I'm trying to identify and treat a parasite that is taking over my aquarium and making my fish sick.?

Question

I have a fresh water aquarium that has some type of parasite in it. I haven't noticed anything on the fish yet, but they are definatly being affected by it. They won't eat and are not moving around much. There are brownish lines covering everything on the tank. I hesitate on calling them worms because they don't appear to be moving around at all. They are all different lengths and are on everything in the tank, except the fish. One of my Cichlids looks like it has a white "fuzz" on it's eye. I'm sot sure if it's from the same thing. The other fish look OK so far, but aren't acting normal. Can anyone out there help me figure this out?? I really don't want to lose my fish!

Answer 1

Honestly that sounds like the larvae of a small fly or midge to me. They can often be found in a tank with poor water quality. Another possibility is planerians, but they usually dart around a bit.

The white fuzz around the cichlids eye is most likely fungus, also common in a tank in need of some maintenance. The lack of appetite and energy are also often related to high ammonia or high nitrites.

I would recommend a 50% water change and remove as many of the worm like animals as possible as you go. Be sure to clean the gravel well with a gravel siphon. I would also suggest you do an additional 50% water change in 2-3 days and then begin a regular routine of a 25% change once a week. Check your filter for these worm looking animals and clean it if needed.

Next treat the tank with a fungus medication. These are readily available at any pet store.

That should clear up all of your problems. If you have any other questions or feel that I can help further feel free to email me.

MM

Answer 2

Are you certain that what you're seeing isn't fish poop (especially if you might have a plecostomous in the tank as well as the cichlids)? If this has built up in the tank, You'll have a lot of ammonia, nitrite or nitrate in the tank as well, and this will affect how your fish are acting. They'll become lethargic, and lose their appetities.

What is your usual tank maintanence? I suggest a 25% water change at least once a week, using a gravel vacuum to clean any poop or other debris from the gravel.

The white fuzz could be a bacterial or fungal infection brought on by poor water quality and stress.

I'm providing a few websites below - the first is a "poop" diagnosis that can indicate various problems, the second is a site with disease symptoms and treatments. Look at the information for ammonia poisoning, columnaris, and fungal infections. Since we can't see the fish, you'll be the best person to determine the exact cause.

I'd suggest a 30% water change as soon as possible, and testing of your tank water for the following - ammonia should be 0, nitrite should be 0, nitrate should be less than 40. If you don't have a test kit, a fish/pet store will be able to test these for you if you take a sample in a clean container.

Another possible reason for them to be acting unusually is their environment - double check the requirements for the species you keep (temperature, salt, pH). If your tank is new, it's possible you've added too many fish too fast, and your tank hasn't cycled yet.

This could be an insect larvae: http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/seagrant/GLWL/Benthos/Insecta/chironomid.jpg inside a spun case.

Answer 3

How often do you clean your tank? You failed to say how big your tank is. If it is over a 10 gallon, I would always run two whisper water filters up top and an underwater gravel filter. Believe it or not, it sounds like strands of poop but I could be wrong. Also, there is a medicine you can get at your pet store for your fish tank if it has a fungus. Also, one very important thing you must always maintain is the water temperature which should not fluctuate. That causes fungus. Sudden temperature changes will kill them too. Also, make sure your ph is right for your tank and get some slime coat stuff also available at your pet store. Also make sure you dechlorinate your water before you put them back in the tank after cleaning. Also, always use only pet store bought gravel and/or sand. Good luck with your tank. Also, take some tank water and put it in another smaller receptacle and quarantine your sick fish away from those who are healthy. Also, only feed as much they will eat. Brine shrimp is the way to go because flake food just clogs up filters. :)

Answer 4

If they will not eat and they are not moving much it sounds like for 1 your ph is too low. When the ph is low fish sit on the bottom and slow down. When it's too high they will try to swim out of the tank and move fast! The brown tells me that you are leaving your tank light on over 12 hours a day. Or you have natural sun light hitting your tank. I feel you are also over feeding and that can cause a worm to grow and crawl around the tank. But it may be a form of algae you are seeing to.
1st do a 25%-50% water change, add your chlorine remover and then cut back on the light to less than 12 hours a day. Keep the tank at 78% and a ph of 7.0- add 1 teaspoon of aq.salt to ever 5 gal. of water. Wardley makes a great product called Parasite sweep, it will take care of parasites if that is what you have. Try the water change 1st, cut back on the feeding and light and see if it improves. Good Luck!

Answer 5

sounds like algae.
1.) clean the tank walls with a wash rag or sponge, DO NOT USE CHEMICALS!
2.) do a major water change, about 60%
3.) fill the tank back up with water.
4.) put in water conditioner for fish tanks.
and finally. 5.) add aquarium rock salt to the water. fallow the directions on the label.

Answer 6

As long as he isn't drinking the aquarium water, it's highly unlikely that he's getting sick from the aquarium. I think you may need treatment for your germ phobia, though, before you end up like Howard Hughes.

Answer 7

brown stuff sounds like algae, not a parasite. the white fuzz on the fishes eye is definitely a fungus.

treat your tank for fungus immediately (get medication from petshop) - if the brown stuff doesnt kill the fish - the white stuff definitely will.

after, treat it for bacterial infections - this is because bacterial infections usually allow fungus to grow.

If that doesnt work, then medicate for parasites, but its probably not a parasite.

you need to start medication immediately or you will lose the fish.

.

Answer 8

it sounds like algae. Take a sample of the water to a good fish supplier. They will test it for you.