Very Very Thin And Tiiiiny Worm Temporarily On Betta

[hollyp0p]

is this something to worry about, it was literally crawling across him, but has since fallen off, thinking may have come off a plant or something.
If it's planaria my tank is already 4 days into daily water changes, but due to a case of columnaris I'm having great trouble shifting, so mega clean water and salt was my last attempt....


anyway yeah.....anything to worry about?

 

[WILDER]

What colour was it, did it look like a strand of cotton.
Columnaris treatment myxazin and pimafix.

 

[hollyp0p]

yeah like a weeny piece of thread......is this part of my columnaris problem in my tank?
might see if i can get proper meds from a vet, or order something like tetracycline tablets from the states!

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Did the worm on the fish look like these anchor worms at all;

http/www.drsfostersmith.com/images/artic...nchorworm_2.jpg

http/www.cascadekoi.com/images/body/Koi/...s/AncorWorm.jpg

http/www.watergarden.com/store/product/f.../AnchorWorm.jpg

?

 

[WILDER]

Take a look at tokis pics.
Did the strand have a forked tail.

 

[hollyp0p]

Take a look at tokis pics.
Did the strand have a forked tail.

pretty sure it didn't have a forked tail, it moves and seems like a regular worm, just white and VERY tiny and thin, the fish guy where i work said it sounded like a possible external parasite of some sort.....and meds or salt bath conditions should sort it out.....it's not there again now, but it was again this morning.
Not sure if he's picked it up off a plant or something as he likes to creep around my foliage in the tank aswell as bomb it around sometimes......I can't find anything on tokis, not words or pictures.....you got any links?
Also going to ring vet 2morrow and see if they do proper fish meds to sort this columnaris, else i am ordering tetracycline off ebay!

 

[WILDER]

If the worms is attaching to a fish it is external parasites.
Is the any sores on the fish or pierce marks.
Can you try and get the worm out of the tank.

 

[hollyp0p]

If the worms is attaching to a fish it is external parasites.
Is the any sores on the fish or pierce marks.
Can you try and get the worm out of the tank.

I've not seen it since, and there are no marks on my betta, though the finrot (part of my columnaris problem) I think is setting back in on him again, he has little holes appearing in his remaining healthy tissue
On a mission finding out from vets if they can prescribe anything for my fish, or whether I am gonna have to order from the states and wait

 

[WILDER]

Holes in the fins is bacterial finrot and with the columnaris you now have secondary infections, hardier to cure.
Have you turned temp down slightly.

 

[hollyp0p]

Holes in the fins is bacterial finrot and with the columnaris you now have secondary infections, hardier to cure.
Have you turned temp down slightly.

temp is on 24 degrees celcius and has been for about a week now should it go lower?

 

[WILDER]

No I would leave it now.
There salt baths but its a pain as you have to do them a least siz times aday.

 

[WILDER]

Keep a look out for sores and pierce marks as if you do have a nasty parasite the fish won't get better till you have got rid of them.
As parasites cause bacterial infections.

 

[hollyp0p]

No I would leave it now.
There salt baths but its a pain as you have to do them a least siz times aday.

I am adding salt to the tank, and have been advised I can add as much as 1 tbsp to every 4 litres....almost brackish conditions, as I know my fish can handle the salt, so technically it'll be like a salt bath in the tank

does salt stay at a fixed level unless water is changed? or does it break down?

 

[WILDER]

The only way to remove salt is water changes.
If you still need to use salt you just add the amount of salt back to the water removed.
does salt stay at a fixed level unless water is changed? or does it break down? Yes it stays at a fixed level.

 

[hollyp0p]

The only way to remove salt is water changes.
If you still need to use salt you just add the amount of salt back to the water removed.
does salt stay at a fixed level unless water is changed? or does it break down? Yes it stays at a fixed level.

You're a star thanks

I was hoping that was the case!
I don't have much salt left to add now