what do you do about parasites?

by vince0 Mon Nov 17, 2014 10:11 am

I think I have a fish that is displaying some signs of external parasites. What do you use to get rid of sugh things. Never really dealt with something like this before...

by Starfish Mon Nov 17, 2014 11:36 am

What sort of signs/symptoms is it showing?

by vince0 Mon Nov 17, 2014 4:07 pm

what do you do about parasites? 7667f11a-8a6d-4dfb-865d-e0a70fe68fab_zpse6dd9038

I took this picture earlier. My female pugwai rainbow had a sore appear a while back and its slowly growing. Its white around the edges and doesn't see to go far below the layer below the scales. occasionally, a scale will fall off. Im not sure if its healing.

by Starfish Mon Nov 17, 2014 4:43 pm

I can't see exactly where the sore is. It sounds similar to something one of my turquoise rainbows had. First it looked like he had just lost a scale, then another would fall off. He was like that for quite a while and it did not seem to bother him. Eventually it got bigger and the spot in the middle started to turn red. I separated him from the tank into a hospital container but I think that made it worse. Eventually I lost him. I don't know what he had and hopefully yours will not be the same. Sorry, I am not really much help. I guess the best thing to do, as in the case of most fish ailments, is frequent water changes.

Would there be a possibility that it was originally an injury that did not heal completely?

by vince0 Mon Nov 17, 2014 4:55 pm

You are the second person to have this happen with no know cause. Hopefully someone cam chime in.

by **CAAIndie** Mon Nov 17, 2014 6:27 pm

I believe treatment really depends on the type of parasite present. Can you visibly see any of the parasites, or are they hidden or too small?

I have heard of manual removal if they are visible on the skin.

I know tetra brand, has something called parasite guard. I haven't personally used it, but will try to do some more reading on it.

by GaryE Mon Nov 17, 2014 7:04 pm

Rainbows - it is probably Mycobacter marinum, fish tb. I hate that disease. It's an incurable, untreatable bacteria in the same family as human tuberculosis. Melanotaenia have next to no resistance to it.
Treatment? Kill the affected fish humanely before the sore releases enormous numbers of bacteria. Some run a UV sterilizers to slow its spread. It is suggested to keep affected rainbows under 24 degrees to help control it.
it is the great disease of the Asian fishfarms - it's common and often controlled by the fish (although lives are always shortened).

by **hello_rockview12** Mon Nov 17, 2014 7:14 pm

Another case of Rainbows w TB. Sorry to hear about it, it's a real drag...

by vince0 Mon Nov 17, 2014 8:04 pm

what do you do about parasites? 20141117_200020_zpsi3nqspjv

here is another shot of the fish in question

by Starfish Mon Nov 17, 2014 8:38 pm

It is definitely visible in that photo. Looks pretty bad. Unfortunately, I doubt there is much you can do for it. I lost several rainbows to a similar thing. I have one left and am keeping a eye on him. Sorry for this to have to happen to yours too. Be careful when working in your tank and wear gloves if you have any cuts or sores on your hands.

by **CAAIndie** Mon Nov 17, 2014 8:40 pm

Ahh this sucks Vince. Sorry. Hopefully everything else in the tank is doing okay.

Make sure to avoid bare hands in the tank!

by vince0 Mon Nov 17, 2014 9:08 pm

yeah im going to get some gloves tomorrow... I guess no more breeding mops in that tank either...

by **hello_rockview12** Tue Nov 18, 2014 7:29 am

vince0 wrote:yeah im going to get some gloves tomorrow... I guess no more breeding mops in that tank either...

It really is a game changer/crusher of dreams. Are you going to euthanize?

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what do you do about parasites?

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