning she is again covered.....

The cleaner wrasse has a daily Buffet!!

Any ideas on treatment?

 

[HumbleFish]

If a cleaner wrasse is able to "pick them off" then it's reasonable to assume the right chemical would force them to dislodge from the fish. Assuming it is, in fact, something alive... and not just an adverse reaction to something (it has been suggested exposure to copper may be the culprit).

Not that you'll find any answers, but here is another recent thread about the same thing: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2440449

 

[mr.feebles]

Those are either worms, or worm shaped flukes. Either Prazi or Levamisole, depending if worm or fluke. Using both, one at a time, if your 1st guess is wrong, and you'll be good

 

[mr.feebles]

Here is what I have found:

Anchor worms are parasites that infect fish and one of the main problems with them is that they increase the risk of attracting other diseases. The anchor worms can cause serious damage to a fish and can eventual kill the fish themselves, but anchor worms are only seldom the cause of death in fish with anchor worm since the damage weakens the fish and opens it up for other diseases that end up killing the fish.

Anchor worms are in fact small crustaceans. These crustaceans start out their life as free swimming and find a fish to burrow their way into. They burrow themselves too far into the fish to allow for safe removal. When they have buried themselves into the fish they move themselves into the muscles where they live for several months while developing. They then make their way out of the fish, a process that often leaves ugly wounds, and releases their eggs before dying. The circle will then start over again.

The wound caused by the crustaceans often gets infected which is one of the main reason this disease can invite so many other diseases to infect the sick fish. The long time the crustaceans spend in the fish also makes it hard to know where this disease was introduced from and if it has been cured. The symptoms of anchor worms include the fish scratching themselves against everything in the tank and white green threads hanging out with inflamed centers on the body of the fish.

Anchor worms can be treated with potassium permanganate in the community tank (will color the water) or by bathing sick fish in a potassium permanganate solution (10mg per liter) for 20-30 min. Treating the entire community/holding aquarium will as I said color the water and be a little messy but it is still a good idea since it guarantees that no other fish are infected and that the disease doesn't return in a few months by emerging from a fish that is currently showing no signs of infection. If you decide to treat your entire tank you should add 2 mg potassium permanganate to every liter of aquarium water in your tank.

This is referring to the freshwater anchor worm, Lernea

 

[tylersarah]

Those are either worms, or worm shaped flukes. Either Prazi or Levamisole, depending if worm or fluke. Using both, one at a time, if your 1st guess is wrong, and you'll be good

Yes!