Firefish

Bayou Bruzza · Oct 23, 2015

Hello Everyone ,
Need help! Noticed this on right side of my Firefish this a.m. Can you tell me what it is. Fish is swimming, eating, everything normal.
Thanks

melypr1985 · Oct 23, 2015

so I'm not 100% sure of what that is, but you could try a fresh water dip to knock it off him. @Humblefish @3FordFamily I bet one of them knows.

Humblefish · Oct 23, 2015

I'm not 100% sure. Hopefully it's not an anchor worm.

I would do a FW dip as suggested above and see if it dislodges.

Freshwater Dip: Provides temporary relief for Brooklynella, Flukes, Marine Velvet disease (Amyloodinium); possibly even Ich & Uronema marinum (both unproven). Can be used to confirm the presence of Flukes.

How To Treat - Fill a bucket with RODI water, and use a heater to match the temperature to the water the fish is coming from. Aerate the water heavily for at least 30 minutes prior to doing the dip, then discontinue aeration while performing the dip. Fish aren’t overly pH sensitive for short durations like this, but you can squirt a little tank water into the dip just before the fish goes in to help bring it up.

Place the fish in the freshwater (FW) dip and observe closely. It is not unusual for them to freak out a little at first. Also, tangs are notorious for “playing dead” during a FW dip. The important thing is to watch their gills; they should be breathing heavily at all times during the dip. If breathing slows, it’s time to exit the dip. Dip the fish for no longer than 5 minutes. Multiple dips may be done, but it’s important to give your fish a day to recuperate in-between dips.

For flukes, use a dark (preferably black) bucket so you can see if tiny white worms fall out of the fish (especially out of the gills) at around the 3-4 minute mark. The worms will settle to the bottom, so you can use a flashlight to look for them there as well.

Pros - Provides temporary relief for a wide range of diseases in a chemical free environment. Can “buy you more time” until a proper treatment can be done.

Cons/Side Effects - Not a permanent “fix” for any disease, as FW dips are not potent enough to eradicate all of the parasites/worms afflicting the fish. Some fish can have an adverse reaction to a FW dip by appearing unable to maintain their equilibrium once returned to the aquarium. If this happens, hold the fish upright (using latex, nitrile or rubber gloves), and gently glide him through the water (to get saltwater flowing through the gills again). It is also a good idea to place the fish in an acclimation box until he appears “normal”.

Bayou Bruzza · Oct 23, 2015

Whatever it is, it is coming from behind its Pectoral fin not from gills. Does that make any difference?

melypr1985 · Oct 23, 2015

Bayou Bruzza said:
Whatever it is, it is coming from behind its Pectoral fin not from gills. Does that make any difference?

I dont think it does. Try the FW dip and see if it dislodges. If it does, then Great! If not then it may require manual removal. The FW dip is free to do and rather short too. It's the easiest thing to start with.

Let us know the results k?

Bayou Bruzza · Oct 23, 2015

melypr1985 said:
I dont think it does. Try the FW dip and see if it dislodges. If it does, then Great! If not then it may require manual removal. The FW dip is free to do and rather short too. It's the easiest thing to start with. Let us know the results k?

Thanks, will do !

Bayou Bruzza · Oct 24, 2015

I am happy to report, my LFS recommended a Cleaner Shrimp first, rather than FWB.
24 hrs later No Parasite !

melypr1985 · Oct 24, 2015

Well that's good. just keep an eye on him and your other fish in case there are more.

4FordFamily · Oct 24, 2015

Bayou Bruzza said:
I am happy to report, my LFS recommended a Cleaner Shrimp first, rather than FWB.
24 hrs later No Parasite !

Not very good advice IMO, it's not a long term solution generally but glad the fish is doing well.

lauderdalestunner · Oct 24, 2015

The dip was the first free step. Unless that guy was going to sell you $20 RO. The shop is open to make money so 9 out of 10 they will push a sale. Either way glad it work for you. I like cleaner shrimp until it's coral feeding time. Did you see the shrimp cleaning he fish? I love seeing that.

Bayou Bruzza · Oct 29, 2015

lauderdalestunner said:
The dip was the first free step. Unless that guy was going to sell you $20 RO. The shop is open to make money so 9 out of 10 they will push a sale. Either way glad it work for you. I like cleaner shrimp until it's coral feeding time. Did you see the shrimp cleaning he fish? I love seeing that.

No, wife was disappointed ! I didn't mind buying shrimp, i love him now. Love to watch him eat. Bought a Fire shrimp too, he is beautiful.

Naiad · Oct 29, 2015

Watch all the fish close. If you see it again a freshwater dip would be advised so that you can isolate and identify the parasite. Cleaners will help but often can not keep up with a parasites reproduction rate in a closed system.

Humblefish · Oct 29, 2015

Cleaner shrimp will sometimes eat benign growths (like Lymphocystis) and dead skin tissue off a fish. But they are incapable of reaching parasites which embed under the epithelium (outer skin layer), or flukes which get inside the gills. Many people mistakenly believe their cleaner shrimp are eating these because parasites/worms cause outer skin tissue to decay around the insertion point(s).