The parasite started on the kole tang and now has moved to the regal tang tail. What is it? flatworm/ copepods/ isopods/ fluke/ nematode/ helminth(worm) ??? It will not go away by itself. How can I get rid of it? The kole has had it 13 months and the regal 3 weeks. No scratching or rubing. Both have a healthy appetite. Cleaner shrimp have been short lived because of serpent/ brittle stars (harleguin, bubble tip, red serpent) during molting?
Tang tail parasite ?
- Thread starter myfin
- Start date
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i have no idea what it is, but you can mark "copepod and flatworms off of your list. also, it doesn't look like flukes either...they leave tiny little black dots or specks.......i could be way off, but steve s will know most likely
I'm unsure why you hadn't treated the fish originally displaying these symptoms 13 months ago when it showed up.
These kinds of 'attacks' are some times caused by types of flatworms. The worm itself is not readily visible with the naked eye, but the blood they let loose (causes a condition known as hypermelanisation) is visible to the naked eye. A.k.a. Black Ich.
They are slow to multiply and letting this continue for 13 has now given the causal agent a chance to 'settle in' and multiply in your aquarium.
Freshwater dips and formalin dips have been used to get these off the fish. It is best to move the infected fish to a hospital tank. I prefer the formalin dip treatment process. I've had better success with it and it addresses a larger range of parasitic organisms, though it can be more stressful to the fish if not done properly. Some references:
Formalin Dip Procedure:
http://www.marineaquariumadvice.com/formaldehyde_friend_or_foe.html
Freshwater Dip Procedure:
http://www.reefland.com/forum/marin...tment/18887-freshwater-dip-marine-fishes.html
The formalin process is multiple dips (3 days apart) according to the above reference. The FW dip process should be carried out every three days for three treatments.
All the above assumes the diagnosis of it being a parasitic worm of some sort. I'd like to see one more photo where the the entire image of the fish fills the camera screen. The up-close photos were good, though.
These kinds of 'attacks' are some times caused by types of flatworms. The worm itself is not readily visible with the naked eye, but the blood they let loose (causes a condition known as hypermelanisation) is visible to the naked eye. A.k.a. Black Ich.
They are slow to multiply and letting this continue for 13 has now given the causal agent a chance to 'settle in' and multiply in your aquarium.
Freshwater dips and formalin dips have been used to get these off the fish. It is best to move the infected fish to a hospital tank. I prefer the formalin dip treatment process. I've had better success with it and it addresses a larger range of parasitic organisms, though it can be more stressful to the fish if not done properly. Some references:
Formalin Dip Procedure:
http://www.marineaquariumadvice.com/formaldehyde_friend_or_foe.html
Freshwater Dip Procedure:
http://www.reefland.com/forum/marin...tment/18887-freshwater-dip-marine-fishes.html
The formalin process is multiple dips (3 days apart) according to the above reference. The FW dip process should be carried out every three days for three treatments.
All the above assumes the diagnosis of it being a parasitic worm of some sort. I'd like to see one more photo where the the entire image of the fish fills the camera screen. The up-close photos were good, though.
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Great photo!
I would recommend to treat the fish with 3 consecutive freshwater dips, each 3 days apart. Since you have to catch the fish each time you dip it, it may be better to do this in a hospital tank to reduce the stress of catching it 3 times.
If the Kole has similar markings, treat it the same. You may want to read more about Black Ich:
http://www.petsforum.com/personal/trevor-jones/blackich.html
The fish is showing some signs of MHLLE.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/sp/index.htm
You may want to improve its nutrition and look into other issues that may be the causal factors of MHLLE, in addition to performing the dips.
I would recommend to treat the fish with 3 consecutive freshwater dips, each 3 days apart. Since you have to catch the fish each time you dip it, it may be better to do this in a hospital tank to reduce the stress of catching it 3 times.
If the Kole has similar markings, treat it the same. You may want to read more about Black Ich:
http://www.petsforum.com/personal/trevor-jones/blackich.html
The fish is showing some signs of MHLLE.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/sp/index.htm
You may want to improve its nutrition and look into other issues that may be the causal factors of MHLLE, in addition to performing the dips.
thanks
Thanks for the diagnoses. Could Cleaner shrimp pick off the black ICH?
Catching the fish will be fun The kole is real shy. The regal is a bruiser. How long do you think it would take to train them to feed in a net?
They all have there cave to hide in.
Thanks for the diagnoses. Could Cleaner shrimp pick off the black ICH?
Catching the fish will be fun
The kole is real shy. The regal is a bruiser. How long do you think it would take to train them to feed in a net?They all have there cave to hide in.
Cleaner shrimp specialize in removing dead flesh, bad scales, and flukes on the surface. They won't help in this infection.
Feeding in a net will depend upon how much they remember of nets. Depending upon their shyness it could take weeks.
For catching fish, there is a thread you might be interested in reading:
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15768
Feeding in a net will depend upon how much they remember of nets.
Depending upon their shyness it could take weeks.For catching fish, there is a thread you might be interested in reading:
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15768
