Help, what is this on my fish?

kgis · 10/17/2012, 09:02 PM

I noticed something that appears to be stuck in the gills of my new YWG. I don't know what it is and what I should do about it. It's hard to see in the picture but it almost looks like some little antennas poking out - could it be some sort of parasite?

horwitzs · 10/17/2012, 09:51 PM

Not sure what it is but I clearly see what you are talking about. Almost looks like earwig pincers.

bnumair · 10/17/2012, 11:17 PM

hard to say with that pic but there is something there.

downbeach · 10/18/2012, 06:39 AM

Could be some type of parasitic copepod/isopod.

http://www.chucksaddiction.com/disease.html

kgis · 10/18/2012, 08:39 AM

It's hard to tell because the intruder is in the gills but the closest match I found is a drawing of a juvenile copepod. I'm pretty sure it's alive since I think I saw it move a little this morning.
I've been researching treatments online and it's really hard to tell whether anything is successful. I've come down to 3 options that may work
1) freshwater dip with Methylene blue and hope it comes out on it's own
2) copper treatment (I have cupramine at home)
3) hyposalinity for 3-4 weeks.

My best option seems to be the freshwater dip followed by cupramine. I can start that when I get home tonight. Does anyone have any other suggestions or things they have been successful with?

coralsnaked · 10/18/2012, 09:45 AM

This is a difficult situation withsuch a small fish because proper treatment of an infrcted fish requires it to be anesthetized using Tricaine Methanesulfonate anesthetic (MS-222). You would very slowly add MS-222 to a small amount of tank water in a small container holding the fish like a small tubberware container to anesthetize the fish. Useing tweezers to gently pull the parasite out of the gill if it is large enough. However gill isopods will usually requie you to cut the legs of the isopods using small scissors and then use tweezers to gently pull the legs from the gills.

Obviously it is very easy to damage the gills of the fish and injure it. So it is imperative to be sure this is the problem. You would also need to build a trap to start cathing the others of the infestation.

No Merry Skerry Here I am Afraid

kgis · 10/18/2012, 12:26 PM

This is disappointing but after more reading I think you're correct.
On a fish that small I'm not even sure how I could get at the pest with a scissor without doing serious damage to the fish.

sarahlovesfish · 10/18/2012, 12:36 PM

since it is maybe a invertebrate how about try a freshwater dip or hyposalinity?

MrTuskfish · 10/18/2012, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarahlovesfish

since it is maybe a invertebrate how about try a freshwater dip or hyposalinity?

If this is some type of isopod (or similar parasite) ; A fw dip may work. that would be my 1st choice.

downbeach · 10/18/2012, 01:17 PM

Here's a FW dip process using Methylene Blue:

http://www.reefland.com/forum/marine...ne-fishes.html

kgis · 10/18/2012, 07:15 PM

I tried a FW dip this evening and the isopod dropped right off in less than 30 seconds. Just straight freshwater since I didn't have any methylene blue. Thanks everyone for the advice.

I'm going to continue his quarantine for several more weeks but is there anything else I should be doing to protect the health of the fish now that the parasite is gone?

10/17/2012, 09:02 PM	#1
kgis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 34	Help, what is this on my fish? I noticed something that appears to be stuck in the gills of my new YWG. I don't know what it is and what I should do about it. It's hard to see in the picture but it almost looks like some little antennas poking out - could it be some sort of parasite?

10/17/2012, 09:51 PM	#2
horwitzs Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Kitsap Penninsula Posts: 470	Not sure what it is but I clearly see what you are talking about. Almost looks like earwig pincers. __________________ -Seth Current Tank Info: 120g fresh, 150g salt.

10/17/2012, 11:17 PM	#3
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	hard to say with that pic but there is something there. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

10/18/2012, 06:39 AM	#4
downbeach Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Smyrna, Delaware Posts: 3,767	Could be some type of parasitic copepod/isopod. http://www.chucksaddiction.com/disease.html

10/18/2012, 08:39 AM	#5
kgis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 34	It's hard to tell because the intruder is in the gills but the closest match I found is a drawing of a juvenile copepod. I'm pretty sure it's alive since I think I saw it move a little this morning. I've been researching treatments online and it's really hard to tell whether anything is successful. I've come down to 3 options that may work 1) freshwater dip with Methylene blue and hope it comes out on it's own 2) copper treatment (I have cupramine at home) 3) hyposalinity for 3-4 weeks. My best option seems to be the freshwater dip followed by cupramine. I can start that when I get home tonight. Does anyone have any other suggestions or things they have been successful with?

10/18/2012, 09:45 AM	#6
coralsnaked Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Austin / Port Aransas, TX Posts: 1,479	This is a difficult situation withsuch a small fish because proper treatment of an infrcted fish requires it to be anesthetized using Tricaine Methanesulfonate anesthetic (MS-222). You would very slowly add MS-222 to a small amount of tank water in a small container holding the fish like a small tubberware container to anesthetize the fish. Useing tweezers to gently pull the parasite out of the gill if it is large enough. However gill isopods will usually requie you to cut the legs of the isopods using small scissors and then use tweezers to gently pull the legs from the gills. Obviously it is very easy to damage the gills of the fish and injure it. So it is imperative to be sure this is the problem. You would also need to build a trap to start cathing the others of the infestation. No Merry Skerry Here I am Afraid

10/18/2012, 12:26 PM	#7
kgis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 34	This is disappointing but after more reading I think you're correct. On a fish that small I'm not even sure how I could get at the pest with a scissor without doing serious damage to the fish.

10/18/2012, 12:36 PM	#8
sarahlovesfish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: California Posts: 330	since it is maybe a invertebrate how about try a freshwater dip or hyposalinity?

10/18/2012, 01:17 PM	#10
downbeach Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Smyrna, Delaware Posts: 3,767	Here's a FW dip process using Methylene Blue: http://www.reefland.com/forum/marine...ne-fishes.html

10/18/2012, 07:15 PM	#11
kgis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 34	I tried a FW dip this evening and the isopod dropped right off in less than 30 seconds. Just straight freshwater since I didn't have any methylene blue. Thanks everyone for the advice. I'm going to continue his quarantine for several more weeks but is there anything else I should be doing to protect the health of the fish now that the parasite is gone?