help please

[CTS]

all my fish have a white string thing attached from there body. Is this parasites? if they are, and i have no fish the tank will they die off or just wait till more fish come into the tank to attach themselfs. how can i make my tank free of this horrid thing? thanks in advance

 

[iggy01]

From the limited information given, it is hard to say what they are. Do they look anything like this picture?

 

[WILDER]

Anchor Worms are recognized by white worm-like protrusions that can be found anywhere on the fish’s body. They can be removed by very carefully restraining the fish and using tweezers to gently remove the anchor-like head from beneath the fish’s scales or by treating with an external parasite medication.

 

[CTS]

yes thats it. Once there gone are they actually gone or do i have to start over again?

 

[iggy01]

yes thats it. Once there gone are they actually gone or do i have to start over again?

The worms you see on your fish are probably female. The males tend to die off after mating. The "Y" at the tail of the worm is an egg sack. It's possible some eggs may have been released into your tank.

There are medications you can get to destroy these parasites ( they're actually a crustacean ) and their larvae. I'm not sure what is available in Canada though. In the UK you can buy "Interpet Anti Crustacean Parasite". Which is a very strong medication that will knock out the bacteria in your filter and damage any plants. This is likely to send your tank into another cycle. Ammonia and nitrite need to be monitored carefully. So if you do decide to medicate your tank, make sure you read any instructions very carefully.

Good luck!

 

[CTS]

thank you