Senegal Bichir Infection?

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A

Ajxackt

Exodon
MFK Member
Dec 17, 2015
46
46
26
Hi,
I recently added two more beautiful Senegals I saved from Petsmart to my family.
These two are about three inches long (if that) right now. (Itty bitty babies!!) I put them in my 20gal long tank as grow out. This tank is heated and filtered with sand on the bottom and a school of guppies we have been breeding for about six months to use as the occasional treat for our larger Bichirs.
After a night in the tank, they got their fill on the smallest guppies in the tank and a block of frozen brine shrimp.
After a day or two, I noticed the anal areas swelling and red. It almost looks like there is thin bone sticking out of one of their anuses. Other than this horrifying sight, they are still very active, eat well, respond to activity out of the tank and chase around the guppies in their free time.
Since this is obviously not normal, we were going to try and feed them peas today in hopes of cleaning out their systems. It would be a whole lot easier to have them eat those instead of attempting to capture them and soak them in salt.
What do you guys think? I really want these little fellas to thrive so we can throw them in with our bigger guys when they get big enough.
 
I apologize for the terrible lighting. They are very squirmy and I can't get a picture of the things coming out of their anus, but here is a picture of the buldge.
The more I look at it, the things coming out of their anus is red also and hair thin.

20161113_110734.jpg
 
Guppies are not their staple diet, no, but they do eat some. I am wondering if it is something they had when we got them because we have had this colony set up for months with no illness and no new introductions.
If it is internal parasites, how would you suggest treating them?
 
Not really good with meds, but i used this kind when i see and think its parasite in my tank.IMG_3131.JPG IMG_3132.JPG
Just search in youtube how to use.
 
Good news is I know what these babies have now from some extenaive research.
Bad news, it's Callimanus worms. I currently have them on a natural parasite/worm treatment we sell at work, but I now know how extensive i need to get on these so they can live.
I have heard that poultry wormer will work, do you think cat or dog wormer will? I am going to run to my LFS to see if I can get something fish specific though first.
Plan now is tear down the tank and start over while separately treating the bichirs... we had so many beautiful guppies in there..... oh well.
I may also run by the store I purchased them from to let them know to check their fish since I dont want anyone else to have to deal with this.
 
I think the life cycle of callamanus worms is a few months so keep an eye on all fish that have eaten guppies just in case
 
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