Parasitic worm on Regal Angel?

[Maxx]

Steve,
I've got a Red Sea Regal Angel that I've had for 2 months now. Today I noticed a parasite lodged between scales on the fishes side. It is a small white bump, that is protruding between the scales.
I was able to take some pics, not spectacular ones as I dont have a Macro lense for my camera...
I'm probably wrong, but is this hookworm? How should I treat this?

The fish is otherwise healthy and eats well.
Food is a mix of Rod's Food, and Mysis with Zoe and Selcon added alternately. I realize the fish requires more vegetables in the diet but its slow going getting her to go for it currrently. Progress is being made though.
Would a cleaner shrimp help out here or is this something that will require meds?

Nick

 

[Dr. Dee]

Question,Do you have a cleaner shrimp in the tank? or you can use a cleaner wrasse he will remove it.

 

[ronj]

it doesn't appear to be a trophont, but it is hard to see..could be something bacterial

 

[Maxx]

Its not Ich...this is protruding between the scales. If you look closely at the close up pic, you'll see the one scale is bulged out a bit.

Nick

 

[Dr. Dee]

Its not Ich...this is protruding between the scales. If you look closely at the close up pic, you'll see the one scale is bulged out a bit.

Nick

Yeah sometime i get flame angel's in and they get that,I just use a cleaner wrasse or a shrimp for it,its hard to treat a reef tank and thats a nice regal. Does it eat,have you tryed garlic?Its a worm and you will get more close to the head area on top.But i'm telling you from experience with it.Here is a look at what it can be.http://www.imagequest3d.com/cgi-bin...atic/marine_worms&image=ADV00074.jpg&img=&tt=

 

[matts125]

My blue throat trigger shows signs of these once in a while, they usually stick around for a day or two then are gone, I will tag along on this one!!

Matt

 

[cheeks69]

Nick could it be Lymphocystis ?
My T. Percula had it once and went away on it's own...just a thought .

 

[Maxx]

I dont know what it is. Odly enough while I watched today before going to work, I observed the white spot detach from the fish's body but still seem to be closely attached by a thin thread of sort. I travelled with the fish this way for several minutes before I had to leave for work.
Whatever this is, it appeared today, because it wasnt there yesterday.

Nick

 

[steve-s]

I observed the white spot detach from the fish's body but still seem to be closely attached by a thin thread of sort.

That could be a parasitic copepod, worm or isopod. Could also be nothing. I wouldn't rule out a parasite at all but which won't be easy. I would lean towards copepod.

If this has fallen off (?), I would wait until it reappears. Might help ID it but I doubt it. There are two things you can do but you will need a QT. The least invasive is a FW dip but it can also be the least effective. The best remedy for this type of parasite is a series of Formalin dips. It's by far the most affective on a wide variety of parasite types of this nature. If that's not possible, you may need organophosphates (fluke tabs or the like). Do not purchase one animal to solve the problem of another, it almost never works effectively and you end up with two sick animals instead of one.

What other fish are in the tank? How large is your QT?

 

[Maxx]

What other fish are in the tank? How large is your QT?

Dont ahve Qt set up at the moment. the fish is currently in the main tank. Getting her out will entertaining to say the least.
Looked at it today, saw that the part that had detached was still hanging closely the thread/string/whatever...
Wont be able to do anything today/tonight...worked til 6am, went to court to testify for case at 10 am, had to be at the range for firearms instructor tryouts at 12 pm, just got home from that and have to be at work tonight at 6pm...til 6 am. Earliest anything can happen is sometime tomorrow after 2 pm-ish...
I'm guessing by the fact that the fish is still eating happily, there is only the one isolated whatever it is, and your lack of capitalized type to indicate urgency/screaming that I've got some time before this turns into a nightmarish problem?
Is this something that the fish could possibly fight off on its own w/o the need to remove it from the main display, and do a formalin dip?
Just asking because I'd rather not stress the fish anymore than necessary...

Nick

 

[steve-s]

If this is a parasitic worm or copepod, it will not go away on it's own unless it requires an additional host (snails/crustaceans etc) to complete the life cycle. If it's a facultative parasite like isopods etc, it may only show up on the fish only occasionally and be a nuisance. With just the one and it turns out to be what we've been discussing, the fish is in no immediate danger. If anything changes please be sure to update the thread.

You will need to QT the fish eventually, treat the fish and fallow the main. I would not leave it more than a few days. If you can get to it by the week end you should be fine.

 

[Maxx]

Thats kinda what I figured....

What kind of treatment and how long should the main tank be kept fallow?

Nick

 

[steve-s]

If it's still attached to the fish, I would do a series of Formalin dips @ 20 drops/gallon of dip water (SW) repeated on the 3rd and 6th day (3 dips, 3 days apart).

If there's nothing on the fish, I would hold off. If the tank needs to be fallowed, I would allow for 8 weeks minimum unless it can be accurately identified.

 

[Dr. Dee]

So how is your regal angel? And did your worm fall off?or did that formalin dip work out.

 

[Maxx]

Not much of an update....
The fish is unchanged. The white bump is still present, with no new additions to it, or any other "buddies" joining in.

I have a 20 gallon tank set up as QT with a heater and Hagen Aquaclear HOB filter. No carbon, just bioballs that have floating in my main tank. Fish is accustomed to the trap in the tank, and regularly enters it to eat.

The big delay was in finding formalin.....it was slow going to get anything around the holidays with shipping being screwed up.

I plan on starting dips tomorrow if possible, following Steve's instructions.

Nick

 

[Dr. Dee]

Thats cool keep us posted,I am surprised its still on him.

 

[steve-s]

The exact same area has remained unchanged for a month? Any chance of posting an updated pic?

 

[Maxx]

The parasite/white bump protruding between the scales has fallen off and left a small scar. No change in the fishes behavior, no new parasites or bumps have shown up.

No idea what it was.

Nick

 

[steve-s]

I would leave well enough alone. If it doesn't return, count your blessings.

 

[Maxx]

Already doing that...

Thanks again for the info and help Steve.

Nick