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Parasitic worms on Whitemouth moray
7/29/16
Hi guys,
Hopefully you can help with medication options for a moray eel. I started to
notice Zig Zag like lines just under the skin and they seem to be changing
locations. Parasitic worms ? This photo looks a lot like what I see.
<Yeah; nematodes>
I have two eels together a white mouth and a HDM
The Whitemouth is the only one effected. He is eating and growing normally
but seems to display irritation, head tic's and jerks. Is this something
common in morays and if so what is the best product/ method to treat it?
<Common enough. See WWM Re. Bob Fenner>
Thank you
Brad-
Re: Parasitic worms on Whitemouth moray
7/29/16
Thank you Bob.
<Welcome. And have sent this to MarcoL for his sep. resp. B>
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Parasitic worms on Whitemouth moray
/Here's Marco 7/29/16
Hi guys,
Hopefully you can help with medication options for a moray eel. I started to
notice Zig Zag like lines just under the skin and they seem to be changing
locations. Parasitic worms ? This photo looks a lot like what I see. I have
two eels together a white mouth and a HDM. The Whitemouth is the only one
affected. He is eating and growing normally but seems to display irritation,
head tics and jerks. Is this something common in morays and if so what is
the best product/ method to treat it? Thank you. Brad-
<Typical lines of nematodes living in the skin. Use a copper und formalin
free Anthelminthic in a separate hospital tank or with higher dosage as
aerated baths. Treating in the display is much less probable to work and can
negatively affect the system. Good luck. Marco.>
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intestinal worm id 1/30/11
Hi There Helpful WWM Crew!
<Howdy Vince! Sorry for the delayed resp.. Was out on an
ersatz overnight campout>
I am back for a second time, another fish needs help and I am
inexperienced at this problem. I have attached photos of the worm
that I observed hanging it's ugly head from the vent of our
newest resident, a P. Euxiphipops navarchus (4 inch size).
<A nice specimen! Is this one from Bali?>
The fish eats heartily, was not treated in QT, just observed. He
ate well and proved to be ok in a 55 with rock and sand for over
8 days so we added him in. He quickly adjusted, with some minor
aggression from our blue tang, Foxface and Spotfin butterfly. He
is in a 180 AGA mixed reef and has not picked on my invert
friends yet. I am hopeful. He eats Selcon enriched Nori, pe Mysis
and Hikari Mysis. He also eats pellets and formula 2 frozen. So
far we are very happy. I noticed the worm today, snapped
pictures, fed him and the worm departed, floated around the tank
and got lost in the rockwork before I could net it. It was almost
1 inch long and pink to red in color.
<I see this>
I am unsure of id but think both ends were pointed.
<Ahh! Likely a Nematode species... do see here in the FW
sect.:
http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/nematodesfwf.htm
and the marine: http://wetwebmedia.com/rndwrmfaqs.htm
and here re treatment: http://wetwebmedia.com/fshwrmidcuref.htm
It oriented into the current while poking out of the fish, which
is why it caught my eye so quickly. This was not fecal matter for
sure. I am really happy to have found a well adjusted specimen of
this species (5 months at my local store). I drooled over him the
whole time.
My other fish don't show signs of intestinal parasites, but I
read Prazi in the food is the way to go if they all eat well. My
fish all eat well. I hope to treat while they are in the display,
as I have no QT big enough for all of the fish at once. Please
help or suggest a best course.
<I would treat via the foods as you state>
I am surprised the worm took off. Maybe this is a sign that
nature took care of it and not to worry?
<I would treat...>
Yeah Right, I should be so lucky.
Vincent M. Manfredi
Fisheries Biologist
<BobF, academically a fisheries biologist... marginally a
pet-fish ichthyologist>
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Questions regarding treatment of potential intestinal worm
issues 1/2/11
Dear WetWebMedia Crew,
<Tony>
I could use some advice regarding my two tank bred Amphiprion ocellaris
clownfish (black and white variety). While I continue to research your
site extensively on multiple topics, I remain a bit confused as to the
proper course of action here. I'll provide basic history and tank
parameters first, then add my questions.
I'm new to the hobby, or should I say, obsession. I've read
just enough to probably be a bit dangerous to myself, and my dear
fish.
Tank stats:
30 gallons
Live sand base of 2'-3'
Roughly 35 pounds of live rock
Rena XP2 canister filter rated up to 75 gallons
One powerhead
Pending addition of a protein skimmer
Salinity 1.025 (determined with a refractometer)
Temperature 78 degrees
pH 8.2
Ammonia 0.0
Nitrite 0.0
Nitrate 0.0
I established the tank roughly 10 weeks ago. I added two tank bred
Amphiprion percula after 4 weeks. I did not follow quarantine
procedures. Within days one fish displayed signs of distress, refused
to eat, and developed color loss and a whitish film on a segment of the
body.
<Mmm, perhaps Brooklynellosis>
I reviewed your site for quarantine procedures, immediately set up a
separate tank, and moved both fish. Both were dead within 24 hours. I
completely rinsed out and restarted the quarantine tank (I now have two
set up in my kitchen), and permitted the main tank to remain fallow for
four weeks. Please note that I did leave my hermits, emeralds, and
peppermint shrimp in the main tank during this time.
I acquired the two new Amphiprion ocellaris and quarantined them for
the 33 days that the main tank remained fallow. In this time I noted
after roughly ten days that the male (the submissive of the pair)
occasionally had thin stringy feces that trailed behind him. The string
was very thin - thinner than a thread - white, and remained attached to
the vent for some time before dropping off. Sometimes (often) there was
a larger clump of feces attached at the end of the thread. I treated
both clowns via feedings of PE Mysis shrimp or frozen Marine Cuisine,
with Metronidazole, as per dosing instructions, three times over six
days.
<Mmm, I would have also used, treated with a vermifuge>
I moved both clowns to the main tank after the 33 days. This move took
place four days ago; both fish are eating well, alert, swimming
normally (though normal swimming seems relative for clowns) and
demonstrate no outward signs of stress. Nevertheless, I've noted
the submissive clown again is displaying the thin, stringy feces
trailing from the vent. This condition is not evident in the other
clown.
These are the only fish I currently have in my display tank, along with
the peppermint shrimp, hermits, and emerald crabs.
I've noted in your writings that you often advise against
overmedicating,
<This is so>
and I remain wary of reacting too quickly to this issue, especially as
I'm concerned about the impacts on beneficial intestinal fauna as
well as the potential for cumulative impacts on other organs. Yet I do
want to act, if warranted, while this fish remains outwardly healthy
and still eating.
<Agreed>
Would you recommend treating again with Metronidazole, or moving to the
use of Praziquantel (via PraziPro), or Maracyn Two?
<I would use the Prazi, not the others>
If you recommend treatment is warranted via one of these options, would
you advise treatment via food dosing, or via aquarium water?
<If they're eating, via the food>
Should both fish be treated, or just the clown displaying the
symptoms?
<Both... all fishes>
And finally, if treatment is warranted with any of these products,
should the fish be moved back to quarantine for treatment, or depending
on the drug, can they remain in the display tank without negatively
impacting the biological filter/live rock as well as the shrimp and
crabs?
<Moved to the treatment tank>
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Tony
<Welcome. Bob Fenner>
Wormy Seafood--Eeewww! (2/7/04) Hey I found this weird
looking worm swimming around on a plate of food during dinner and I am
now concerned as to what the heck it is. <OMG! I'd
have tossed my cookies on the spot. Was it alive?> We were having
cod, scallops, and salad. <At a restaurant?> I am not sure which
the worm came from, if any. The cod was fresh and was
well-cooked in a 350 degree oven so I'm not sure if that was the
source. The worm was about an inch long I guess, it was a
cream color and one end was a rusty color. The rust colored
end must have been the head, because of how it swam. <I'm
feeling more nauseated by the minute.> It moved more like a snake
than like a nightcrawler type of worm. It kept lifting up
its head and foremost body, as if to look around or maybe just to get
air. But it was also able to tolerate being under fluid for
awhile. <You're not kidding me her are you? I'll take what
your saying as reality here. Were the scallops raw? A live worm could
only have come from the salad.> I am so grossed out
<me too, and I only read about it>, I hope this isn't
something that could cause serious illness if one of us ate one.
<Doubtful to be honest, but if you get sick, see your doctor right
away.> Please mail me back and let me know what you think it might
be and if there are any pictures I can look though on the web to
identify it. <I really don't know where you should look. I
can't believe that this worm came from properly cooked seafood. Do
you still have it? If so, take a picture & send it along.>
I'm trying to find a picture of a Phocanema decipiens, got any
ideas? <Couldn't fin a picture on the web. Like all nematodes,
this infection comes from ingesting larvae from raw or undercooked
fish.> Thanks! <Hope this helps some. Reminds me of
the time my father chewed up a used band aid in his food at a
restaurant in Mountain View, CA in the 70s. The jerks wouldn't even
refund the cost of his meal. Nowadays, he could probably get thousands
of dollars in a law suit. Seriously though, do monitor your health and
if you have a problem, consult your physician. This episode also serves
as a reminder to all of the need to clean/prepare/cook all foods
properly. Steve Allen.>
Wormy Seafood 2 (2/8/04) Hi again, and thank you
for the quick reply! <No problem.> Nope, I was NOT joking about
that worm. Actually, it was on my son's plate and when
he showed it to me, I was extremely disgusted and decided not to
eat. I had every intention of saving that worm and trying to
find out what it was. Unfortunately, someone decided to play
with it and they cut it in half. It doesn't even look
the same now, it was very thin and stringy to begin with. There was
mostly salad left on the plate, and it may have come from that, except
it looked like it was really used to swimming. Anyhow, it still makes
me sick to think about it. <Understandable. Again, it is hard to
believe the worm came from the fish since you cooked it properly.>
That band-aid story was gross too and you're right, if
that had happened in more recent times, your dad would be
rich. I can't believe they wouldn't even refund his
money! <They sure should have.> Rose :-) <I certainly hope you
all remain well. Steve Allen>
| Figure Eight Puffer Parasite Hello Mr.
Fenner, I acquired several Figure Eight Puffers for a tank that I
recently finished cycling. The Puffers are the only inhabitants.
I've had Figure Eights for almost a year now in another tank,
so I'm pretty familiar with the usual health problems that crop
up with them, since most are wild caught. One of my new Puffers was
suffering from fungus, so I was treating the whole tank with MarOxy
as well as Maracyn and Maracyn ll for any infection that might be
present. Unfortunately, yesterday the sick Puffer took a dramatic
turn for the worse and died. I wanted to get a closer look so I
examined it under close-up magnification. Photos of what I found
are enclosed. The images are magnified approximately 34X. <Good
photo work> The parasites that I found aren't easily noticed
with the naked eye. One image shows an elongated lump near the tail
of the Puffer that is actually a worm living under the skin. Under
magnification I could see it moving. It's approximately one
inch long and 1/16" in diameter. There were A LOT of these
worms under the skin on various areas of the fish. <Yes...
nematodes> I was curious to see what might be lurking inside of
the Puffer so I sliced the stomach open. More worms rolled out of
the body cavity. These were in the body cavity and not in the
intestine (I hadn't yet perforated the intestine). The photo
shows one of the worms measuring between 1" and 1 1/4" in
length and 1/16" diameter. Interestingly, when touched the
worm retracts into a coil. <Typical> The other photo enclosed
shows a yellow area that I assume is infection or irritation caused
by the worms. <Perhaps> I've had no luck identifying this
particular parasite. It just doesn't resemble the descriptions
I have found of other worm-like parasites of fish. I'm hoping
that you might know exactly what it is and also possibly recommend
a course of treatment. I'm stumped! Thanks in advance. JoAnn
VanDersarl <Hmm, where to start, or how to narrow down a
statement here... The infestation you describe and show is likely
resultant from an initial exposure from the wild... these roundworm
parasites typically have "complex" life cycles that
require one or more intermediate hosts... Maybe some lack in diet,
environmental challenge hastened the "winning" (and
ironically losing) phase of the worm parasites causing the death of
their host (and themselves), but perhaps not much... It's very
hard to access (unless you sacrifice and examine a significant
portion of a good size sample of individuals) how much of what
their parasite load is... All vertebrates (yes, including you and
I) have something of such a mix of organisms living in and on us...
Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/mardisease.htm and the
FAQs beyond for more of a general understanding of the
predisposition to these events. Bob Fenner> |
Weird white things? Hi Bob- <<JasonC actually, filling
while Bob is out diving.>> I've been reading your FAQ's
since setting up my small marine fish/invertebrate tank (30 gallon
Eclipse 3). So far your advice to others has saved me some of the trial
and error mistakes I've read about. <<Glad to hear it. Is
certainly one of the intended purposes of the site, so it's great
to hear when it helps.>> My tank has one piece of live rock and
other rocks for hiding and also a couple of fake plants for color.
I'm using the Eclipse tank set up as it came (charcoal filter w/
bio-wheel) and have not added any other filtration due to the fact that
the hood w/lights etc. does not allow for it. It seems to be working
out OK. It's stocked as follows: I have one Maroon Clown and
one Pygmy Basslet (Dottyback) for the fish. One Coral Banded shrimp, 3
hermit crabs and three snails for scavengers. So far so good in regards
to water quality and compatibility. <<and that sounds like a good
mix for a 30, I'm sure it will be a great tank for some time to
come.>> I have a couple of questions: I recently noticed on the
glass and on the one piece of live rock in the tank, very small
(>.5mm) white curly snail-like? things. They are curled up like a
spiral, and I have not seen them move. They also vary in size. Any idea
what they might be? <<in fact I do, they're a calcium-based
tube worm. Similar to feather dusters, but not exactly the
same.>> should I leave them alone or try and get rid of them?
<<Leave them alone for the most part unless they obscure your
view, then you can scrape them off.>> Also, what might round out
my fish stocking options with this type of small tank set-up? I'm
thinking one or two more max. <<Probably one max, and you'd
better consult with your maroon clown before you do it... some of the
larger ones would have nothing to do with a new visitor in this tank.
If it's a small maroon clown, then perhaps... a neon goby? I just
happen to like these a lot and think they are funny, good looking fish.
Also usually cheap and easy to find, and in your case, a good fit that
won't tip the balance.>> Thanks! Thom <<You are
welcome. Cheers, J -- >>
Sushi (benefits) Hey Bob, As a sushi aficionado I thought
you'd find this interesting.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20011115/sc/health_depression_dc_2.html
PF <Thanks for this... couldn't/wouldn't disagree. Be
chatting. Bob F>
Sea Urchin Question Mr. Fenner- My question relates to the
use of Sea Urchin (Uni) as food in sushi bars and Japanese restaurants.
<You know... as a kid in Japan I always wondered what Sea Urchin roe
tasted like (too expensive for me then), and then when I moved to the
source (Southern California) of a good deal of it, I couldn't
understand what the big deal was/is... "Oh, you just haven't
had it really fresh", I can hear my friends saying... Oh yeah?
I've cracked Strongylocentrotus sanfriscanus tests open underwater,
taken out my regulator mouthpiece and eaten it then/there... it is
better fresh...> Can any toxins at all be absorbed into the human
body from eating Sea Urchin/Uni the way it is served in Japanese
restaurants? (Liver, stomach, pancreas, etc.) <Oh... I imagine there
is some possibility... The biggest threat in my opinion is likely from
"herring worm disease" (anisikiasis)... have a bit about this
posted on our site, here: http://wetwebmedia.com/roundwor.htm Or, much
more likely, liver disease from too much sake and good Japanese beer.
Mmm, I'm getting thirsty. My point is, there's probably a
greater risk from breathing car fumes getting to/going from the sushi
bar than ingesting sea urchin eggs. Bob Fenner. Oh! And should mention,
these are used in many fish foods.> Geoff Williams
