Panduro with a parasite

[tjudy]

Here is a link to some pictures and a description of a female A. panduro I have with a nasty little worm parasite... I say nasty, but it does not seem to bother her very much.

http://daah.info/index.php?board=3;action=display;threadid=1432

 

[farm41]

Looks disgusting Ted, I hope you find out what it is.

 

[Randall]

Panduro Parasite

Dear Ted,

If ever there was a likely candidate for a microscope smear examination, you've got it. I'd be very interested to know from what your fish is suffering.

Sometimes when preparing a smear, India ink added to the water at a 1:10 ratio will make the parasites stand out against a dark background for easier diagnosis.

Please share your findings with the Forum so that others may benefit from your experience.

Thank you.

Randall Kohn

 

[tjudy]

Randall... the parasite is not microscopic. The worm that I pulled out originally was about 4 mm long. I will try a scope to determine whether the organism is annalid, nematode or platyhelminthes... or something else. I will also be looking for any evidence of egg production.

 

[fishdoctor]

These are encysted nematodes. They are the intermediate host for the parasite, the terminal host is a fish eating bird. They will not complete their life cycle in the aquarium, unless you have some herons that live in your house. There is not much that you can do for this fish, and it will not transmit to the others.

Terry Fairfield

 

[Randall]

Nematodes

Well, ladies and gentlemen, the fish doctor, he has spoken.

Terry,

Is there nothing available that can irradicate encycsted nematodes that will not kill the afflicted fish in the process?

Thanks!

Randall Kohn

 

[tjudy]

Thanks Terry,

That is pretty much what I thought. I should have a little more verification.. at least of them being of the phylum Nemotoda... next week when I pull one out and look at in under scopes.