guinness0514
New member
Did a search but couldn't find must about it. fish is very stressed. Looks like a blister on it's body. it moves around. how do you treat it? Everytime I go to catch the fish it darts into it's cave.
Purple firefish with clear parasite
- Thread starter guinness0514
- Start date
Shane Hoffman
New member
Sounds like a parasitic copepod. They latch onto, burrow in, and eat off of the fishes flesh. Keep trying to catch it. Manual removal is the best method.
guinness0514
New member
if i catch..how do i remove?
guinness0514
New member
yeah i don't know how I am gonna catch this little guy...he is too fast...let's say I can't get him out and he dies...how does that parasite live in a reef...is it conna mutiply? I have a trigger mandrin and 2 false percs
Shane Hoffman
New member
usually they dont thrive in aquariums. They either get eaten or removed by humans. I have however seen 2 aquariums that had full blown infestations. Just try hard to get it out because they are inverts and any chemocal that kills them kills about everything else in your aquarium
guinness0514
New member
aany suggestions on home made traps? this guy is still too dang fast...
Chiefsurfer
New member
does he come out for food? Better late than never right? Try sticking the net in there, and let it sit for about 12 hours, then move the net about, then let it sit another 12 and repeat. After about 3 cycles of this he should not be scared of the net, not anymore than seeing you at least. Then try and lure him near the net with some food. Only thing I can think of.
guinness0514
New member
Thanks Chief...great idea, but i don't think there is that much time...he seems pretty stressed...not sure how long he will last...he is still swimming around, but plops down on the sandbed a lot. When I got after him he takes off... so i will try that method, but i am afraid to see him dead by morning...wonder if the parasite will stay on him and continue to feed long enough for me to get him out??
guinness0514
New member
I have a cleaner but these to guys never get together. they stay in two different locations in the tank
Chiefsurfer
New member
make it through the night?
I doubt a cleaner would help at this stage. Maybe when it first lands, but it seems like the one you have is already munching on the flesh, and I coubd a cleaner could rip that off.
I doubt a cleaner would help at this stage. Maybe when it first lands, but it seems like the one you have is already munching on the flesh, and I coubd a cleaner could rip that off.
guinness0514
New member
yeah I flashed a light in the cave this morning and he was still alive. the tank is a 30g and pretty stocked with live rock and coral, so it is hard to chase him around the tank without causing some coral carnage. I am at work now, but am goning to try again when I get home if he makes it. I am not sure how long these guys last with a parasite like this, but hopefully he can make it through the day. I see no damage on the fish. If this parasite is on the outside of the skin, whould there be tissue loss? If the bug is under the skin..how am I gonna get it? This is an odd thing...I don't see where the bug is doing damage, just looks like it is crawling around on him... but the fish is def not happy... 
Will keep you guys posted. Any additional advice is welcome!
Will keep you guys posted. Any additional advice is welcome!
jimrawr
New member
Did you try a fish trap? What kind of fish and how big? You could buy one from LFS or make one yourself, pretty easy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdZDU52sixw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdZDU52sixw
guinness0514
New member
yeah it is a purple firefish (dart fish) and he never goes far from the cave I have set up for him. I'll look into the trap idea. Thanks!
guinness0514
New member
Still not able to catch him, but he is acting much better... still trying the bottle trap.
guinness0514
New member
Ok...the bottle trap hasn't worked yet. I am gonna try a different plastic bottle after I finish what's inside of it ;-). The fish is doing good and acting normal. Here is a pic of the parasite...see looks just like a blister that you can see move around slowly.
Crustman
New member
Since I see no legs or segmentation, I'm thinking that its a monogenean trematode. It looks like a Neobenedenia in the Capsaloidea or something like it. I have references on these. The trematode is oriented with the posterior sucker or opisthaptor with hooks toward the head of the fish and it feeds on tissue fluids using the wider end with 2 smaller suckers and a muscular pharyx. They can reproduce in aquaria. One is not a problem but many could kill the fish.
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