Odd injuries on bluegills

[Crazyfishgirl]

Story time! This is my first time posting something but I’m super confused about what’s going on in my tank.
So I recently got a 75 gallon tank, and have 2 bluegills that I got from a pet store, and my giant goldfish who outgrew the 20 gallon I had him in. Everything was fine until I put in a wild caught pumpkin seed in the tank with them, and I noticed my goldfish covered in red dots all over his body and he’d lost a few scales. I thought he was getting bitten, maybe some dominance stuff going on, but my sister noticed that he was also covered in these tiny hair/spine like things sticking out all over him. We pulled him out of the tank (he’s semi hand tame) and pulled the ‘spines’ out of him and he’s doing a lot better. My pumpkin seed was also covered in them, and now my two bluegills do too. Any idea what it is? After removing them from my goldfish he’s doing a lot better

 

[Fishpony]

Looks like anchor worms or something like that, if they are then use something like coppersafe/cupramine and treat the whole aquarium. Make sure you save your beneficial bacteria when treating so your tank doesn't crash.

 

[kno4te]

Kind of looks like anchor worms. Would try dimilin. Should treat the entire tank. Can add some salt as well 1 tsp per gallon.

 

[Crazyfishgirl]

I think you’re right, it’s anchor worm.

 

[Deadliestviper7]

Yep anchor worm, they generally don't kill the fish, but in enough numbers they can.

Pretty easy to treat thankfully


Oh and welcome to the forum!

 

[Go_redfish]

When you pulled the "spine" off did it remain stiff/the same length as when it was attached to the fish? Or did it shirnk/curl up?

The difference is the first would be an anchor worm and the latter would be a leech. Anchor worms tend to perfer to attach to the body while leeches will attach anywhere but the seem to perfer the fins.

Leeches can be much harder to get rid of. Pray its anchor worms

 

[skjl47]

Hello; A practice when adding wild caught fish to help prevent such things is to QT the new fish for a few months.
Good luck.

 

[Deadliestviper7]

When you pulled the "spine" off did it remain stiff/the same length as when it was attached to the fish? Or did it shirnk/curl up?

The difference is the first would be an anchor worm and the latter would be a leech. Anchor worms tend to perfer to attach to the body while leeches will attach anywhere but the seem to perfer the fins.

Leeches can be much harder to get rid of. Pray its anchor worms

Leeches are easy, they hate salt dips

 

[Go_redfish]

Leeches are easy, they hate salt dips

They dont care how much salt you add if its a brackish water species. Lol that was a lesson I learned yrs ago. I learned you gotta know your parasites. True freshwater leeches, easier fix. Brackish leeches you just about gotta nuke that sh!+ from outter space to get rid of those f--kers.

 

[Deadliestviper7]

They dont care how much salt you add if its a brackish water species. Lol that was a lesson I learned yrs ago. I learned you gotta know your parasites. True freshwater leeches, easier fix. Brackish leeches you just about gotta nuke that sh!+ from outter space to get rid of those f--kers.

Well obviously, might just try a fresh garlic rub if I ever find those