What the heck is this?!

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kntrygrl4lyfe

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jan 26, 2007
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Pensacola, fl
ok, I just noticed it today on my new marble x rtc. What in the world is that?! what should I do? Is he going to die from it?

ew.jpg
 
It's an anchor worm....not good! I would gently remove it with a pair of tweezers and treat the tank with Aquarium Products Fluke Tabs or Formalin. I would also throw in Melafix or Maracyn Plus in case of secondary bacterial infections. Some aquarium salt probably wouldn't be a bad idea too.
 
It looks like an anchorworm called Lernea spp. It's actually a copepod (crustacean) parasite.
You can physically remove the parasite by netting the cat and s-l-o-w-l-y tugging on the parasite with tweezers. Afterward, I'd recommend treating the entire tank with a basic parasite guard med (like Clout). This will eradicate unseen juvies and hatching eggs of the anchorworms.

I love dialup. Someone beat me to the punch.
 
kntrygrl4lyfe;1014571; said:
are my other fish going to get it? he wont die will he? how do fish get these anyways

A lot of the time they come in on feeder fish.
 
The fish bring them in from crowded wildstock holding bins. Yes, the other fish can get them once they're in the tank. And yes, some may die if the infestation is severe enough since these parasites also attach themselves to gills. But, just treat the tank, according to the instructions on the particular med you use, and the fish should be just fine.
 
Jungle Parasite Guard will probably be the most comfortable for the catfish. Also get a general broad spectrum antibiotic to help with possible secondary infections from the attachment wound.
 
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