Internal parasites?

[Ash Paws]

Does anyone think my fish Pence may have internal parasites?

Last month or earlier this month he got a strange patch on his head. It looked like a scale had been rubbed off. It was very small. It is less open now because I used some BettaFix and that helped. But could internal parasites have gotten in?

Pence lays around on the bottom of the tank, only goes up for air, and only eats what is right in front of him.

Help, please!

 

[NickAu]

I would be very careful using Mela fix or the watered down version Betta Fix as it contains Tea Tree Oil and that can damage the Labyrinth organs,.

Lots of clean treated water ( and maybe a little aquarium salt ) is just as effective.

 

[FishGuest5123]

Unless it was an open wound I highly doubt parasites got in. Have you tested your water parameters?

 

[Ash Paws]

I don't have a test kit right now, I will get one soon, maybe later today.

Okay I just noticed, Pence has this red string hanging down by his anal fins. He also looks bloated D: Also his color went from red to a silvery brown...

 

[FishGuest5123]

Not sure what the red string is but I would get that water tested ASAP. He could be suffering from ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate poisoning. Do you have some Seachem Prime that you could add to the water right now to protect the fish from toxicity until you test? Have you done a water change? That may help some.

 

[Ash Paws]

No I don't have Prime but I do have an ammonia remover that detoxifies ammonia and removes chlorine/chloramine, is that similar?
Just tested for ammonia, result is between 0 and 0.25 ppm, but the brand I use is known for showing .25 when it is actually closer to 0.

 

[FishGuest5123]

That sounds like it will work. Is he eating and pooping ok?

 

[FishGuest5123]

I hate to just start dosing with meds but you could use some API General Cure. It treats some parasites, bacterial, and fungal issues. It’s a good all around treatment when you’re not sure what is going on. There are stronger antibiotics but I wouldn’t rush into them.

 

[Ash Paws]

I hate to just start dosing with meds but you could use some API General Cure. It treats some parasites, bacterial, and fungal issues. It’s a good all around treatment when you’re not sure what is going on. There are stronger antibiotics but I wouldn’t rush into them.

Okay I will make a trip to the pet store today!

That sounds like it will work. Is he eating and pooping ok?

I think. He still seems interested in food but only if I put the food right in front of him.

 

[Alliesten]

Internal parasites must be eaten to infect the fish. External parasites attach to the outside of the fish. Internal parasites don’t burrow through an opening in the scales. It just doesn’t work like that. Fish lose scales all the time. They rarely get sick from it.

Also it has to be already present in your tank, to infect the fish. Or it has been brought in by other fish. A lot of fish come with internal parasites, from the store.

I wouldn’t use antibiotics unless you are sure there is an infection. Instead of General Cure, I would use straight praziquantel. You can find it in Hikari PraziPro. It doesn’t contain antibiotics, it only has the internal parasite meds.

Antibiotic resistance is a real thing, even in fish. You don’t want to just randomly medicate if there isn’t a bacterial infection.

 

[NickAu]

. He could be suffering from ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate poisoning. Do you have some Seachem Prime that you could add to the water right now to protect the fish from toxicity until you test?

How about suggesting a big water change instead of pouring more chemicals into the tank?

 

[Ash Paws]

How about suggesting a big water change instead of pouring more chemicals into the tank?

Okay I'll do that.

 

[FishGuest5123]

How about suggesting a big water change instead of pouring more chemicals into the tank?

I suggested that above.

 

[Ash Paws]

It's so hard to say this but....I just found Pence dead....I feel like it was my fault...but still, thank you guys so much for helping me. You have answered all my questions and helping me with my problems. I really appreciate it...good luck with your fish, I hope they live long, happy lives.

 

[FishGuest5123]

It's so hard to say this but....I just found Pence dead....I feel like it was my fault...but still, thank you guys so much for helping me. You have answered all my questions and helping me with my problems. I really appreciate it...good luck with your fish, I hope they live long, happy lives.

I’m so sorry to hear this.