Rummynose Tetra - Odd Tubes Near Gill

[Fwapp]

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 15

I bought 11 rummynose tetras last week, the last in the shop (it was closing) and they have settled in well, shoaling nicely and eating. I noticed this chap with an odd tube type 'growth' on his side today, and I don't know what it is, or how to treat it. When viewed from end on, the growth is 1-2mm extra on the normal body (if you catch my drift.

He's eating well, and lively. Tank is well maintained, and has been established for a couple of years.

Tank is an AR620 with internal hood filter (think aquaone 620), plus tetratec ex700. 20% water change weekly, and monthly filter maintenance.

Daily dose of tropica tpn+, and co2 injection

Fed on mix of flakrs and improvit gamma

Can anybody offer any advice on how to get this chap back on his, er, fins?

 

[mattlee]

could it be a worm?

 

[Fwapp]

I don't know. There is no movement from the tubes, and none of my other fish (which I've had for yonks) have shown these symptoms.

 

[WILDER]

You can get tube like parasites.
Noticed any worms on the fish with a y shaped tail.

Is the fish showing any of these signs.

Darting, erratic swimming.
Flicking and rubbing.
Excess mucas on gills or body of fish.
Flicking and rubbing.
Red sores or red pin prick marks on the fish body.
Any signs of pale gills with excess slime, red inflamed gills, or swollen gills.

Anchor Worm (a.k.a. Lernaea)

[color="666699"]Symptoms:

Infected fish can be seen with whitish red worm-like threads, about � inch long. Trailing at the rear of female parasites are two long, tube-like egg sacs. The parasites can be found anywhere on the body of the fish, including the eyes, gills and fins. Raised ulcers may appear at the site of attachment. Consequently, secondary bacterial infections may occur. The tale-tale sign that your fish is infected will be if you notice it rubbing or scraping against objects in the aquarium. It does this in an effort to remove the parasite.

[/color]

[color="666699"]Cause:

The parasitic crustacean Lernaea. Lernaea burrow into the muscle and gill tissue of fish, often times reaching as deeply as the internal organs, causing severe damage. Heavy infestations can cause significant weight loss and death.

[/color]

[color="666699"]Treatment:

You should kill all visible worms by dabbing them with a cotton swab, dipped in Potassium Permanganate or an anti-parasitic medication. Then you should carefully remove them from the fish with tweezers. You should kill the parasites before removing them because if they have burrowed deeply, removing them alive could cause the fish pain and significant physical damage. Once you�ve removed the parasite, you should then dab the wounds with Methylene Blue to prevent secondary bacterial infections from occurring. It is highly recommended that you feed the fish with medicated food. The tank will also need to be treated to kill any unseen, free-swimming juvenile parasites. You can use Fluke Tabs, Clout, Paragon or Trifon for this.[/color]

 

[Fwapp]

Wilder,

thanks for your help, it really is very much appreciated.

The rummynose is now recovering after 'surgery', and the tank is being treated against any further problems.

Thanks again

 

[WILDER]

If you don't mind saying what surgery?

 

[Fwapp]

If you don't mind saying what surgery?

Having a dab of methylene blue, where the worm had been (as indicated above in the advice above), nothing more serious than that. The tube/worm was no longer present when treated, and the fish was out of water a max of 10 seconds.

He's still swimming around quite happily today, and still hungry, which is a good sign.

 

[WILDER]

Ok. I thought the fish had surgery at the vets.

If anymore problems get back to the board.