black bead like parasites on feeders

[cuban jey]

wassup yall my last batch of minnows i bought from the bass shop came loaded with little black tick like things all over them theyre the size of pinheads and are like embedded in the fish ive talked to my lfs and they say its a type of parasite but they couldnt tell me if its harmful to feed the infected fish to my preds the guy said he feeds them all the time to his fish and hasnt noticed any negatives do yall know? pls help

 

[cuban jey]

Guppy? pls share your wisdom

 

[toxicfish]

You have a nice collection bro. I wouldn't risk it

 

[cuban jey]

yeah i ended killing em but i just want to solve this mystery cause ive been hearing its not harmful to fish but then im thinking its a f@kking parasite how can it not be harmful

 

[guppy]

Don't use them, they are probably monogeic or digenic flukes, if they are digenic they are no problem but if monogenic they can burrow into the tissues of your fish. some will lay eggs and can infect other fish, even kill them. If you are curious place a minnow under a strong magnifier then nick one of the beads with a microlancet or hypo needle then use a pair of forceps to press gently on either side of the spot, a coiled flattened wormlike fluke should pop out. The majority do not kill the fish but they don't help it either and some are dangerous to the fish.

 

[cuban jey]

thanks guppy

 

[Don4921]

do not use them