Fish Lice (argulus?)

[Fastblur]

While this isn't exactly tropical I figured you guys would be the best people to ask...


I have just acquired some new goldfish and noticed on my blackmoor a tiny little white louse thing. After some intensive googling it appears to be an Argulus. As it is a about 4mm long, white (nearly transparent) round, and has 3-4 pairs of legs.
There don't seem to be any other little blighters in the tank, indeed the fish itself has only been in there for two days.
Now I'm somewhat inept so just to check what I'm doing, I shan't be removing the louse with tweezers as I'll end up killing the little guy somehow, so I shall be dosing the tank with 'Coppersafe' if that can be obtained from my nearest fish shop.

Now am I doing the right thing in the right way?

Thanks for reading, all help is appreciated.

 

[WILDER]

Yes.
Taken from this link.

http/www.fish-disease.net/diseases.htm
Argulus (a.k.a. Fish Lice)



Symptoms:

Infected fish will have flattened, disc-shaped crustaceans measuring between 0.4 and 1.2 cm in diameter. These parasites may be visible anywhere on the body of the fish, including the eyes, gills and fins.



Cause:

The parasitic crustacean Argulus (a.k.a. Fish Lice). Argulus adhere to the flesh by means of sucker-type discs. Once attached, the parasite pierces the flesh using stinger mouthparts and will suck the blood of the fish. Argulus inject a toxin that will kill smaller fish and leaves reddened, inflamed lesions on larger fish. This lesion often becomes infected. The intense irritation brought on by the Argulus parasite causes fish to rub or scrape against objects in the aquarium. Your fish may even try to jump out of the aquarium. Once the parasite has finished feeding it will swim freely in search of a new host and can survive for up to 3 weeks without a host.



Treatment:

Visible Lice should first be killed by dabbing them with Potassium Permanganate or an anti-parasitic medication. Then, they should be carefully removed from the fish using tweezers. It is paramount that you kill the parasite before attempting to remove it from the fish. It will make it easier to remove and less stressful to the fish. It is a good idea to then dab Methylene Blue on the lesions to prevent secondary infections. It is recommended that you feed your fish medicated food to prevent a bacterial infection from occurring. The whole aquarium will need to be treated to kill any unseen, free-swimming juvenile parasites. Fluke Tabs, Clout, Paragon, and Trifon work great.

 

[Fastblur]

Treatment:

Visible Lice should first be killed by dabbing them with Potassium Permanganate or an anti-parasitic medication. Then, they should be carefully removed from the fish using tweezers. It is paramount that you kill the parasite before attempting to remove it from the fish. It will make it easier to remove and less stressful to the fish. It is a good idea to then dab Methylene Blue on the lesions to prevent secondary infections. It is recommended that you feed your fish medicated food to prevent a bacterial infection from occurring. The whole aquarium will need to be treated to kill any unseen, free-swimming juvenile parasites. Fluke Tabs, Clout, Paragon, and Trifon work great.

Thanks for the help as always Wilder, just one thing, will the 'coppersafe' kill the adult louse on the fish or do you still recommend the dab & tweezers part of the treatment? It's just that well... 'The patient died but the operation was a complete success' is a phrase that runs through my mind at this point.

 

[WILDER]

I suppose it hard on a small fish.
I would use the med and see how it goes.
You can only pull the parasite off once there dead.
Good luck.
R.I.P. to the one that died bless him.
They say back up with a bacterial med after you have finished the med course.

 

[WILDER]

Does coppersafe treat fish lice as I have never bought it.
I know anti crustaceon med by interpet does but it wipes all the benefical bacteria out in the filter.

 

[drobbyb]

Does coppersafe treat fish lice as I have never bought it.
I know anti crustaceon med by interpet does but it wipes all the benefical bacteria out in the filter.

Theoreticailly Coppersafe will kill all invertibrates.