fidhw
New Member
I have just removed a *thing* from one pelvic fin of an Emperor tetra, and I have absolutely no idea what it was (but I would like to know!).
It had been on the fish for 2 months, and in that time had doubled in size from 1.5mm to 3mm in length without moving or changing in shape. It was white, shaped like a question mark and anchored on the upper side of the fin 'stuck' on over it's whole length. It was hard-bodied, 'crunched' when removed and squashed with tweezers but did not move even then. It had not caused any tissue iritation or behaviour changes to the fish until recently, when fish started to wiggle that fin continuously as if the growing *thing* was a piece of sticky paper that wouldn't come off...
I had to anaesthetize the fish to remove it (have you ever tried surgery on an Emperor? They can fly!) and it was very difficult to remove, firmly stuck on. I had to remove some fin too - but fishy has recovered excellently and is repairing his fin nicely!).
None of the other fish in the tank has anything like it (other Emperors, Congos, Glowlights and Cardinals, a pair of Bettas, one Ram cichlid, three Peppered Corys, lots of plants). No fish have been introduced or died in months. Water is ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 15, pH 6.8, 25% water change each week. Fed on flake, bloodworm (sterilised), daphnia, algae tabs, peas, brine shrimp (sterilised).
Does anyone know what the *thing* might have been? I don't think there are any more, just intrigued...
It had been on the fish for 2 months, and in that time had doubled in size from 1.5mm to 3mm in length without moving or changing in shape. It was white, shaped like a question mark and anchored on the upper side of the fin 'stuck' on over it's whole length. It was hard-bodied, 'crunched' when removed and squashed with tweezers but did not move even then. It had not caused any tissue iritation or behaviour changes to the fish until recently, when fish started to wiggle that fin continuously as if the growing *thing* was a piece of sticky paper that wouldn't come off...
I had to anaesthetize the fish to remove it (have you ever tried surgery on an Emperor? They can fly!) and it was very difficult to remove, firmly stuck on. I had to remove some fin too - but fishy has recovered excellently and is repairing his fin nicely!).
None of the other fish in the tank has anything like it (other Emperors, Congos, Glowlights and Cardinals, a pair of Bettas, one Ram cichlid, three Peppered Corys, lots of plants). No fish have been introduced or died in months. Water is ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 15, pH 6.8, 25% water change each week. Fed on flake, bloodworm (sterilised), daphnia, algae tabs, peas, brine shrimp (sterilised).
Does anyone know what the *thing* might have been? I don't think there are any more, just intrigued...
/fish-helpline.co.uk/health/anchor_worm.html
