Parasites....Help

[Mickael]

One of my students discovered these worms in our zebra tank this morning. There were ~ 30 of them along with some other organisms. The fish seem healthy and are breeding fine, but I want to get rid of them. Any ideas?worms.jpg

[danfive]

They look like Oligochaetes
--> [Only registered users see links. ]

Probably---Oligochaete Chaetochaster diastrophus to be specific.

They are related to tubifex worms and earthworms, your fish may eat them.
They tend to feed on the organic material, excess food and waste, and can carry metazoan and myxozoan parasites.

[janell]

how do you remove nematodes (even though the above pic is annelid)? Ive heard the common dewormer levamisole can cause zfish to be sterile.

[danfive]

Originally Posted by janell

how do you remove the worms? Ive heard the common dewormer levamisole can cause zfish to be sterile.

Clean the tanks and water exchanges, control excess food and waste from there on.

[luisillo]

Levamisole won't rid you of that kind of worms. It works against nematodes, but the worm you show is an annelid (an oligochate as Danfive says). Don't get confused, Nematoda and Annelida are different phyla in animal kingdom, being the latter the more evolutioned.

[janell]

Thank you so much for the speedy reply.However i am sorry for being unclear. I have a nematode problem with my fish. I did not post the picture of the annelide. I read that the drug i posted will get rid of the nematodes but is know to cause sterility in zebrafish. Have you dealt with such a problem? I have been changing the water and filters.PLEASE HELP

[janell]

sorry im new to the forum and i probabily shouldve posted a quick reply to you luisillo

[luisillo]

Okay, sorry I didn't read the words in parenthesis. I only read the quote in Danfive post. Considering the sterility issue, Danfive's suggestion is still the best you can do, unless you can find a dewormer which has no detrimental effects on your fishes.

Sorry for not being helpful. Good luck

[danfive]

Originally Posted by janell

Thank you so much for the speedy reply.However i am sorry for being unclear. I have a nematode problem with my fish. I did not post the picture of the annelide. I read that the drug i posted will get rid of the nematodes but is know to cause sterility in zebrafish. Have you dealt with such a problem? I have been changing the water and filters.PLEASE HELP

Check out this info article on diagnosis treatment etc of nematode infection in fish.

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If your water changes and cleaning rid most of the eggs (which fish will eat) then the risk of internal infection goes down.

Medical treatment is discussed in the article.
Fish health specialists can be found at the Florida affiliated Fish Diagnostic Lab --> [Only registered users see links. ]

And these others:
Fish Only:
Dr. Kevin R. Snekvik
Assistant Clinical Professor
Aquatic Animal Health Section
Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab
College of Vet Medicine
Pullman, Washington 99164
Phone 509-335-9696
[Only registered users see links. ]

Dr. Lester Khoo
Cochran Ntl Warmwater Aquaculture Cntr
College of Vet Med
127 Experiment Station Road
PO Box 197
Stoneville, MS 38776
Phone 662-686-3305
[Only registered users see links. ]

(Commercial Cases Only and you must call Dr. Pouder before sending specimen)
Debbie Britt Pouder
Diagnostic Lab Manager
University of Florida
1408 24th Street SE
Ruskin, FL 33570
Phone 813-671-5230 Ext 106
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Shrimp Only
Dr. Don Lightner
Dept. of Vet Sciences & Micro
1117 E. Lowell St, Room 201
University of Arizona
Tucson, Az 85721
Phone 520-621-8414
[Only registered users see links. ]