This is a little gross, but it concerns a parasite...?

Question

I have 2 goldfish. I went & bought a new filter for their tank the other day & came home to clean it out so I could put the new filter in. It needed to be cleaned, hadn't been done in a while. So I took them out & put them in a bowl & my boyfriend proceeded to clean the tank. I just happened to look down at the fish & one of them had some green blob on it's body. We pulled the thing off and it was ALIVE! It was so gross. It looked like we pulled one of his scales off but at a closer look, I realized that it was part of this THINGs body. It looked like a clear disk with a greenish blob in the middle. It had black spots & little green hairs that were moving around. Anyway, my question is, does anyone know what this thing was? Do you think it was harming him? Was it okay to just pull it off?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Sounds gross, here's something I found.

Anchor Worm & Lice


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Argulus is a crustacean or branchiurian aprasite most commonly encountered in ponds, but they are also found in aquaria. They are easily detected when they strike. They are greenish disc shaped organisms with suckers and small legs. They even have a pair of eye spots on the anterior end. They spend their time darting around in the water away from, and also directly on the fish. They lay their eggs in tubular structures on the glass and ornaments.
They can be very destructive to fish stocks.
They carry Aeromonas and other bacteria on their feeding stilletto and thus infect each fish they bite.
Treatment is by the application of the insect growth regulator, Dimilin, or Diflubenzuron.
Another method is more dangerous: Organophosphates like Trichlorfon, masoten, Dylox, Dipterex, FLAW, Malathion and Fenthion. Anchors Away is also an organophosphate. i resist the use of these, because losses may result. Dimilin is superior to these compounds when fighting Argulus.

Lernea elegans, the most common type of Anchor worm affecting Koi, is a real threat. They attach ventrally, they hold on for about 14 days, and they reproduce copiously. The wounds they create almost always infect with Ulcer disease bacteria, Aeromonas, and then you have two problems.
Treatment can be undertaken with Malathion, Fenthion, Trichlorfon, Dylox, Dimilin, and SALT. Salt works by killing the freeswimming reproductive forms. Malathion just kills the Lernea dead, but is dangerous to the fish. Fenthion is slow but safer. Dimilin is great if you can get it. EPA and FDA will trounce you for having and using it. I do recommend removing any adults you see attached and swabbing the wounds with Iodine or mercurachrome. I do recommend also feeding an antibiotic food when you see Lernea to head off problems. Please see the formulary for doses on the various treatments.

By weight is 25% Dimilin, 75% inert ingredients.
Active ingredient: Diflubenzuron
Dimilin is a restricted use pesticide with a specific spectrum against insects and crustaceans.
Therefore, it is highly effective against Lernea and Argulus.Common names for these parasites are 'Anchor Worm' and 'Fish Lice' respectively.
Dimilin is toxic to invertebrates*, so don't let the water run into rivers or creeks.
*(Will kill crayfish, water fleas, etc.)
Mix Dimilin with water and apply at a rate of one gram per 1,000 gallons to be treated.Published dosage is between 0.03 and 0.06 ppm.
Restated: For 1,000 gallons, mix 1 gram dry Dimilin in some water, mix well, then sprinkle it over the surface of your 1,000 gallon system.
For 100 gallons, dissolve 1 gram in 100 cc water, then use 10 cc of the suspension. Do not try to save the rest of the suspension.
If you do not have a gram scale or a balance-beam: 1 gram Dimilin fits neatly into a level 1/2 teaspoon measure.
1 level (non-packed) teaspoon equals @ 2 grams.As a side note: 1 gram Dimilin per 150 gallons (tried experimentally) to adjudge the relative toxicity of the compound was found to cause no ill health in the Koi tested. (24specimens under 6 inches in length)
Reapply at 30-60 day intervals for season-long control.
Use of this product is illegal. You mus be a licensed pesticide applicator to use this product. FDA considers this a high enforcement priority. If you possess or use Dimilin, I would recommend doing so VERY discretely.

Answer 2

This MAY be a "Green Slime" they come from Outer Space. Go to a movie Rental Store and ask if they have the Movie; "The Green Slime" it is a Documentary that show how to kill these.

Answer 3

we haven't covered this in my vet training but i know alittle something, it might have been a leach, but i wouldn/t know how it got in there, i think you did the right thing by just pulling it off, it was probably hurting your fish. i hope i was a bit of a help. good luck

Answer 4

Awe, man! Thats just gross! but i really want to find out what it is!

Answer 5

AHHH, scary!! Sorry I have no idea what it is.