Question:
I could use some help. Rather, my brother's 12" (including tail) Oscar
needs some help. I noticed some cottony fungus on his pectoral fins
and a small patch on his body, near the rear of his dorsal fin, about a
week ago. I let it go for a few days, watching it carefully. It
seemed to go away, except for a few prominate patches on his
pectorals. So I bought some anti-fungus tablets, the kind that fizz -
ala Alka-Selter. I put those in his tank (after removing the carbon).
Today, about 18 hours after I put the fungus treatment in, I counted
four bug-like organisms where before I noticed the darker fungus.
There is a large bug (1/6") on one fin, with two more on the other,
about half its size. There is also a small one on the fins under his
body (forget what they are called).
I've not seen fish louse before, but these fit the description. How do
I get rid of them? Mark Stone's page says to lay the fish on a wet
towel and pick them off with tweezers (easier said than done). I also
read something about a dip, and there are medications listed in That
Fish Place's catalogue. Which is best?
I have a 20 g tank to use as a hospital tank for him, but how would I
treat his regular tank to kill whatever other bugs aren't attached to
him?
Any advice, or reccomended medications, is very much appreciated. I
don't know how life-threatning Lice are, but this fish has been around
for 4-5 years, and he means a lot to those of us blessed to take care
of him.
BTW, the water gets 40% changed bi-weekly, he swims normally, and eats
the same. He's in a 55g tank, with a Penguin 330 filter. His sole
tankmate is a snail.
He did have some feeder goldfish about two weeks ago, and I think that
is where the lice came from. His color has darkened in the last few
days, also. There are also some scales missing on both sides, 5-6
scales on each side. I think he scraped himself on a rock which wasn't
in the best place for him to get around it. Let me know if any more
info would help.
Answer:
Best idea is to pick the worms off if possible. If this is not possible,
then dose the tank with Formulin+Malachite green.
It would help to add a air stone and raise the temp during treatment. This
big fish should handle it ok.
As far as the color change Parasites can be really irritating.
my 2 cents
polystigma
