Possible Accidental Parasite Introduction

[Earthgnome]

I bought some feeder rosies today and noticed after it was too late that at least one of them had some sort of parasite looking thing on it. It was a white worm type thing attached just behind the eye and was wiggling around. It was eaten before I could even get the net! My concerns are 1 what was it and 2 will my fish get it and if so how do I treat my fish for it? I have a 72"x24"x19" tank measures a 120 something gallon but I have to use treatment for 220gal was sold to me as a 180 gal. It has a Rena Xp4 canister filter and 300 gal air pump on it. I have 9 giant danios, 2 Tiger Oscars, 2 Jack Dempsey, 2 Tin Foil Barbs (had 5 but 3 died last week after a cleaning my guess is lack of oxygen because everyone was gasping at the surface but them and I could not get my 170 gallon air pump to bubble at the bottm of my tank so I got the big one) 1 Fire Mouth, and 1 Peacock Eel maybe 2 haven't seen them in months and then this 1 came out last week during a cleaning. I am very afraid for my fish I don't want to lose them my husband has fallen in love with the silly things the Oscars do. Please help!

Rachael

 

[Earthgnome]

Tank size: 180?
pH: 7.0
ammonia: 0.5
nitrite: o
nitrate: 220
kH: very high
gH: very high
tank temp: 75F

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): My fish are full but ok. The feeders have red gills, the white worm things attached to them, and look a bit sad

Volume and Frequency of water changes: 25% once a month. Did a water and filte change 1 week ago

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: nitrazorb, ammochips, carbon, stresszyme at water and filter changes

Tank inhabitants: 2 tiger oscars, 9 giant danios, 2 jacks, 1 fire mouth, 1 eel maybe 2, 2 tin foils

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): feeder fish

Exposure to chemicals: none

Digital photo (include if possible):

 

[Earthgnome]

looks like it might have been leeches?

 

[creeker]

My guess would be Anchor Worm. Often found on pond raised fish, especially goldfish, but can be found on many species. I wouldn't feed any more from that batch. I have always just removed them from larger fish with tweezers, but doing this with smaller fish can lead to their death.

 

[colleen0309]

This is why I don't feed my fish feeder fish, unless I raise the feeders myself.

 

[Earthgnome]

This is why I don't feed my fish feeder fish, unless I raise the feeders myself.

Yes I have learned my lesson. I have a 20 gal I am going to set up to breed feeder fish in.

My guess would be Anchor Worm. Often found on pond raised fish, especially goldfish, but can be found on many species. I wouldn't feed any more from that batch. I have always just removed them from larger fish with tweezers, but doing this with smaller fish can lead to their death.

they have all already been eaten but I am going to set up a 20 gal to quarantine all feeders first and breed them. Will eating the fish that had the worms give my fish worms? I am hoping I am safe but I do not want to treat until I see signs of bad things to come. If these worms do show up how should I treat me fish?

 

[creeker]

This is why I don't feed my fish feeder fish, unless I raise the feeders myself.

Yes I have learned my lesson. I have a 20 gal I am going to set up to breed feeder fish in.

My guess would be Anchor Worm. Often found on pond raised fish, especially goldfish, but can be found on many species. I wouldn't feed any more from that batch. I have always just removed them from larger fish with tweezers, but doing this with smaller fish can lead to their death.

they have all already been eaten but I am going to set up a 20 gal to quarantine all feeders first and breed them. Will eating the fish that had the worms give my fish worms? I am hoping I am safe but I do not want to treat until I see signs of bad things to come. If these worms do show up how should I treat me fish?

Since you could see the parasite on the fish, I think you're OK. They are external parasites. I'm pretty sure the fish's digestive juices would take care of it. Internal parasites would be a bigger concern.
An easy to raise feeder is Gambusia Affinis. Just put some Hornwort in that 20 gallon and let them go to town. Depending on where you live, you might be able to catch your own broodstock or get them from your county health department for free.

 

[Earthgnome]

Thank you so much. I will check with my county but I also saw them on Liveaqua I was thinking about getting them for a pond in the back yard to help control mosquitoes. We have a huge problem with them in my area!

 

[creeker]

Thank you so much. I will check with my county but I also saw them on Liveaqua I was thinking about getting them for a pond in the back yard to help control mosquitoes. We have a huge problem with them in my area!

Perfect! They reproduce so fast you will never be able to dent the population once they get going. Mosquito control and feeders rolled into one.