One of my Black Moors has a bug stuck to her tail. It's small, flat, kinda greenish colour. I saw it swimming around the tank this week, now it's stuck to her tail. Is this bad? should I try to take it off? How did it get there? Thanks for your help!
2007-05-27 13:40:20 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
Okay, I just took the 'tick' of Buttercup...It was an ugly sucker! It did come off easily. I hope she's gonna be okay. I've added some Melafix to the tank.
Thanks to everyone for your replies!! You're great!
2007-05-27 14:59:25 · update #1
I would suggest you remove the fish from the tank and remove the animal from the fish. Watch carefully for any additional bugs in the tank and if you see any at all or any greenish or reddish spots on the fish treat the entire tank with a good parasite medication. Clout is the best and first choice for large parasites such as this could be. I would avoid such medications as Pimafix as they are generally too weak to effect a cure against such a large parasite as that.
MM
2007-05-27 14:30:00 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This sounds like an Argulus (fish lice). Which are often round, flat and green.
They are similar in treatment to flukes and anchor worms. These can be physically removed with tweezers, and then the wound treated with Mebromin, hydro peroxide or even Neosporin followed by a 30 minute Methylene Blue bath at double normal tank treatment strength.
Then I recommend treating the aquarium with Clout or similar
Trichlorfon products.
These can leave a lot of eggs, so quick action is needed!
For a related article:
http://aquarium-answers.blogspot.com/2007/03/trematodes-and-nematodes-in-fish.html
2007-05-28 12:23:01 · answer #2 · answered by Carl Strohmeyer 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Fish lice. Remove with tweezers and watch out for more there is usually always more than just one. Hold the fish firmly but dont sqeeze. Make sure your hands are clean and saop free. Make sure they are clean tweezers too. Boil them for ten minutes if you are not sure. Get all of them off they are a biting parasite and I beleive eat the slime coat of the fish. Check closely around the base of the fins and on the belly, around the anal fins, all places where they tend to latch on. They can swim so don't let the vile thing fall back into the water. If its free swimming catch it in a clean cup and toss out. Watch fish closely for the next two weeks to see if there are others. They tend to get where you can't see them.
2007-05-27 21:59:23 · answer #3 · answered by Sunday P 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a parasite do not try to remove it get a medication that is for external parasites and something to prevent infections for when that parasites dies and falls off leaving a nasty wound on your fish. I use parasite clear and melafix w/ primafix. These might not be available in your area so go to a petstore and ask what they would recommend.
2007-05-27 20:47:37 · answer #4 · answered by mjane1587 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's a fish louse, and yes, it IS bad. Take a net, get the fish still and take off the louse. It won't hurt at all, but the fish will be struggling. Don't worry, its perfectly humane.
2007-05-27 22:58:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Call a pet store. Ask to speak to the fish expert. Be prepared to take notes.
If he can't help, try another or call an exotic animal veteranarian.
2007-05-27 20:50:00 · answer #6 · answered by Nurse Susan 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
sounds like a parasite. poke around google, find out what kind it is and what you need to use to kill it. I don't think that just pulling it off is a good idea, but you do need to help it asap.
2007-05-27 21:02:43 · answer #7 · answered by Amanda Lane 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
im 50 percent sure its a tick yes they can breath under water rumove it very softly or tail will come off
2007-05-27 20:43:50 · answer #8 · answered by ryanderhino 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i would try to take it off, i don't know if it will hurt ur fish or not
2007-05-27 20:48:49 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I personally would take it off, you never can be too sure.
2007-05-27 20:43:25 · answer #10 · answered by Tunish305 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋