Anchor worm?

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Deadeye

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Aug 31, 2020
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Have you tested your water?
Yes
If yes, what is your ammonia?
0
If yes, what is your nitrite?
0
If yes, what is your nitrate?
5-10
If I did not test my water...
  1. ...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.
Do you do water changes?
Yes
What percentage of water do you change?
71-80%
How frequently do you change your water?
Every two weeks
If I do not change my water...
  1. ...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.
Noticed this on my dempsey’s fin. I can’t tell if it’s just damage or extra mucus, or an anchor worm. No other fish are showing anything and it’s just the one spot.
Sorry for the bad pics, the best the fish would let me get:
IMG_0910.jpegIMG_0909.jpegIMG_0907.jpegIMG_0906.jpeg
If it’s a worm, can I treat this in a qt (not that I have an extra tank big enough for a jd lying around) or should I dose prazi to the whole tank? Is manual removal possible?
He had a drop in appetite after being moved to a new tank, but is already eating again.
 
Maybe a dead anchor worm. Does look like it. If it’s just the one then pull off with tweezers.
 
Just checked - it appears to have fallen off already. I’ll keep my eye out for any more.
 
Here ars some Lernaea that came in on some wild tetras I caught.
They are not worms, but crustaceans.
IMG_4905 2.jpegAbove you can see one on the dorsal fin., below a few in the dorsal.
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Cyprinids seem especially vulnerable here in Panama, and I wonder if certain species of Lernaea are a species specific parasite.
One of the reasons I would avoid Cyprinid feeders like minnows and goldfish.
A salinity of just over 3 ppt (3 lbs salt per 100 gal) prevents the juvies from developing but does not kill adults.

For adults I used the med combo below, took about 2 weeks to rid the tank, and 2 doses of Praziquantel.
IMG_5166.jpegIMG_5162.jpeg.
The 1st time I noticed the parasite, they were physicaally removed them with a tweezer.
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