Silver Dollars Have Black Spot

[dcj38]

I have 5 silver dollars, and a couple of them sometimes have a black spot just behind their eye... Anyone know what this is?

 

[WILDER]

Clinically the fish have numerous black to brown spots up to 1 mm (dia) over the skin, gills and eyes. The spots contain a metacercaria surrounded by heavily pigmented fibrous connective tissue.
You will need a fluke med.




This is taken off the board.
Black Spot Black Spot, or diplopstomiasis, often follows the addition of new aquarium fish. All fish are susceptible, especially the Silver Dollar and Piranha. It is fairly easy to diagnose and treat.

Symptoms Small black spots on the body.

Treatment Black spot is generally easy to cure. There are a number of commercially available treatments and preventatives.

 

[dcj38]

so what do I need to get??

 

[Iron Man]

What size and kind of spots are you talking about? They get spots from time to time when they get in breeding mode, and then there are the "pimple" like things that are parasites that get on their skin, eyes, and fins. The breeding spots (for lack of a better term) come and go, but the parasites are on there and there isn't much of a treatment that I've read.

I've read and quoted the same thing before about "Black Spot", yet that source is it the only source I can find saying there is a treatment and its easy to get rid of.....yet it doesn't go into detail about what you need.

All other sources touching on this same subject say its nothing to worry about because the parasite (actually a snail when its fully developed) can't go to its full development and reproduce unless the fish is eaten by, get this, a kingfisher or fish eagle bird, where it gets something that's needed in the bird's stomach, is pooped back out, and becomes a snail....which in turn releases more parasites. This happens most commonly where the Silver Dollar is originally from and now in ponds that raise Silver Dollar fish. But there is no further infestation once the fish enters the market because, again...there are not birds eating these fish in people's homes.

If left alone on the fish it can stay attached and live up to 4 months and then it dies, if the fishes' skin doesn't push it out and off from growth of the fish. The old skin flakes off as new skin pushes it off, with the parasite.

So bottom line is don't worry about it either way....it doesn't hurt anything and eventually will go away.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=133960

 

[dcj38]

Ok thanks a lot dude... Hopefully they just die off in a couple of months