One of my wild caught bullheads has something attached to its right pectoral fin. I think it is a leach or fluke or something similar. How do I go about removing it? I don't really have a quarantine tank but I could probably set one up if I had to. Can I physically remove it or do I have to use meds of some sort?
Bullhead with a leach
- Thread starter RESET
- Start date
ive taken them off by lightly sprinkling some salt on it and keeping it on for a couple seconds on the leech and u should see it go limp and fall off by the next day
Do you have a picture of the pest? Depends on what it is, if it is a leech that's the easiest to get off. Put aquarium salt on it, dies instantly. I had that problem with my aquatic turtles. I did a quick salt dip and no more problems.
Thalan;4586587; said:
Yeah, it spiked me just getting it out of the net, I can imagine what it would do in the presence of fire. The leach is only about 5mm long and the fin isn't much bigger. I would probably end up burning the fish.
I will try putting salt on it. It is really close to the gill plate. Any problem there? Just be careful?
Reset, I can't see the parasite near the gill plate but is there another parasite near the anal fin too?
I don't see anything anywhere else on the fish. Here is a zoomed in view of the parasite.
I have set up a quarantine tank and this fish as well as another are in there. The other fish has something fuzzy coming out of the joint between the left pectoral fin and the body. I am treating the tank for fungus now and will try to get some more salt tomorrow. I used the last of mine in the quarantine tank. I have been thinking about making a salt solution and pouring that on the leach using a syringe. Do you think this will work? Dissolve salt in water until it won't dissolve any more then apply that to the parasite.
I have set up a quarantine tank and this fish as well as another are in there. The other fish has something fuzzy coming out of the joint between the left pectoral fin and the body. I am treating the tank for fungus now and will try to get some more salt tomorrow. I used the last of mine in the quarantine tank. I have been thinking about making a salt solution and pouring that on the leach using a syringe. Do you think this will work? Dissolve salt in water until it won't dissolve any more then apply that to the parasite.