Visable Worm Thing On One Of My Fish

[Onderdole]

This mornign i turned on the light to see a worm thign attatched to one of my fish

the parasite is about 6mm long just less than 1mm thick.

It is attatched to the back of he fish by one end and the other is not attatched to the fish wriggling catapilar like.

Its coloutation is clearly visable its a dull brown clour with regular buff coloured thin bands all down its length.

I cant post a photo as ive got internet probs uploading.

This is a coldwater tank.

first thing that coems to mind is a very smal lleach but ive no experience in these things

can someone please point me to somewhere online with a resource to identify these worms so i can treat it.

many thanks.

 

[Onderdole]

ok i found it and i need help

this is the git

http/www.bugsandweeds.co.uk/leeches/PiscGeo.jpg

its Piscicola geometra - positive ID

now im gettign the impression this is bad

cna someone advice what to do next, im in UK so lat thta guide treatment advice

many thnaks

 

[Spishkey]

[URL="http/www.phish.co.za/index.php?option=co...7&Itemid=70"]http/www.phish.co.za/index.php?option=co...7&Itemid=70[/URL]

treatments a little further down the page
plants/rocks/everything in the aquarium could possibly be harbouring eggs from the leech, they will need some tough cleaning/sterilising too im sure to get rid of the eggs and stop reinfection

 

[Onderdole]

Thisis the treatment, but ihave some questions

Since leeches are sucking and borrowing into the surface of the fish, removal with forceps can cause great damage, if not death, to the fish. If the fish is bathed in a 2.5 percent solution of salt for 15 minutes, most of the leeches should just fall off. Those that do not will be affected enough to remove with forceps with minimal damage.

what is a 2.5% soloution, 2.5% by volume or weight, how to make a 2.5% soloution.

also what salt to use can i use table salt or do i need special aquarium salt?

 

[saz326]

what is a 2.5% soloution, 2.5% by volume or weight, how to make a 2.5% soloution.

also what salt to use can i use table salt or do i need special aquarium salt?

Yup - dont remove with forceps coz even if you dont hurt the fish yourself, the leech will leave its "gripping teeth" in the fish and let the fish get an infection.

If the thing is long enough and the fish is fighting fit I would be tempted to not stress it with chemicals, but to tie a tight string around the leech's body. A bit of cotton would do the trick. It would after a while make the leech drop off and die. do this only however if the fish is strong an healthy, and you are happy to do it. (Dont tie too tight too quickly of the leech will "throw up" in the fish!)

Else: 2.5% solution is by "stoichimetric" value. Chemistry A-levels - gotta love them.

Rule of thumb will work for this one though. Do it by weight and to hell with the science.
2.5% means that for every 100g water, 2.5g has been dissolved. (Strictly 2.5g should be dissolved in 97.5g water but that is too hard to measure precicely. Rather be slightly dilute than overstrong) Multiply this up by 10 so that for 1000g water (1 litre) there are 25g of the treatment.

remember 1g = aprox 1ml of most solutions available.

 

[Onderdole]

what is a 2.5% soloution, 2.5% by volume or weight, how to make a 2.5% soloution.

also what salt to use can i use table salt or do i need special aquarium salt?

Yup - dont remove with forceps coz even if you dont hurt the fish yourself, the leech will leave its "gripping teeth" in the fish and let the fish get an infection.

If the thing is long enough and the fish is fighting fit I would be tempted to not stress it with chemicals, but to tie a tight string around the leech's body. A bit of cotton would do the trick. It would after a while make the leech drop off and die. do this only however if the fish is strong an healthy, and you are happy to do it. (Dont tie too tight too quickly of the leech will "throw up" in the fish!)

Else: 2.5% solution is by "stoichimetric" value. Chemistry A-levels - gotta love them.

Rule of thumb will work for this one though. Do it by weight and to hell with the science.
2.5% means that for every 100g water, 2.5g has been dissolved. (Strictly 2.5g should be dissolved in 97.5g water but that is too hard to measure precicely. Rather be slightly dilute than overstrong) Multiply this up by 10 so that for 1000g water (1 litre) there are 25g of the treatment.

remember 1g = aprox 1ml of most solutions available.

wow, leech lasooing, will see if i can try that , it is big enough but obviously id have to take fish out of water and in the net while i work on leech.

I was thinkling of holding leech with tweesers gently lifting it above the surface and the ndab a cotton bud in salt and rub this directly on the leech ( a la Humphrey bogart style)

as for the salt sorry i didnt pick it up from your post , will table salt so, or does it have to be special salt!

 

[Onderdole]

Now the blighter has gone from the fish, I didn’t try treat it yet.

I had put in soem melafix as a course of a treatment that was ongoing.

Would that have killed it.

Or having fed is it now just hiding waiting till later and another fish or even worse layign eggs.

Whats the repoduction of these things like?

 

[nosoup4you]

http/www.jbl.de/onlinehospitaluk/perpict...lickedPic=010_b

 

[Onderdole]

just thinking about it could one of the othe rfish have eaten it?

would a fish eat a small leach.

Ive got two dace in that tank also.

 

[nosoup4you]

Yes, your fish will eat them.

 

[Onderdole]

Yes, your fish will eat them.

ah hope so.

bty got internet workign at hoem again so here is a pic of the little offender

http/i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo168/f...pg?t=1224627565