External Parasite

[darknirvana217]

I was told I should make post in here on my fish's problem after posting in tropical chat. I recently purchased two gulper cats from a distributor. the one seems to have what looks like a 1cm red worm hanging off his fin. Has anyone ever had this before and if so how do I treat it? Also they both seem to have a 1 cm -1.5cm perfect circle on their back, its liek a tanish-yellow ring. I can't tell if its just a scar from maybe a filter or if its something that I need to be cconcerned about. I would give you a picture but they hide during the day and only come out fully in the dark. Any information will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[WILDER]

Red worms are usually camallanous worms.
Does the worm have a forked tail.

 

[darknirvana217]

Well it started getting bigger as if it was coming off him. I added some mardel coppersafe which is upposed to treat external parasites. So the worm turned grey and has disappeared from my fish's fin. My girlfriend thought it may have been an anchor worm, but i'm not sure never seen anythign like it. as far as i know it didn't have a forked tail.

 

[Amerce]

Not camallanus as they are internal worms and would hang down from the fish's anal passage (they anchor onto their organs and feed off them).

Does sound like anchor worms though if they were hanging onto his fins.

Hope it gets better, but keep an eye out for any more, I'm surprised about you getting parasites from a shop, I'd menton it to the seller so that he can treat his tanks.

 

[WILDER]

I have heard camallanous worms living on the body, they suck the blood and turn red.
Anchor worm have forked tails they do live on the fins.

 

[darknirvana217]

Hey everybody thanks for the information. I did mention it to the seller. He had said earlier that he had fed them goldfish, which I've heard get anchor worms alot, so I'm guessing this is where it came from. It seems to have disappeared and i haven't seen any more since but the medicine I used will stay in the tank for about a month.

 

[WILDER]

You can remove anchor worms your self.
Good luck.