Swordtail Has Something Hanging Off Of It

[SwordtailLady]

Hi all, I'm new here. I have a swordtail that looks a bit thin but other than that she is very active, has good appetite and looks normal in general. However, I just noticed that she has something hanging off of her on her underside (between pelvic fins and head). It looks like a flap of skin (?) - I know that's not what it is but that's the best way I can think of to describe it. It basically looks round/heart-shaped, it's whitish/clear-colored, and it's attached to her from only a tiny part. The rest of it is hanging of and sways around in the water as she swims. Does this sound like a parasite?? Please help!

 

[WILDER]

Does it sound like this.


Chilodonella

Symptoms:

The skin and gills become discolored, taking on an opaque, bluish-white to gray coloration. The area between the head and dorsal fin is generally the most severely affected. In advanced cases skin begins to swell, eventually shredding and falling off in strips. Gills are also affected and may be completely destroyed. Clamped fins, listlessness, hanging at the surface and gasping may also be seen. The fish may rub or scrape against objects in the aquarium in an attempt to relieve irritation.


Cause:

The ciliate Chilodonella cyprini. These heart-shaped parasites, at a size of 40 to 60 microns, are not visible to the naked eye. The parasites are able to swim freely, spreading easily from fish to fish. Reproduction occurs by asexual division.


Treatment:

Highly infectious and able to kill in great numbers, Chilodonella may very well be the most dangerous skin parasite there is. Overcrowding increases the risk of infection. Acriflavin Plus, Malachite Green, Paraform, Quick Cure or Formalin are the drugs of choice for Chilodonella. All fish as well as the aquarium they inhabit should be treated.


Fish+Diseases.Net

 

[crazyforcordoras]

Planaria? I know that they dont normally do this, but who knows?

 

[WILDER]

Is the fish showing any other symptoms mentioned in the above article.
Like gasping, laboured breathing, darting, flicking and rubbing, clamped fins.

Is it possible to load a pic up of her onto the site.

Does it look like she had an injury and torn her skin?

 

[SwordtailLady]

Hello, thank you for the responses. No she's showing no other symptoms other than being slightly thin. She doesn't look injured either but who knows. Another fish in the tank is clamping her fins and I'm currently treating with prazipro because I suspect it's flukes.

I can no longer see that "flap", it's like it disappeared now. I had tried to take a photo of it but it was very small and extremely hard to get a good photo of.

 

[WILDER]

Signs of flukes

What specs on the fish eyes,. (Eye Flukes)
Red inflamed gills, bleeding gills, or pale gills with excess slime. (Gill Flukes)
Pale body with excess slime.
Flicking and rubbing.
Darting, erratic swimming.
Swimming in a jerky movement.
Weightloss.
Spitting food out.
Red sores on body of fish.
Gasping at surface of tank, laboured breathing.

I think I would remove the fish from the tank and take a closer look with a magnifying glass.
Ask someone to help you hold the fish down.

 

[SwordtailLady]

The fish is only 2 inches (or so) long, so I took her out on my own, and I cannot see anything on her anymore...

Signs of flukes

What specs on the fish eyes,. (Eye Flukes)
Red inflamed gills, bleeding gills, or pale gills with excess slime. (Gill Flukes)
Pale body with excess slime.
Flicking and rubbing.
Darting, erratic swimming.
Swimming in a jerky movement.
Weightloss.
Spitting food out.
Red sores on body of fish.
Gasping at surface of tank, laboured breathing.

I think I would remove the fish from the tank and take a closer look with a magnifying glass.
Ask someone to help you hold the fish down.

 

[WILDER]

OK.
Just keep a close eye on fish.

Has it left a mark on the fish.

 

[SwordtailLady]

No there is no mark left.

Thanks!