Parasite Identification

[Pet Respect]

I've snapped a few pictures of a parasite that a customer had picked off of her fish. She brought them into the store for identification. I thought it might be anchorworm but I can't be sure. Does anyone know what this parasite might be?

Kim @ Pet Respect

 

[PaPeRo]

That doesn't look like anchor worm but I could be wrong. It's not a fluke either. It's some kind of Nematode worm.

 

[black angel]

Thats a bloodworm and totally harmless

 

[PaPeRo]

Looks like somebody lied.

 

[andyt_uk]

i had one of them in a tank once, scared the bejeezus outta me when saw it, turned out it was a blood worm, no idea how it got there tho having never fed blood worms

 

[Pet Respect]

Thanks, guys. I did find out it was a bloodworm like black angel says. Andy, I sorta know where you're coming from, the customer said that she only feeds her oscars goldfish so I suspected parasite

 

[black angel]

There is no need for oscars to be fed goldfish. Goldies are likely to pass on loads of diseases and it would be like you or I eating nothing but mac donalds so not healthy at all. HITH will be a big danger if the diet isnt varied. If you post in the new world cichlid section then you can get a list of better foods for them.
The mosquito can easily lay eggs on the water surface and the bloodworm are then hatching into the tank.

I take it you are in the US as its illegal for petstores to sell live fish for others to eat in the UK

 

[Betta splendens]

black angel, I believe Kim means the lady feeds her oscars goldfish food-right?

I hope so it seems silly (and cruelly unnessisary) to keep going back to the pet store and buiying tons of goldys almost daily....

seems unlikely but could a worm or maybe the bloodworm's egg or eggs ave been attatched to a plant, or maybe stuck somewhere on the fish? Oh wait, blood worms turn into flies naturally don't they.... well maybe a small worm was in the plants or fish and it grew?

 

[zoekin8yg]

eugh I didnt know thats what bloodworms were!