External Parasite--not Argulus--?

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MannRay

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 13, 2007
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Boston
Could really use your help!

I keep seven teacup rays, each housed separately. Recently I've noticed some kind of external parasite on the fins of two rays I've had for several months. I'm familiar with Argulus and it doesn't look like that. Instead, I'm seeing tiny (less than 1mm) dark brown ovals, which pile up to make dark blotches (about 4mm) evenly spaced along the fin, about halfway out from the body. At first I thought it was just natural coloration, until noticing the blotches were raised. The ovals don't move when touched, nor can I pull them off with forceps.

The rays are otherwise healthy, eating, etc, but I want to do something about this before it gets out of control! I've heard about Dimilin as an Argulus treatment, but these don't look like Argulus or really any crustacean.

I can try to get a picture, but would really appreciate any help identifying & treating this problem!
 
To see a super close-up view, click on the thumbnail, then "All Sizes" at the top, then choose "Original."
 
Thanks so much! I didn't know about growth spots and hadn't seen them on my other rays--so relieved to hear that nothing is wrong!
 
"growth spots"?
wtf is that? and if there was such a thing would they be so obviously raised/textured above the skin?

you need a microscope and a small biopsy imo. I have not seen anything quite like this, but it looks like something just under the skin. There are plenty of unidentified ( not well known to science) parasites found in/on rays.
 
"growth spots" for lack of better name for it. I say yes. Strange i know. I have seen it on my pups and as they grow they disapear.

I have had many CB pups that seem to have the same thing when born, Slightly raised, never seen as much as his though. I wonder if it is like stretch marks- which can me slightly raised. See the link I attached at the top, another ray that was CB that has it.
 
I am also trying to enlighten myself!
:)

in the links you gave the 'spots ' look to me like forming extra denticles, possibly as a way to excrete excess minerals in water that is much harder than they are evolved for, just guessing.

Also, I suppose you can call them 'growth spots' in as much as there is a spot where there is a growth. LOL
Certainly the marks in the photos here are not just new spots appearing. It is def. possible that it is some kind of parasite or equally possibly a skin reaction to bad water.
I have had rays autopsied and muscle parasites unknown to the scientist ( a phd microbiologist specializing in tropical fish diseases) were found have been found in some wild caught d.o.a's.
A small biopsy looked at under a scope would at least eliminate things from the inquiry , and no, the ray would not need to be sacrificed as the problem is at skin level ( as far as we can see)
 
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