Parasites on Coral Beauty... (Pics Included)

[prettyfishy76]

I have just lost my Coral Beauty this afternoon... She has been in my tank for over a month and has been wonderfully healthy (swimming nicely and eating normally). During the past few days, she's been acting a little strange - not swimming as much, hiding and breathing hard. I just noticed a couple of days ago that her fins were looking worn and torn (I have nothing in the tank that would pick at her). Yesterday, I noticed white specs on her body (I'm just thinking - Oh Great, she's got ich)... Well, today, she has expired. I put her in a bowl of water to examine her. She has what looks to be parasites on her body, especially at her gills and her tail (they're oval and pale - fairly large, too). After a while in the bowl, about 15 or more fell off. I have no idea what these are and if they're going to affect what's left in my tank.

I have taken pictures and hope someone recognizes what type of parasite this is. I would like to know what it is so I might see about treating the rest of the tank.

 

[ionredline0260]

Join the club...I was treating my flame for ich and lost him today

 

[artman18944]

sometimes i hate this hobby! i too lost a favorite fish today my flagfin anglefish was overrun with this salwater scerge. i noticed symptoms 3 days prior, he was scratching alot but had no external signs. then yesterday his eyes clouded over and i knew it was time to QT and begin tx. i did a formalin bath followed by a FW bath then into QT and antiboitics. he looked better last pm and i thought he had a chance, but this am he was breathing heavily and i knew it was not a good sign. well i got home tonite and he was gone. sooooo sad, my fellow hobbiest i feel your pain.

 

[LauraCline]

I think I am about to join this sad club. My royal gramma and emporer angel both came down with what I'm sure is ich. I managed to catch the emporer and he has been in coppersafe for 4 days now and I will be adding some maracyn to help with any secondary infection. I have not been able to catch the gramma even after screwing the tank all up taking rocks out. I'm sure if I can't get her out, she'll expire in a few days. I will be leaving the tank fallow and QTing all future additions with a prophylactic round of treatments. It's too hard to catch them once they're in the tank if they get sick.

 

[TerryB]

Prettyfishy,

It is not good news. The large parasites on the tail and gills look like parasitic isopods. They can kill all the fish in the tank and are very difficult to get rid of. You might want to contact Ron Shimek, because he could give you a positive ID. The best way I know how to get rid of them is to wait until they attach to the fish at night and take them out of the tank. You will have to catch them all which will take several nights.

Terry B

 

[TerryB]

Ionredline,

I can't see the typical white (salt size) spots on your fish, but it does look like a bacterial infection by the fin.

For those interested in learning about ich the link below will lead to a huge amount of information. Hope it helps.

http://www.marineaquariumadvice.com/aquarium_fish_1.html

Terry B

 

[ionredline0260]

the ich had droped off, I was just holding it in the QT to be sure.